A CANDIDATE’S CAMPAIGN SIDELIGHTS: ‘FOLKS DON’T WORRY, I AM ALIVE AND WELL’

While I was having a mini-rally in the market area of Barangay Nicaan in Libungan yesterday morning, the news spread that I was killed in an ambush.

The news spread like wildfire through a text message which was obviously initially shared by people from the other political groups as part of the black propaganda in this campaign.

By noontime, calls from worried leaders and supporters from as far as Arakan and Alamada started coming in.

I had to assure them that I was alive and well and making the rounds of Libungan town prior to my final rally last night in the public market.

I have been in politics for almost 15 years now but until today I still could not understand the logic and wisdom of spreading false information like my reported death yesterday during the campaign period.

It does not work to the advantage of people who are spreading the false news. In fact, it only generates sympathy.

Yesterday, I heard women crying on the phone thanking God that I was alive and well.

The false news did not hurt me any bit. It only gained more sympathy for me.

(Photo caption: While I was talking to a huge crowd in the Nicaan Public Market yesterday, news spread that I was killed in an ambush.)