PMP hits black propaganda vs Binay

MANILA, Philippines - Photographs showing Makati City Mayor Jejomar Binay with a woman are “the ultimate black propaganda” against the vice presidential running mate of former President Joseph Estrada, the Pwersa ng Masang Pilipino (PMP) said yesterday.

Lawyer Ralph Calinisan, PMP spokesman, said the photographs have no relevance to the vice presidential race.

“Past is past,” he said. “Tao lang po, nagkakamali. I hope Philippine politics can graduate from these detestable low blows.”

Calinisan said it would have been “more acceptable” if the criticisms had some connection with the elections.

Voters will see that the photographs were leaked to damage the strong showing of Binay in the surveys, he added.

Calinisan said voters must grasp the real issues in the May 10 presidential and vice presidential elections.

“The 2010 polls is a story on competence and experience,” he said. “People who are best fit for the job should get elected.”

In a text message, Margaux Salcedo, Estrada’s spokeswoman, said Binay’s alleged girlfriend is a “a non-issue.”

“It appears to be a thing of the past so it should have no bearing on his vice presidential bid,” read the text message.

“Anyway, as we have seen with the progress in Makati, this indiscretion did not affect his leadership as mayor,” the message further read.

The STAR tried to get a statement from Binay until last night.

His spokesman, Joey Salgado, declined to comment any further on the matter.