ALAMINOS CITY, Pangasinan – Local politics in Pangasinan was not spared of what could have been a long time political strategy by some politicians in the Philippines– mudslinging.
With the gubernatorial seat in the province turned out to be a hot contested position, different black propagandas can be now seen circling around both on the Internet and in some of the pre-election campaign period programs of some politicians.
During the Christmas party of the barangay health workers in Alaminos last December 17, Mayor Arthur Celeste said that these kinds of propaganda should not be the center of politics especially in Pangasinan. “Biktima din ako ng maduming pulitika dito sa unang distrito, biktima din ako ng maduming pulitika dito sa Alaminos,” said Celeste.
Celeste, a known ally of Mark Cojuangco who is one of the gubernatorial candidates, candidly hits on the issue against Cojuangco. “Dahil ba maputi siya, hindi na siya pwedeng maging gobernador? Ang sabi nila dayuhan siya,” said Celeste referring to the claims of some politicians that Cojuangco is not a native of Pangasinan. “Wala po sa pang-labas na anyo ang batayan ng isang magaling na lider, kundi nasa galing at talino, ” he added.
Some of the issues being mudslinged to Cojuangco was his inability to speak Pangasinense, concluding that he was not a native of Pangasinan.
To break the emotional talk, Celeste during his speech, simply cracked a joke. “Si Mark [Cojuangco] kasi, pinaglihi sa glutathione [whitening soap] kaya siya maputi,” Celeste told.
