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Thursday, October 16, 2008
Recall petition vs Panlilio filed
CITY OF SAN FERNANDO -- The Kapanalig at Kambilan ning Memalen Pampanga (Kambilan) has formally filed the recall petition against Pampanga Governor Eddie Panlilio before the provincial office of the Commission on Elections (Comelec) Wednesday.
Panlilio at the same time welcomed the move, saying he still enjoyed the support of the majority of the people of Pampanga.
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Leaders of the group, along with Vice Governor Joseller Guiao and members of the Provincial Board (PB), and several mayors, trooped to the poll body's office to submit the 224,875 signatures they collected to subject Panlilio to a recall election.
Thousands of recall move supporters assembled at the Arnedo Park in front of the provincial Capitol Wednesday morning before the filing of the recall petition.
They staged a two-and-a-half hour protest rally. It was attended by Mayors Jerry Pelayo (Candaba), Ricardo Rivera (Guagua), Eduardo Guerrero (Floridablanca), Lyndon Cunanan (Magalang), Nardo Velasco (Sasmuan), Teddy Tumang (Mexico) and Edgar Flores (Minalin), and others.
Guiao and the members of the PB were also present at the makeshift stage on the right side of the Arnedo Park.
Pampanga's Best food products' owner Lolita Hizon and Advocacy for the Development of Central Luzon (ADCL) head Renato Romero also attended the pro-recall rally and even gave rousing speeches against Panlilio.
"I am sorry that I have misled people and my followers to vote for Panlilio, now I am correcting that mistake and will not rest until Panlilio is removed from office," Hizon said amid the applauses of pro-recall supporters.
The rallyists marched to the Comelec office where Kambilan president Rosve Henson led the formal filing of the petition before provincial election officer Temie Lambino.
"We have complied with the requirements set by law and hopefully the Comelec will respond favorably," Henson, who presented the 224,875 signatures contained in 168 color-coded boxes, told newsmen.
In his complaint, which was filed at 10:50 a.m., Henson said: "Panlilio is being subjected to recall primarily for loss of confidence occasioned by his gross violation of the pertinent provisions of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act, the Civil Service Law (Republic Act (RA) 6713) and grave misconduct in office."
Henson stated that for more than a year from the time that Panlilio assumed office, the governor "has not shown any sign of competence, transparency and good governance as the people of Pampanga have been expecting of him."
Henson also cited in his petition alleged quarry anomalies as revealed by whistleblowers Noel Mallari and Ajie Aquino of the Biyaya A Luluguran at Sisikapan (Balas); Panlilio's refusal to implement Ordinance 176 (Equitable Distribution of Quarry Shares); the election case filed by Elly Velez Lao Pamatong on Panlilio's non-declaration of P6-million contributions and the alleged illegal transfer of district hospital heads.
Henson said they have complied with all the requirements and will just await the "fast action" of the Comelec.
Meanwhile, Lambino said the Comelec will have three days to verify if the petitioners have gathered the signatures of the 10 percent of the registered voters as prescribed by law.
For the petition to prosper, the Kambilan should have gathered around 100,000 signatures or 10 percent of Pampanga's registered voters within the time of the recall.
"We will then have the signatures forwarded to the Comelec en banc for verification and we could expect a resolution within 15 days," Lambino said, adding that Panlilio may file a motion for reconsideration if the case falls in favor of Kambilan.
Kambilan on Wednesday submitted a certification from the National Statistics Office (NSO) attesting the voting population in the province and paid the necessary filing fee of P50,000.
Panlilio said he will give a definite answer once he received a copy of the recall petition.
"It's good that the petition was already filed so we will know the truth," Panlilio added, assuring that he is not afraid of the recall petition and that more of his supporters are still with him all the way.
But for Guaio, the recall petition and the large crowd assembled at the Arnedo Park is clear manifestation of the "failing favor" of Panlilio.
"This just proves that many are not happy with the leadership of the Governor and it's better if he goes through the recall process so the people will have a chance to fix the Capitol," Guiao said.
The governor and members of the PB have been at odds over various issues.
Comelec earlier said it has no funds to support the conduct of recall elections in Pampanga as well as the 18 other recall petitions in other parts of the country. (Ian Ocampo Flora/Sun.Star Pampanga/Sunnex)
For more Philippine news, visit Sun.Star Iloilo. (October 16, 2008 issue)
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