Newsbreak.com's attack on KC Concepcion is out of line

Senator Kiko Pangilinan have responded to the article posted on Newsbreak.com on August 11, 2009 entitled “With KC around, who needs pol ads?” and we definitely agree with the senator because in our opinion also, the comment was way out of line, harsh and negative. Obviously, the writer does not know the many advocacies that KC have supported.

Kiko on KC article: Harsh, uncalled for

I am writing in relation to an article commenting on my daughter KC's registration as a voter, and its coverage thereof (“With KC around, who needs pol ads?”, posted on August 11, 2009.) I wish to clarify that as an individual, KC has supported many advocacies empowering young Filipino voters, such as ABS-CBN'S Boto Mo Ipatrol Mo in 2007, YouthVotePhilippines' R2V (Register 2 Vote) concert in 2008, and this year's Register & Vote campaign. I am fortunate that KC shares my advocacies to empower young Filipino voters, but I wish to underscore that all of KC's efforts remain non-partisan in light of her post as World Food Programme National Ambassador against Hunger.

I feel, therefore, that the phrase "ethics breach", stated in the article, is harsh and uncalled for. As an elected official and a reform advocate, it has been one of my advocacies to get first-time voters to go out and register. It is a drive shared by many colleagues and friends in the public sector, the private sector, and the artist community. In fact, our Rock the Vote concert series has been supported by the likes of Isabela Gov. Grace Padaca, Naga City Mayor Jesse Robredo; artists Parokya ni Edgar, Kamikazee, Rivermaya, Hale, Moonstar 88; and many others. Together, we have been working to engage the electorate despite our differences in political affiliation because we want to communicate that voting is a right and a responsibility—regardless of whom one ends up voting. It is crucial to get our message out to the public because we stand to disenfranchise up to 7 million voters in 2010 if voter registration is not heavily promoted.

I appeal to you, our friends in media, not to color these efforts with malice and suspicion, as we are doing our share to engage our citizens in democratic processes. The public's choices in 2010 are entirely up to them, but it is our responsibility to arm them with the information and the capacity to be able to make these choices themselves.

Kiko Pangilinan
Senate of the Philippines