‘Kabayan’ deplores hatchet job

Lashing out at what he described as "gutter politics," Sen. Noli de Castro has claimed his main rival in the vice presidential race, Loren Legarda, spent around P10 million yesterday — the last day of the campaign — on black propaganda aimed at him.

"Imagine, spending P10 million in one day to spread lies and ruin my reputation. They could have used it to build schools or for public service and not for evil," De Castro said in a statement.

"I have given 25 years to public service, half of my life. All that time I gave my whole heart in the name of public service. Kabayan Noli de Castro’s life is an open book. After all those years you know that I have never sold my integrity and principles," he said.

While he did not mention any names, De Castro was apparently referring to Legarda, his fellow former broadcast journalist who is now the running mate of opposition front-runner Fernando Poe Jr. De Castro is President Arroyo’s running mate.

Legarda is de Castro’s closest rival in the vice presidential race, voter opinion surveys show. The other two contenders, Herminio Aquino and Rodolfo Pajo, consistently lagged far behind in opinion polls.

"I had hoped for a decent campaign, in which issues and platforms would be discussed. But instead my rival chose to malign me, ruin my name and try hard to disturb my family," De Castro said. "I am confident that people know the truth and they would continue to support me."

No amount of "black propaganda and demolition jobs" would discourage him from "wholeheartedly, serving the public, faithfully and diligently."

In her parting shot before the campaign period ended yesterday, Legarda urged voters to exercise their "sense of values and sense of patriotism" at the balloting.

She warned them against electing an "unnamed" candidate who she described as among those who "continue to enrich themselves through empty promises, through intimidation and even through extortion."

"Now these same individuals are out there again, appealing to the voter," she said in statement. "Another has not yet warmed his seat in the Senate and now desires higher office already, notwithstanding the many accusations from the public that he is engaged in extortion."

Legarda said she was running for vice president "because I sincerely felt that I can make a big difference for our country and in the lives of our fellow Filipino and hopefully, rid our nation of its woes brought about by graft, corruption and incompetent governance."

She was submitting herself "to the judgment of the Filipino electorate. I have been weighed, and I will soon learn if I have been found wanting."

De Castro and Legarda were formerly with network giant ABS-CBN Broadcasting Corp. before they ran for senator — Legarda in 1998, De Castro in 2001.

Both won handily in the polls because of their broadcast journalism popularity.

De Castro continues to lead Legarda in the vice presidential race, according to the latest Pulse Asia survey.

But his lead has been cut down from 30 percentage points in the last Pulse Asia poll in January to only nine points.

The survey said De Castro would rake in 46 percent of the vote and Legarda 37 percent.

The survey, conducted from April 26 to 29, polled 1,800 registered voters and had a margin of error of 2.4 percent.

De Castro and Legarda began the campaign on a friendly competitive spirit, which eventually broke down and became an exchange of accusations and counter-accusations of wrongdoing.

In the latest survey done by the reputable Social Weather Stations, De Castro polled 43 percent of the 1,400 respondents nationwide with Legarda only four percent behind with 39 percent.