CAGAYAN de Oro City Mayor Oscar Moreno on Friday, December 21, called the paid article published in two local newspapers as “fake news.”
The paid article alleged that President Rodrigo Duterte is campaigning for Moreno’s ouster.
Moreno maintained that he supports and has high regard for President Duterte.
"He should be spared from this cheap political gimmickry," said Moreno, who is the official candidate of the President's political party, the PDP-Laban.
"We have seen this coming, but nothing can prepare anyone from the audacity of people and parties who have become so engrossed in falsity," Moreno said of the paid article.
"What is happening to the supposed guardians of truth? Can monetary consideration shelve truthful and fair reporting? What is happening to the time honored principle of truth in advertising?" he lamented.
Sun.Star Cagayan de Oro and another newspaper published the advertorial on December 21, 2018.
The article quoted mayoralty candidate Pompee La Viña of the coalition Centrist Democratic Party and the Padayon Pilipino party.
La Viña alleged that Duterte made the statement at a meeting with Punong Barangays in Malacañang.
Moreno reiterated that he deserves a day in court.
Lawyer Dale Mordeno said the Sandiganbayan cases mentioned in the article are still being heard.
The mayor should, thus, be presumed innocent at all times and should be spared from persecution.
"We are standing on firm legal ground that the mayor is not guilty and all the cases he is facing are politically motivated," he said.
Meanwhile, the Cagayan de Oro Liga ng mga Barangay president and Councilor Alam Lim downplayed the so-called sweeping statement of Duterte.
"Tinuod na naay mga Kapitan nibisita sa Malacañang when they went on Lakbay Aral last November, but I doubt they have met the president. Asa man ang groupie?" he said.
Lim's wife is a sister of a close adviser of the president. He is also a close friend of former special assistant to the President Bong Go.
Moreno, who is the official local candidate of the President's political party, is being challenged by La Viña, a former official of the Duterte administration, in the May 2019 elections.