Legarda claims rival bet spreading false text blast to pull her down

Senator Loren Legarda. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines – A rival senatorial candidate was allegedly spreading black propaganda text message against reelectionist Loren Legarda apparently in a bid to dislodge her from top spot in the surveys, she disclosed Wednesday during a senatorial forum hosted by the Philippine Daily Inquirer.

The purported text blast was allegedly saying that Legarda has filed a bill in the Senate that sought to remove the benefits and reduce the salary of teachers, soldiers, policemen, firefighters and other government officials.

“There is no such bill,” Legarda told reporters after the first Senate Forum hosted by the Inquirer.

She branded it “recycled lie” aimed to “bring me down from the number one spot [of the surveys].”

Legarda said that she had already talked to Education Secretary Armin Luistro and Director General Alan Purisima, Philippine National Police, about the malicious text messages.

Luistro and Purisima laughed it off and said they did not believe the message, Legarda said.

“I really have to come forward and challenge those behind it, and I know who you are, don’t hide behind false text messages,” she said.

“It is sad that it had to come to this especially during the campaign season,” Legarda added.

She declined to name who was behind the smear campaign.

Previously, reelectionist Antonio Trillanes IV also condemned the alleged text messages spreading to discredit him.

The messages claimed he has filed a bill that sought to remove the benefits of retiring military and police personnel.