MONSIGNOR-Governor Ed Panlilio is set to take oath as a member of the Liberal Party at the LP headquarters in Cubao, Quezon City Thursday.

He is expected to be formally designated by the party as its chairman or coordinator in Pampanga.

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What could be interesting or the opposite of it is the fact that nothing seems to be constant in so far as Panlilio is concerned, as he seems to be constantly changing his mind.

In 2007 he was among the "reformers" who were trying to field a "better" gubernatorial candidate against former Board Member Lilia Pineda and re-electionist Governor Mark Lapid.

When nobody among their "anointed" ones took their challenge, he anointed himself and ran for governor.

That same year, he declared that he would serve only a single term and won't seek re-election. A few months that same year, he said he might run for governor again.

Media interviews and news conferences by the monsignor-governor's camp show his consistent change of mind and positions, particularly on his political plans.

He was running for president. He was not running for president (to give way to Senator Noynoy Aquino). He was running for senator. He was not running for senator. He was not seeking re-election. He might seek re-election. He will just return to his priestly ministries. He won't yet return to priesthood.

The monsignor-governor is expected to become LP's top man in Pampanga. As Chairman Ed, all would-be LP candidates in the province must pass his scrutiny and approval. Of course, with his character, Chairman Ed is expected to perform what he's supposed to do and not become mere puppet of any LP official.

Chairman Ed has vowed to find a candidate to be fielded against President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, who has visited Pampanga, mostly the Second District, for at least 48 times this year. Mrs. Arroyo is believed to be eyeing the congressional post in the Second District.

But even minus Mrs. Arroyo's frequent, sometimes three times per week, visit to the province, any politician or personality defeating her in the Second District is a very remote possibility. Most of the residents and, probably, all the political leaders in the district are loyal to Mrs. Arroyo and opt to ignore or refuse to believe the accusations being hurled against her and her family.

Defeating Mrs. Arroyo in her own turf is a very long shot. Is it possible? Nothing is impossible in the complex and dynamic realm of politics. But is it probable? Probably not. We cannot blame Chairman Ed, though, from trying to go against the reported political plans of the president. The two were never allies and as provincial chair of the LP, which is deemed to be a major political party in 2010, he must ensure that it will have candidates for primary posts, including the four congressional seats in Pampanga.

And, of course, simply fielding a candidate against Mrs. Arroyo will already be an "accomplishment" in itself on the part of the opposition.