Conrad S.C. Lacsina points to a news story as election campaign material in Phil. Journal

report by Conrad S.C. LacsinaStudent 7 Student 7 Student 7 Student 7
Unedited by blog administrator       Quote  “Even before the date of the start of the campaign for this year’s elections that was prescribed by law, the Philippine Journal already printed a story, which by all indications, is a campaign material. 

        Quote “The story appeared on January 24, 2007. There was no byline.         Quote “It was a single-sourced story, with Rep. Juan Miguel Zubiri, the Secretary-General of the Lakas-CMD party and now a senatorial candidate of the administration ticket TEAM as the only source. Another source was mentioned— Lakas-CMD executive director Ray Roquero, but he is from the same camp as Zubiri. There was no effort whatsoever to present the view of the other sides with regard to the truthfulness of the claims and assertions made in the story. 

           Quotes  “The story is a campaign piece for the administration senatorial ticket pretending to be news by being in the news pages of the newspaper.         Quote quote“LANDSLIDE WIN FOR GMA TICKET SEEN         Quote quote “A nationwide political machinery powered by an overwhelming majority of the country’s local executives with a campaign platform anchored on solid economic performance will spell a landslide victory for the senatorial ticket of the Lakas-led ruling coalition, pro-administration leaders said yesterday.
“ ‘The senatorial candidates of the ruling coalition are headed for landslide victory in the May polls backed by an awesome political machinery at the grassroots level and a campaign plank riding high on the administration’s solid performance,’ said Bukidnon Rep. Miguel Zubiri, secretary-general of the Lakas_Christian Democrats party.
“ ‘Only the ruling coalition led by Lakas-CMD has the machinery and resources to field a complete ticket from the national down to the local levels, including candidates for seats in all city and municial councils,’ Zubiri said.
“ ‘This means that the ruling coalition can ensure the victory of its senatorial slate come May 14.’
“Lakas-CMD is now cobbling together the administration’s powerhouse ticket together with its coalition partners— Kabalikat ng Mamamayang Pilipino (Kampi), Nationalist People’s Coalition (NPC), the Libereal Party (LP) headed by Manila Mayor Joselito Atienza, and the Partido Demokratiko Sosyalista ng Pilipinas (PDSP)— and will announce the lineup on or before the Feb. 12 deadline for the filing of candidacy for senatorial bets.
“ ‘With the economic reform agenda of the government finally bearing fruit six years into the Arroyo presidency, 2007 and onwards will indeed be social payback time for our people by way of more jobs, better services and higher living standards,’ said Zubiri.
“ ‘The Filipino voters are intelligent enough that putting in office a new batch of senators supportive of the President’s economic agenda will help government sustain— and even boost— the momentum of growth that has not been seen in this country in recent history,’ he added.
“President Arroyo has assured the people it will be ‘social payback time’ for them this year and onwards owing to the rebounding economy, as reflected in the continuing peso rally, the bull run of the stock market, the narrowing budget deficit, escalating direct foreign and portfolio investments, and bulging foreign or dollar reserves.
“On top of an impressive political network and a campaign platform of performance and nascent prosperity that appeal to most voters, Lakas-CMD executive director Ray Roquero said the second thing going for the pro-administration senatorial lineup is the strong support coming from the local officials.” Unquote.

27 02 2007