The public is forewarned that it is now the onset of the contagious election fever, bringing with it the virus called “black propaganda.” The May 20 poll is barely 4 ½ months away.

And the fear is that unless adequate and accurate information is explained, the unwary public may succumb to the viral malaise caused by false information.

One alarming upshot of black propaganda is that it is easily carried not just through traditional media, but by the 21st century “digital sphere of Internet” and virtual satellite cellular phones.

It is, therefore, incumbent upon media to enlighten the public and advise everyone to exercise judicious assessment when subjected to that kind of propaganda. It is knowing what to believe and what to discard.

Notably, one early victim of adverse publicity via Internet and cellphone texting waged by unknown sources – ostensibly, her political rivals – is Sen. Loren Legarda, now a front-runner in the vice presidential race.

The slanderous assault on the NPC-NP candidate – an erstwhile Manila Bulletin columnist – is that she allegedly filed a bill reducing the salaries of government employees, including military and police personnel.

That is, of course, a recycled black propaganda. Exactly the same false information floated around through Internet and media when Loren ran for vice president in 2004, and for senator in 2007 in which election she was No. 1.

Obviously, the hoax story was debunked by the electorate in those two elections.

It is best that public should be wary of such sinister schemes from politicians and their spin handlers who spread rumor, gossip, libel to unsuspecting media audience. The poison message is so ridiculous, as records in the Senate Bills Division show that Loren authored Senate Bill No. 1611, entitled “An Act Upgrading the Minimum Salary Grade Level of Teachers from Salary Grade 10 to 19.”

Loren is also one of the authors of Senate Resolution No. 26, entitled “Joint Resolution Authorizing the President of the Philippines to modify the position classification system of civilian personnel and the base pay schedule of military and uniformed personnel in government, and to implement the same initially, effective July 1, 2009.”

A multi-awarded television broadcaster, she is best remembered as having championed the causes of government personnel, civilian or uniformed. In her two terms in the Senate, each term elected with the highest votes on record, Loren has always fought for the improvement of the living standards and economic security of public servants.

In fact, last December, even as the other candidates were holidaying in various resorts elsewhere, she took time off to prod the administration to release the promised bonuses for government personnel. She also expressed concern for the welfare of the Mayon volcano evacues.

A daughter of a middle-class family, Loren is a fierce supporter and defender of the often-neglected marginalized sectors – workers, farmers, fishermen, ordinary government employees, soldiers, and policemen. It is because of them that she has entered the political arena, where she believes she can do more for the underprivileged, even at the risk of risking scurrilous attacks on her character and good intentions. That is the price of politics, Loren said.