MANILA, Philippines -- It might not be a walk in the park for newly-appointed Communications Group Secretary Ricky Carandang when he faces the powerful Commission on Appointments as a senator intends to question his independence as a journalist during the last May elections.

Senator Loren Legarda said Carandang should answer whether or not he was part of the campaign team of the Liberal Party (LP) in the last election while at the same time he was anchoring and reporting for ABS-CBN News Channel.

?Of course they have a free hand to select any media practitioner but my question is, was he (Carandang) part of the campaign group or was he working as an independent professional journalist? I don't know, not for me to judge but was he part of the LP communications team before?? Legarda told reporters on Thursday.

Like Carandang, the senator was also a product of ABS-CBN but she promised not to be soft on the newly appointed official once he faces the CA for confirmation.

?Why should we be soft on anyone? I mean we have to screen everybody with the same standard and I will ask the question you are asking me: Were you part of the LP campaign?? said Legarda.

She said it was important to raise that question to find out if Carandang had used his profession to advance the LP campaign that led to his eventual appointment as one of the heads of Aquino's communications group.

?You can see the independence of journalists or (media) practitioner because you can?t be an anchor and journalist, and PR-ring at the same time for a candidate. That means both of your stories were colored. But I don't judge...I don't know,? she further said.

During the campaign, Legarda had a heated exchange of accusations with LP's candidate Mar Roxas in the vice presidential race but both lost to now elected Vice President Jejomar Binay.

Legarda said Carandang's partiality will also be put in question as he may be suspected of being biased in favor of his former employer.

Just this week, some Palace reporters protested when a copy of President Benigno ?Noynoy? Aqino III's speech in the state of the nation address Monday was reportedly leaked to ABS-CBN and was even posted on the network's Facebook account even before the President completed his speech.

?That's the risk you take if you come from a media network or entity. That's the challenge he has to face that there would be bias in favor of your network,? said Legarda.

?But then it's nothing new because (Cris) Jun Icban also came from (Manila) Bulletin. Nasa tao na yun (It?s up to the individual),? the senator added.

Icban was editor-in-chief of the Manila Bulletin when he was appointed by then President and now Pampanga Representative Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo as Press Secretary in place of Cerge Remonde, who died of heart attack.