Thursday, August 21, 2008 Balas Boys now seek Panlilio's resignation By Jovi T. De Leon
CITY OF SAN FERNANDO -- Protesting members of the Biyaya a Luluguran at Sisikapan (Balas) are now calling on Governor Eddie Panlilio to resign from his post after failing to ax Provincial Administrator Vivian Dabu.
The protestors first zeroed in on their call at Dabu at the start of their demonstration last week and the apparent inability of the governor and the provincial administrator to abide by the terms of the dialogue held at the Social Action Center of Pampanga last month.
The group of 10 former supervisors and checkers, led by Edu de Leon and Alex Pineda, met with Vice Governor Joseller Guiao and Board Member Crisostomo Garbo at the Capitol late afternoon last Tuesday, shortly after members of civil society groups held a historic and pioneering dialogue with the Provincial Board (PB) in an effort to find solutions to the growing problems in the Provincial Government.
The group informed Guiao of their decision to "elevate" their original position seeking for the ouster of Dabu to the call for Panlilio's resignation amid allegations of poor governance and his "failure" to clean up the funding and protocol mess at his office.
De Leon told Guiao that their move to inform him and the PB was an act of courtesy, not wanting to "bypass" the legislative body of the Balas Boys' decision to heighten their protest, saying "it's time for Panililio to step down, too."
The group told Guiao and Garbo that they have the "green-and-go signal and support of the civil society."
The protesting Balas Boys, who had worked with the vice governor in the previous administration, also discussed their grievances and sought his advice on their predicament during the hour-long meeting.
Guiao noted that their termination lacked due process and asked for evidence regarding the alleged anomalies committed by the Balas supervisors after reading the letter of termination shown him by de Leon.
"One probable solution to your termination and reinstatement," Guiao said, "is for you to seek a temporary restraining order from the proper court, but this would take time and might prolong your agony."
The vice governor told the aggrieved group that the issue of their reinstatement is way beyond the PB's jurisdiction, but vowed to conduct an immediate investigation into the hiring and firing of Capitol employees, including the Balas Boys who have been keeping their fingers crossed for reemployment and to return to their posts.
Garbo added that the PB - whom he said has always been pointed to by the administration as the culprit in all their lapses - will start looking into the matter immediately, and that results could be expected as early as August 15. "For a swift resolution of your other concerns like your unpaid leaves and other benefits, I strongly suggest you immediately submit them to the civil society who will draft and submit to us within this week the necessary resolutions regarding these matters," he said.
Guiao reiterated that his and the PB's doors are always open to Balas Boys and the civil society, saying as the meeting adjourned, "Whatever your problems are, we're here to help and support you."
Guiao and Garbo, however, gave no comment whether or not they are with the group in their call to oust Panlilio.
