Senate bets decry text blasters

MANILA, Philippines - Three senators seeking re-election decried yesterday what they described as black propaganda to destroy their reputation before the elections in May.

The apparent smear campaign has prompted Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV to outline the measures that he pushed to safeguard the interest of the military and police.

Trillanes denied malicious text messages that circulated recently in military and police camps claiming that he is one of the sponsors of a bill that aims to reduce the retirement benefits of policemen and soldiers.

Apart from Trillanes, the camp of Sen. Francis Escudero said a group had been sending text messages to derail the re-election bids of some candidates.

“The mudslinging and misinformation are part of election fever, I suppose, which makes it all the more disappointing. This is one of the things that we hope to change, this kind of politics. There is no room for it in a reformed political environment,” Escudero said.

Escudero said the smear campaign claimed that he is not supporting government employees.

He pointed out that he is pushing for a bill that will grant higher monthly pensions to retired government workers who reach the age of 70.

Sen. Loren Legarda also complained of being victimized by campaign demolition teams during the 2007 and 2010 elections.

Trillanes, a former member of the Philippine Navy, said there was no bill pending in the Senate on the supposed “PNP/AFP Retirement Bill” that removes several benefits that military and police personnel will receive upon retirement.

He said he has always supported efforts to uplift the plight of the men and women in uniform.

He said he is one of the authors of the new Salary Standardization Law, and a co-author of the law creating the Military Service Board that was created to process pending claims of war veterans.

He also supported the passage of the Armed Forces of the Philippines Modernization Law that aimed to extend the military modernization program for another 15 years and help the AFP improve its capability to deal with internal and external threats.