Albay guv denies backing Marcos

By Mar S. Arguelles

Albay Gov. Al Francis Bichara on Saturday, Jan. 22, has declared as fake news a post on social media that says he was among the four Bicol governors giving his support to the presidential bid of former Sen. Ferdinand Bongbong Marcos, Jr.

Bichara on his Facebook post issued a fake news alert refuting the post made by Ang CN Radio – Bekool Radio Network that he has thrown his support to Bongbong Marcos, the son and namesake of the deposed dictator Ferdinand Marcos.

“Walang katotohan ang lumalabas na balita sa Facebook at ibang social media outlets. Ang CN Radio/Bekool Radio Network ay hindi ni minsan naka panayam ko,” (There’s no truth on the news report posted that circulated by Ang CN Radio/Bekool Radio Network social media, not a single instant they have interviewed me), Bichara said.

He warned the public to be careful and critical of what they see and read on social media especially at the onset of a national and local election.

Daniel Garcia, the governor’s spokesperson in an interview, said “the governor has not endorsed any presidential candidate as of the moment, he is very with local politics.”

Jose Briones, Albay provincial information office chief, said the new report on social media is a political propaganda that is discriminatory to the governor, “Gov. Bichara has never mentioned about his alliance to any presidential aspirant.”

At the moment he is concentrating on the many social, health, and agriculture projects in various towns and villages across the province, Briones said.