DILG denies using public funds for political ads

Interior Secretary Manuel Roxas II. NOY MORCOSO/INQUIRER.net FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines–Interior Secretary Manuel Roxas II did not use the taxpayers’ money to fund his “nonexistent” political advertisements in radio and television in the provinces, the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) said on Thursday.

Contrary to the claims of Vice President Jejomar Binay’s camp, DILG Undersecretary Austere Panadero said in a statement that no public funds were used for Roxas’ political campaign.

On Wednesday, United Nationalist Alliance (UNA) interim secretary general JV Bautista claimed that Roxas has been using the DILG’s funds for his radio and TV ads through sponsored time-checks and infomercials.

Bautista said the ads were getting “heavy” airplay in Visayas and Mindanao from 5 a.m. to nighttime to increase the winning chances of Roxas in the upcoming 2016 elections.

“As far as the DILG is concerned, no such ads exist in any of the provinces in both Visayas and Mindanao,” Panadero said.

Saying he was “bewildered” by the Binay camp’s accusations against Roxas, Panadero maintained that the DILG secretary i‎s not behind the so-called “Oplan Stop Nognog 2016.”

The said oplan is purportedly a plot to derail Binay’s presidential bid in 2016.

“We don’t know where they [UNA] got it. Perhaps they can find the answer to their questions by asking themselves,” Panadero added.

In the latest polls by Pulse Asia Survey, Roxas’ public approval rate increased by six percent, with respondents mostly from Visayas and Mindanao.

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