Sen. Loren Legarda reiterated Tuesday her call for the upgrading of salaries and positions of national government personnel, including public school teachers, members of the armed forces and civilian employees of the Department of National Defense (DND).

As this developed, the Nationalist People’s Coalition condemned Tuesday the “black propaganda” being waged against Legarda, its vice presidential candidate in the upcoming elections, saying such campaign tactic is “unwarranted, blatantly false and scurrilous.”

The NPC issued the condemnation through its spokesman, Valenzuela City Rep. Rex Gatchalian, in reference to text messages being circulated by anonymous sources claiming that Legarda had filed a bill seeking to reduce the salaries of public schoolteachers and military personnel.

“Nothing could be farther from the truth,” Gatchalian said. “On the contrary, Senator Legarda had filed a bill precisely seeking to increase the salaries and upgrade the positions of teachers and she also co-authored a resolution seeking the same for uniformed military personnel and civilian employees of the DND.”

Meanwhile, Legarda’s office released a list of bills submitted by her proposing the increase and standardization of the salaries of all national government personnel. Also released was a Senate resolution signed by Senator Legarda for the upgrading of the salaries and positions of all civilian and military personnel of the defense department.

Jellian Ricafrente, Marinduque State College faculty, praised Legarda for her concern for teachers and other government personnel. She also denounced the “black propaganda.”

In a letter to Education Secretary Jesli Lapus, Defense Secretary Norberto Gonzalez and Interior and Local Governments Secretary Ronnie V. Puno, Legarda pointed out that, motivated by her concern for the government civilian and military personnel, she had filed a bill and co-authored a resolution upgrading their salaries and positions.

“This is on the record and is known to everybody who has followed up Legarda’s activities in the Senate,” said Gatchalian. “Those who are disseminating this false information are desperate that Senator Legarda is bound to win the vice presidential race. This disinformation is a disservice to our electorate who deserve to be told the truth.” (with a report by Gabriel Mabutas)