Monday, July 07, 2008 Panlilio accepts Guiao's conditions for dialogue By Ian Ocampo Flora
CITY OF SAN FERNANDO -- Pampanga Governor Eddie Panlilio has agreed to Vice Governor Joseller Guiao's conditions that their dialogue must be open to the public and media.
But the priest-turned-governor wants the dialogue to be mediated by a non-partisan "third party."
Last Tuesday, Guiao issued a challenge to Panlilio that whoever would be proven to have made lapses in the performance of their duties should resign.
Guiao made the challenge after Panlilio blamed the Provincial Board's non-approval of his funding requests for his administration's inability to function smoothly.
On Wednesday, Panlilio replied that he will not step down, adding that Guiao may resign if he wants to. Panlilio said he and Guiao should discuss some issues instead.
Last Thursday, Guiao accepted Panlilio's offer of a dialogue. But the vice governor said the dialogue should be done in public and should be covered by the media so there would be witnesses to what they will agree on.
In an interview with Panlilio over the weekend, he said his dialogue with Guiao should be different from the previous talks with the PB; it should have a non-partisan moderator. He also said he welcomes a dialogue that will have full media coverage.
"Someone should mediate the dialogue, maybe someone from civil society like Rotary or Kapampangan Coalition Incorporated. The person should be acceptable to both parties," Panlilio said.
In a separate interview with Guiao last week, he said Panlilio should set the "parameters" of the talk and the topics to be discussed. He also said he would be inviting some town mayors to the dialogue.
"What should be clear to us now are the parameters for the discussion and the topics to be discussed. It should be the governor who should set these and we will see if we are amenable to such parameters," the vice governor said, who is optimistic that the dialogue would "enlighten" the governor.
Panlilio said his team is ready to face Guiao, the board members, and even the mayors in the dialogue. He said the dialogue should be something "constructive." He said the Benigno Aquino Hall at the Capitol Grounds would be a good venue for the dialogue.
The priest-turned-governor is expected to present the "parameters" of the talk and the specific topics to be discussed to the PB in the soonest possible time.
