Saturday, July 05, 2008 Lawyer calls for Panlilio ouster
CITY OF SAN FERNANDO -- Controversial lawyer Elly Velez Pamatong has urged the Pampanga mayors to use their powers and unite in ousting Governor Eddie Panlilio from the Provincial capitol.
"Use your powers and force Panlilio to step down," Pamatong said during Thursday’s "Hamon sa Central Luzon", a public affairs program on CLTV 36.
Pamatong urged the mayors to bring 3,500 to 5,000 people and stage a march rally in Malacañang and the Office of the Ombudsman to speed up the cases filed against Panlilio.
"If you can bring those people in Malacañang, the cases against Panlilio will be decided quickly," he said.
Of Pampanga's 21 mayors, 20 are in opposition to the governor.
Only Mayor Oscar Rodriguez of this city is with Panlilio.
The lawyer has recently filed a perjury case against Panlilio before the Commission on Elections for alleged underdeclaration of campaign donations and expenses in last year's gubernatorial race.
In his complaint, Pamatong said Panlilio "knowingly and maliciously concealed P6,011,329.51 in political contribution and what he declared was only P4,761,699.90.
He said the declarations made by the priest-governor under oath were false as both were understated, and Panlilio knew them to be false.
Vice Governor Joseller Guiao and members of the Provincial Board (PB) have also filed an administrative case against the governor before the ombudsman for not implementing Ordinance 176.
Panlilio has said that he cannot be penalized for not implementing the ordinance because he is not violating any law.
Pamatong joined Candaba Mayor Jerry Pelayo and Floridablanca Mayor Eduardo Guerrero in assailing Panlilio's performance after one year in office.
Meanwhile, Pelayo denied that the mayors are involved in SOPs or payment of commissions in the implementation of infrastructure projects of the Provincial Government.
"It is the governor who controls the implementation of the projects and if there are SOPs involved, he must know them, not the mayors," Pelayo said.
Guerrero also criticized Panlilio for ignoring the mayors in implementing Provincial Government projects in the municipalities.
