Tuesday, October 30, 2007 Lawmaker backs Panlilio, Mendoza By Raymond C. Garcia
APALIT -- Senate Majority Leader Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan commended Pampanga Governor Eddie Panlilio and Bulacan Governor Joselito "Jonjon" Mendoza for their "courage to tell the truth and to expose corruption in government."
Panlilio and Mendoza admitted receiving P500,000 in a meeting of governors in Malacañang last October 11.
The two governors, said Pangilinan, deserve the support of the public, since they "have stuck their necks out, stood on a matter of principle and stood for the truth even if it is unpopular.” “Their forthrightness gives us reason to be hopeful about the future," he said.
Pangilinan also appealed to other public servants to "start walking the talk by following the example of Among Ed (Panlilio) and Jonjon (Mendoza) and move away from politics as usual and move towards the politics of conviction, performance and principles."
"It cannot be politics as usual if we want the country to move forward and catch up with the rest of the region in terms of progress and development. We cannot do the same things over and over and expect different results. If we want meaningful change, then we must change the way we govern, the way we lead, the way we serve our people. Gov. Ed and Gov. Jonjon are showing us that there is a different way to governance and leadership. We laud them and call on others to support them," the senator said.
Earlier, Pangilinan also said Malacañang has to resolve questions hounding what seems to be becoming a controversial issue on the granting of executive clemency to former President Joseph Estrada.
