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Tuesday, August 26, 2008
Groups say ‘no’ to Pampanga guv’s recall
By Ian Ocampo Flora
PAMPANGA -- Civil society groups in Pampanga, along with the Kaya Natin! Movement (KNM), have expressed opposition to the ongoing recall move against Pampanga Governor Eddie Panlilio.
Leaders and members of the Kapampangan Marangal Inc. (KMI), Kasaup, and the KNM expressed their opposition to the recall of Panlilio on Monday at the Center for Community Services at Ateneo de Manila University here.
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They also expressed support to Panlilio's advocacy for good governance in Pampanga.
The groups stated their unified stand of rejecting the recall move, saying it is "merely politically motivated" and runs counter to the tenets of good governance.
The KNM, which describes itself as a movement for genuine change and ethical leadership, has pledged support for Panlilio, who is currently receiving barrage of criticisms in his home province.
Last Thursday, the group Kapanalig at Kambilan Ning Memalen Pampanga (Kambilan) launched the recall move against the priest-turned-governor at Max's Restaurant in the City of San Fernnado.
It seeks to gather the signature of at least 10 percent or about 98,800 of the voting population of Pampanga and submit them to the Commission on Elections (Comelec) for the recall to prosper.
The province reportedly has about 988,000 registered voters.
The KMI was among the first civil society groups that expressed opposition against the recall initiative of Kambilan. The group said it is seeking for reforms at the Capitol and not the recall of Panlilio.
Kapampangan Coalition Incorporated (KCI), a broad-based umbrella alliance of various civil society groups and individuals in Pampanga, echoed KMI's sentiment.
In a statement by KCI president Fr. Resty Lumanlan, the group said the recall would only become a serious setback to the crusade for transparency and good governance.
"The KCI stand is no to recall. There is no solid ground for it. This will be a futile exercise, loss of time and money. The so-called loss of confidence that Kambilan is invoking is due to the resignation of most of the internal followers of Among Ed and the demand of the members of the Biyaya A Luluguran at Sisikapan (Balas) for the removal of Provincial Administrator Vivian Dabu," KCI said.
However, the KCI said Panlilio's "consistent and persistent" defense of his provincial administrator has resulted in "hurt, disappointment, and withdrawal of support."
The KCI furthered that the recall is just a political move to take advantage of the so-called "disunity among the civil society."
Lumanlan also stressed that they have not discussed the "call for resignation" of Panlilio.
KCI has yet to issue a formal statement on the issue, he added.
Meanwhile, Governor Panlilio said the recall move will not prosper because of the pending recount case at the Comelec by gubernatorial candidate Lilia Pineda.
"I was told by my legal counsel that I should not be recalled, instead it is those people who were involved in the issues of quarry irregularities and corruption in government," Panlilio said.
Panlilio said he plans to talk to civil society groups that are asking for reforms.
He added that while some groups are asking for Dabu's resignation, other civil society groups like Kasaup "want Dabu to stay."
"A dialogue may be underway to listen to how we could make a favorable move to answer the issues raised by civil society groups," Panlilio said. (Sun.Star Pampanga/Sunnex)
Related stories:
Groups divided on recall move vs Panlilio
Balas boys prefer governor's resignation
For more Philippine news, visit Sun.Star Baguio. (August 26, 2008 issue)
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