Militant farmers hit broadcaster Korina Sanchez for supposedly being “Imeldific” and a “trapo” for assisting in the distribution of checks and agricultural equipment in an official Department of Agriculture (DA) event in Tagum City on Saturday.
The Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas (KMP) said that Sanchez’s participation in the event is “tantamount to vote-buying.”
“Sanchez-Roxas’ campaign stunt before farmers is a preview of a Roxas presidency. Imeldific, deceptive, and corrupt,” said KMP secretary general Antonio Flores in a statement on Sunday.
“Worse, they are exploiting the predicament of hapless farmers in a desperate bid to win their votes,” he added.
READ: Is Korina Sanchez working for Department of Agriculture?
“Imeldific,” a term coined by Filipinos describing former First Lady Imelda Marcos, is said to mean “ostentatious extravagance.” On the other hand, “trapo” is meant to describe traditional politicians.
Sanchez, who is the wife of administration standard-bearer Manuel “Mar” Roxas II, joined the officials of the DA in distributing some P611 million worth of agricultural supplies to farmers.
She was also spotted in the same DA events in Kidapawan City, North Cotabato and Mexico town in Pampanga.
The broadcaster’s act did not also sit well with the camp of presidential candidate Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte who said that what Sanchez did was a “conflict of interest” as she is not an employee of the DA.
“Korina is now an accomplice in a systematic shameless act that conditions the electorate to accept doles in exchange for votes,” Duterte’s spokesperson Peter Laviña said.
However, DA Secretary Proceso Alcala sees nothing wrong with the participation of the broadcaster in the agency’s events, saying that Roxas is being endorsed by the national government.