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Sunday, October 26, 2008
Guv: KCI position paper 'unfair'
By Jovi T. de Leon
CITY OF SAN FERNANDO -- Governor Eddie Panlilio branded the recently released position paper of the Kapampangan Coalition Inc. (KCI) regarding his governance and the state of the Capitol executives as "unfair" and imbalanced.
The position paper pinpointed Provincial Administrator Vivian Dabu as the culprit behind the Capitol's failure to deliver results expected from them by civil society, business, and political groups.
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These same groups brought the priest-governor to the Capitol's helm and made him the icon of the crusade for good governance, transparency, and responsible citizenship.
KCI chairman Fr. Resty Lumanlan said: "The Panlilio-appointed provincial administrator, since day one at the Capitol, has been responsible for all the problems now hounding the Capitol."
Lumanlan said they learned this after consultations with other civil society groups, the Provincial Board (PB) and other multi-sectoral organizations.
KCI's recent "survey", which lately been supported by Panlilio's own Kaya Natin! Movement colleagues, said Dabu should either be transferred to another department, or be made to resign by Panlilio to once and for all put an end to the growing problems at the Capitol.
But Panlilio on Saturday said the position paper should have been "more just" if only other groups strongly advocate the crusade's principles and support his administration and back up his decision to retain Dabu at her post.
"I was hoping they could be more fair and square in their position," Panlilio said, adding "sana tinanong din nila ang opinion ng iba pang grupo tungkol dito (I wish they also asked the opinion of other groups)."
Lumanlan, however, pointed out that the findings in the position paper are substantial enough to justify their position. The survey cited was done from February to June of this year.
Although against the recall petition filed by the Kapanalig at Kambilan Ning Memalen Pampanga (Kambilan), the KCI said it will remain steadfast in calling for reforms at the Capitol and for Dabu's resignation while respecting the constitutional right of the recall movers.
Governor Panlilio has time and again said he would retain Dabu at her post because of her good performance, incorruptibility, and competence as provincial administrator.
Dabu, the so-called "guardian of the gates" at the Capitol, has similarly withstood calls for her resignation, stating recently that she will stay at her post and continue to do her job as mandated by her appointment.
"I leave it entirely to Governor (Panlilio) if he will transfer me to another department or 'fire' me," she told Sun.Star.
To recall, Dabu was one of the lawyers who volunteered her services, leaving a lucrative private practice behind, during the campaign elections that saw her defending the ballots during the counting at the Bren Z. Guiao Convention Center here.
In the book "Luid Ka" published after Panlilio's victory, it was noted there that Dabu was invited by lawyer Aiza Velez to join them and other legal eagles in the crusade to which Dabu agreed.
Velez would later join Dabu in the Capitol as provincial legal officer and another Panlilio appointee. But their appointments never got the approval of the PB.
A possible replacement for Dabu has also been the latest buzz at the Capitol, "if ever she resigns or is asked to resign by the governor," said some Capitol observers who have floated several names, including Engineer Ferdinand Caylao, the city's administrator and close aide of Mayor Oscar Rodriguez.
Sun.Star has not reached Caylao for his comments as of this writing Saturday. (Sun.Star Pampanga/Sunnex)
(October 26, 2008 issue)
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