Monday, September 01, 2008 Panlilio hits 'black propaganda' By Ian Ocampo Flora
CITY OF SAN FERNANDO -- Governor Eddie Panlilio has branded as a form of "black propaganda" against him and his administration the circulating "newspaper" in this city and nearby areas that carries reports on him and issues at the provincial Capitol.
Panlilio is referring to the contents of a paper titled "Kalasag Ning Masang Kapampangan" (Shield of the Kapampangan masses), which has been "mysteriously" circulating in this capital city and neighboring areas.
Unlike newspapers, the said publication does not contain any information about its publisher and editorial staff or its office address.
"It reports misrepresentations and the articles are untruthful," Panlilio said, who appeared surprised by the sudden appearance of the newspaper.
All of the paper's articles, which are critical of Panlilio, were written anonymously or without bylines or taglines. Most of the articles, all written in Pilipino, tackled issues currently hounding the Panlilio administration like the recall initiative and the issue on the former members of the Biyaya A Luluguran at Sisikapan (Balas).
Old time issues like the "undeclared" campaign contributions were also raised in one of its articles. Occupying a large space in the newspaper is the recall petition of the Kapanalig at Kambilan Ning Memalen Pampanga (Kambilan).
The group recently launched the gathering of 100,000 signatures of registered voters in the province as requirement to subject Panlilio to a recall election by December this year or early next year.
Panlilio said articles were unfair. "The reports do not entirely reflect the realities of the issues," he stressed.
The paper also presented the various cases being faced by the priest-turned-governor.
"One man gave it to me on the road. I don't see anything wrong in it since if it's the truth, it should be published," a resident here said.
But Panlilio dismissed the paper as a "smear campaign" against him and reminiscent of the ones published against him a few days before the 2007 elections.
"It’s just black propaganda against me. Somehow I'm getting used to it," Panlilio said.
