In Philippine politics, every election year is not only about candidates wooing the voters. It's smear-campaign season. Candidates belonging to rival political parties are usually targetted in contests that range from criticism to outright mudslinging.

For instance, in the 1992 national elections, Miriam Defensor-Santiago called rival presidential candidate Fidel V. Ramos a "liar" and a "thief." Ramos then called Defensor-Santiago "hysterical." In 1998, Joseph "Erap" Estrada's womanizing habits were used against him. In 2004, Pres. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo was repeatedly called "corrupt."

Character assassination figured even way back, during the 1897 Tejeros Convention, the first presidential poll in the country. During the day of the voting, where Emilio Aguinaldo emerged victorious, a demolition job against his contender, Andres Bonifacio, was carried out in which the Philippine hero was accused of embezzling the funds of Katipunan, the revolutionary group that he founded.

This year's mudslinging, however, takes the cake as the most vicious in recent history. Perhaps it's because the May 2010 elections is a make-or-break situation for the Philippines—a disastrous election could seal the country's doom, many people fear.

Sen. Manny Villar's alleged secret ties with Pres. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo still hits the headlines, along with assertions that he was not really born poor as he claims. Sen. Noynoy Aquino is continually called "incompetent." Former President Joseph Estrada, on the other hand, is still being hit with previous accusations against him. Sen. Jamby Madrigal's gender is even questioned.

NOYNOY'S ALLEGED PSYCHOLOGICAL PROBLEMS. The target of the most recent mudslinging effort is Sen. Aquino, who was accused of being mentally incapable of leading the country due to psychological problems.

Actress and TV host Kris Aquino's reaction to these recent allegations against her only brother is a mix of amusement and displeasure.

In an exclusive interview with PEP (Philippine Entertainment Portal) managing editor Karen Pagsolingan yesterday, April 12, the Queen of All Media said she wants to laugh that the accusation was "fake" and lacked research. She is also offended that her mom, former Pres. Corazon Aquino, was "blamed" in the bogus medical report as the cause of Noynoy Aquino's "depression."

"Siguro, matatawa ka na lang talaga, kasi gagawa ka na lang ng something fake, hindi ka pa nag-research nang maayos. Hahaha! Di ba? Kung gusto mo na paniwalaan ka, do your research, hello?" said Kris mockingly.

She added, "The only thing I totally, totally want to express my extreme displeasure about is they drag my mother into it. Kasi, di ba, part of the psychiatric or psychological evaluation was that Noy became depressed dahil sinasamahan niya ang mom. Di ba? Sa psychiatrist, gano'n. E, parang gusto ko silang murahin lahat because why are they are dragging my mother, who's already in heaven, into an issue like this?"

In the spirit of accuracy in journalism, PEP looked for a copy of the medical bulletin of Noynoy on the Internet. The only blog that posted the bulletin, Political Amateur (politicalamateur.wordpress.com), was entirely deleted on April 9. A cached copy of the blog, however, can still be viewed in Google. Pinoy Gossip Boy, on the other hand, posted jpg photos of the three-page document.

Page one of the medical bulletin states that Aquino's alleged condition was discovered when he accompanied his mother to her psychiatrist.

ABS-CBN REPORT. On April 8, ABS-CBN's TV Patrol World reported that Sen. Noynoy Aquino allegedly suffered from bouts of severe depression.

"Isa umanong psychiatric record ni Liberal Party standard bearer Noynoy Aquino na nagsasabing nagkasakit siya ng matinding depresyon noong 1996 ang ibinigay sa ABS-CBN ng isang source sa Nacionalista Party. Ayon sa umano'y psychiatric form ng Department of Psychology ng Ateneo noong February 10, 1996, si Aquino ay nagkaroon ng Major Depressive Disorder," said Karen Davila in her report.

The news anchor added, "Nakapirma sa dokumento si Father Carmelo "Tito" Caluag. Thirty-six years old si Aquino noon at senior manager sa Hacienda Luisita."