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Sunday, August 24, 2008
Balas boys prefer governor's resignation
By Ian Ocampo Flora
CITY OF SAN FERNANDO -- If the protesting members of the Biyaya A Luluguran at Sisikapan (Balas) were to be asked, they would rather call for the resignation of Governor Eddie Panlilio than support the recall move against him.
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The Balas boys said they will be more "comfortable" with the resignation of the priest-turned-governor than by subjecting him to recall proceedings or opening the gubernatorial post to other politicians who want to replace him before the 2010 elections.
But they hoped that Panlilio would still institute the "reforms" they have been demanding before they "contemplate on calling for his resignation."
Fil Rodriguez, former Balas supervisor, said they would set up a time frame for the governor to remove Provincial Administrator Vivian Dabu from the Capitol.
"Right now, it is Dabu resign. But if the reforms are not instituted, we will call for a unified stand on what step to take next," Rodriguez said.
According to Balas members, the recall move presents different issues compared to the ones they are fighting for, but they are not completely closing their doors to both call for resignation or recall of Panlilio. They said they will issue a formal statement on both issues next week.
Last Thursday, the Kapanalig at Kambilan Ning Memalen Pampanga (Kambilan) launched the recall move against Panlilio at Max's Restaurant here.
The group, led by former board member Rosve Henson, vowed to obtain the signature of at least 10 percent of the voting population of Pampanga, which is about 98,800 and submit them to the Commission on Elections (Comelec) for the recall move to prosper.
The province reportedly has about 988,000 registered voters.
Under Republic Act (RA) 9244, the recall of any elective provincial, city, municipal or barangay official shall be commenced by a petition of a registered voter in the local government unit (LGU) concerned and supported by the registered voters in the LGU during the election.
Civil society groups, on the other hand, are still doing consultative meetings with other former Panlilio supporters during the 2007 campaign to formalize their stand on the recall move.
Eduard de Leon, another former Balas employee, meanwhile said that whatever their official stand is, it will be based on the issues they are raising and for the benefit of the people of the province. (Sun.Star Pampanga/Sunnex)For more Philippine news, visit Sun.Star Zamboanga. (August 24, 2008 issue)
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