Saturday, August 16, 2008 Balas Boys, supporters vow to mount protest By Ian Ocampo Flora
CITY OF SAN FERNANDO -- Former supporters and the recently dismissed members of the Biyaya A Luluguran at Sisikapan (Balas) are now amassing local support -- not for another election campaign but for the resignation of Provincial Administrator Vivian Dabu.
Disenchanted former supporters led by businessman Rene Romero, furniture magnate Myrna Bituin, former chief-of-staff Archie Reyes and the former members of the Balas said they will "snowball" their call for Dabu's resignation.
Some even said "sectors" have pledged support and are ready to rally "warm bodies" for the protesters.
The Balas picket, now on its fourth day, came after Panlilio allegedly failed to abide by the agreed "unconditional reinstatement" of the quarry task force members, whose services were earlier terminated by Dabu for staging a rally in front of the Capitol two months ago.
Prior to their rally, they were protesting their demotion, which was made after alleged anomalies and complaints in quarry monitoring surfaced.
The disgruntled Balas members called for the resignation of Dabu.
But civil society groups were able to persuade the Balas employees to meet with Panlilio.
The meeting was attended by civil society groups Kasaup and Kapampangan Marangal, Incorporated at the Social Action Center of Pampanga (Sacop) and moderated by Fr. Deo Galang.
The Balas boys said the governor failed to abide by what had been agreed upon in the nine-hour dialogue.
Last Wednesday, around 50 individuals from a "civil society" group trooped to the Balas rally post near the perimeter of the Arnedo Park to sympathize with the protesters.
The alleged group refused to reveal which group they belong to.
Eduard de Leon said programs were scheduled in the early morning and late
afternoon so as not to disturb regular Capitol working hours.
"We will intensify our call. We expect people and supporters to amass day after day, this is to show Governor Panlilio that we are very committed to see the resignation of Atty. Dabu," de Leon said.
Supporters of the group managed to set up recorded speeches and put up streamers using the colors of the Panlilio election campaign.
But this time the streamers turned against Panlilio's "stubborn" refusal to let the ax fall on the provincial administrator.
"Its like the election time when we supported Governor Panlilio. It's just too sad that it had to come to this. There have been so many who have fallen from the campaign but the governor wants to keep one administrator and let others go," Roperlee Suiquia told attendees in a night vigil program which lasted in the wee hours of the night.
Bituin said: "Dabu may be a good lawyer but being a provincial administrator needs people skills and gathers supporters for a worthy cause... She has become a very big liability to this government."
The protesters warned that Panlilio should start thinking of the fate of Dabu before more people amass in front of the Arnedo Park.
Panlilio, however, seems unmoved by the plans of the group. He said he will continue to offer the possibility of a dialogue.
"I still offer them the possibility of settling these issues through a formal and heart-to-heart dialogue," Panlilio added.
But some Balas members said they are not entirely convinced on holding another dialogue since the governor does not abide by what has been discussed.
