The song written by Filipino folk musician Freddie Aguilar for Team Asenso mayoral candidate Alfredo “Albee” Benitez is not offensive, Lt. Col. Sherlock Gabana, Bacolod police spokesperson, said Thursday, April 7.
Dr. Chris Sorongon, Grupo Progreso spokesman, on Wednesday slammed the song saying it pictures Bacolod as “the seat of crimes and corruption”.
“The lyrics of the song are a smack on the face of law enforcement agencies which worked tirelessly to keep the peace”, Sorongon said in a statement released by the Bacolod City Public Information Office.
Gabana told DIGICAST NEGROS the song was general in nature, the police did not take offense, the words of the song just state the platform and advocacy of Benitez.
It was not specifically aimed at the police, he said.
The GP statement said the campaign jingle was entitled, “Wakasan Ang Krimen”, but the song posted on the Albee the Change Facebook page (https://fb.watch/cdncWwAGZL/) is titled “Albee kaayuhan sang Bacolod” which is not the campaign jingle of Team Asenso, but a song composed and sang by Aguilar that he gave as a gift to Benitez, former Negros Occidental Board Member Patrick Lacson, who is running for councilor, said earlier.
“This is a work of art, and a reflection of his (Aguilar’s) observation to what is happening in our society, and Bacolod. If they are hurt, then truth really hurts. It is not an insult to the people of Bacolod, but a challenge to the incumbent city officials led by GP to stop crime and corruption,” Lacson added.*