Daang Matuwid denies engaging in smear campaign tactics

President Benigno S. Aquino III with Liberal Party (LP) standard bearers Mar Roxas and Leni Robredo are greeted by supporters outside Manila Cathedral as they walk to Commission on Election building to file their Certificate of Candidacy, Thursday, October 15, 2015. Tomorrow, Friday, October 16, 2015 is the deadline of filing of candidacy for the 2016 elections. (Joseph Vidal / Malacanang Photo Bureau)

MANILA — Koalisyon ng Daang Matuwid has not and will not bite the traditional campaign using the antiquated “smear campaign strategy” for they will focus on issues and platforms and not on personality.

This was emphasized on Tuesday by Koalisyon ng Daang Matuwid spokesman and Marikina City Rep. Miro Quimbo to deny allegation of former Senator Dick Gordon that the camp of Daang Matuwid and that of the camp of Vice President Jejomar Binay approached him to file disqualification case against Senator Grace Poe.

Gordon did not mention the personalities of both camps who approached him and what was the deal.

“LP has not and will not authorize any person from engaging in a smear campaign,” Quimbo said in a statement.

“Winning through a smear campaign will make governance difficult. We don’t want that,” he added.

Quimbo recalled that LP has already started elevating the campaign into a high gear in the recent 2013 election by concentrating on issues and platforms and not on personality.

He said that they have “marching instructions” both from President Benigno Aquino III and standard bearer Mar Roxas on how the campaign should be.

“We have always campaigned on Daang Matuwid and that we are focused on issues and our platform, not on personalities.

That is how we practically swept the 2013 Senatorial elections, by entirely avoiding a personality based campaign,” he pointed out.

According to Quimbo, what the they have learned from PNoy’s experience is that “a president can make decisions, however difficult and unpopular they may be, as long as you have a clear and unquestionable mandate.

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