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Monday, October 27, 2008
Group disowns position paper
CITY OF SAN FERNANDO -- The chairman of the Kapampangan Coalition Inc. (KCI) has denied his group's involvement in the release of a "position paper" being circulated among the public.
Fr. Restituto Lumanlan, KCI chairman, said the document being distributed to the people of Pampanga "is not the original and contained additional statements" not coming from KCI.
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He said only one position paper was given to Governor Eddie Panlilio during a closed-door consultation at the house of furniture magnate Myrna Bituin in Guagua town some months ago.
Lumanlan made his statement in reaction to the report that Panlilio has branded the position paper of KCI as "unfair and imbalanced."
The governor was quoted as saying: "I was hoping they could be fairer and squarer in their position. I wish they also asked the opinion of other groups."
The KCI chairman said they have not released the so-called "recent survey".
He said the position paper given to Panlilio at the house of Bituin was a detailed account of the current administrative problems in the Capitol, as well as prescribed steps on how to solve such issues.
Among the issues raised by the paper was the removal of Provincial Administrator Vivian Dabu.
"The position paper that we have is the one in February to May (not February to June as earlier reported) but this was presented to the governor and was never released or made public to the media," Lumanlan said, adding that the now circulating position paper has been "doctored" by people with different intentions from KCI.
KCI, an alliance of about 70 different organizations and individuals, said it condemns the publication of a position paper being credited to the organization.
Reports revealed that the "doctored" position paper has been photocopied and is being distributed to the public and being sent through the Internet.
"For whatever ulterior motive, KCI categorically disclaims anything to do with this negative propaganda-type of political gimmickry. We did not give permission to use it (position paper) and to be used this way," Lumanlan said.
Lumanlan said names and personalities in the circulating position paper that were also present in the original position paper have been exposed to the public without their permission.
The statements made by people in the original position paper found their way into the "doctored position paper" despite being made in confidence.
However, Lumanlan was quick to add that the KCI still stands by its original position that Dabu should be removed from her post.
"Attorney Dabu should be replaced and radical reforms undertaken in the Capitol so that the province can move on," he said.
Lumanlan also cautioned the media and other individuals to verify the authenticity of documents being attributed to KCI before taking them as gospel truth.
Panlilio, for his part, reiterated Sunday that he still finds as "unfair" the original position paper of KCI which was given to him sometime in May.
As for the new circulating position paper, Panlilio said: "It is clearly an attempt to discredit me and my administration". (Ian Ocampo Flora/Sun.Star Pampanga/Sunnex)
For more Philippine news, visit Sun.Star Manila. (October 27, 2008 issue)
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