Governor says ill health reports are ‘black prop’

Bataan Gov. Enrique “Tet” Garcia on Saturday decried what he said was black propaganda against him in connection with reports that he is not physically fit to function as governor of the province.

“No amount of black propaganda will ever stop me from giving excellent service to the people of Bataan,” said the governor in a statement.

The governor, on his last term, is running for congressman of the second district. His son, incumbent Rep. Albert Garcia, is running for governor.

“This early, my political rivals are engaging in black propaganda,” said the governor’s statement, quoting him during the Youth Forum in Bataan attended by Paolo Benigno “Bam” Aquino, a candidate for senator of the administration party and former National Youth Commission chair.

“This only shows that my opponents are busy engaging in dirty tricks while we in the provincial government are not wasting a single minute,” Garcia was quoted as saying.

“It is not yet campaign season,” he said. “Let’s continue working. We have many things to finish for our people,” he said.

Garcia, showing at the forum that he is physically strong and fit to serve, said the people of Bataan will deliver a landslide victory for the senatorial candidates of President Aquino.

Bam Aquino, quoted in the same statement, said he praises Garcia for good governance programs and the continuing campaign to generate jobs and further develop the province.

The Garcias have been staunch supporters of the Aquino administration.

In the same statement, Representative Garcia said he would seek more opportunities for the province’s youth through training and skills programs available at the Technical Skills and Development Authority.

The congressman said the training programs will help the province cope with an expected surge in jobs, as a result of a boom in its export processing zone.