‘Shameful’ propaganda

The comic book portraying Liberal Party presidential candidate Mar Roxas as a “hero” at the height of super typhoon Yolanda is a “shameful and unacceptable propaganda,” according to an official of Caritas Philippines.

“In conscience, I need to belie this hypocritical claim of Mar Roxas claiming to be a hero in the emergency response,” Fr. Edwin Gariguez, executive secretary of Caritas Philippines, said in a CBCP News post.

Caritas Philippines also known as the National Secretariat for Social Action- Justice and Peace (Nassa) is the humanitarian and advocacy arm of the bishops. The group is involved in the rehabilitation and relief efforts of Yolanda victims.

Gariguez asked all candidates to bring truth and decency in the country’s electoral process. “A call that I dare to make to all candidates,” he said.

The director of the Lipa Archdiocesan Social Action Center did not spare the campaign material.

“He is not a hero. I would consider those who have helped silently in their own little ways the heroes. They are the real heroes,” Fr. Jazz Siapco, said.

Titled “Sa Gitna ng Unos” (In the middle of a storm), the 28-page comic book depicted Roxas as an action man who risked his life to help the typhoon victims.

Nothing wrong

Campaigning in Quezon Province, Roxas said he sees nothing wrong with the campaign material and thanked his supporters who initiated it to support his campaign.

“Komiks is part of our culture, part of the regular and conventional campaign. I thank my supporters for making it that explains what really happened during that time,” said Roxas.

The campaign material highlighting Roxas’ role before and after Yolanda wreaked havoc in the Visayas earned criticisms from various quarters. Some said the comics presented lies while others said it brought back the pains of the tragic Yolanda experience that left 6,000 dead in its wake.

“Those who are reacting negative, possibly they are supporters of my rivals. Maybe they saw it (komiks) as effective, that’s why they are reacting negatively,” said Roxas.

Stand by it

But LP spokesperson, Akbayan Rep. Barry Gutierrez defended the circulation of the material as an important campaign tool.

“The comic book was made by supporters who wished to inform our countrymen of what Mar did during Yolanda. This was made due to the continued spread of lies about his deeds,”