Wednesday, August 27, 2008 PB backs recall petition vs Panlilio By Ian Ocampo Flora
CITY OF SAN FERNANDO -- Vice Governor Joseller Guiao and members of the Provincial Board (PB) have expressed full support for a petition to recall Governor Eddie Panlilio.
Guiao and Board Members Tarcicio Halili, Arthur Salalila, Crisostomo Garbo, Ricardo Yabut, Rolly Macalino, Nelson Calara, Joel Simpauco, Edna David, Ceferino Laus and Karl Domingo formally announced their support for the recall move during Tuesday's meeting at Kambilan Ning Memalen Pampanga (Kambilan) at the Max's Restaurant here.
The Kambilan, which claims to have 5,000 active members all over the province, is the initiator of the recall petition against the priest-turned-governor. The group seeks to gather around 100,000 signatures of registered voters in Pampanga.
The PB members, who signed the recall petition, met and consulted with the group to discuss the possible success and how to fully advance the signature gathering for the political process.
As they affixed their signatures on the recall forms, the PB members said they will support the move "unanimously" and would go to the extent of rallying voters' signatures for the recall.
In an earlier interview, Panlilio said the recall would not prosper because of a still pending recount case against the governor by losing gubernatorial candidate Lilia Pineda.
But Rosve Henson, president of Kambilan, said the recall initiative is "a people's initiative" that would not be affected by the still pending recount case.
"Hundreds of Kapampangans clamoring for leadership change would not see the recount case as an obstacle to the filing of the recount case," Henson said, adding that Kambilan is "well established" to see the recall move prosper.
Henson explained that Kambilan, with its 5,000 grassroots members and its multitude of "anonymous supporters," would be able to fund the activities of the group, including the signature gathering.
The former board member mentioned the support of businesswoman Lolita Hizon, matriarch of the Hizon clan, and businessman Renato Romero for the recall petition.
"There are also splinter groups that we have consulted and are willing to sign and give their support for this initiative, there are also people from the clergy willing to support the campaign," Henson added.
Kambilan is looking at a two-month time frame to gather the 100,000 signatures and expect the recall election to take place by December this year or January next year.
Guaio, for his part, said he and the PB will support the recall for the benefit of the province.
"The leadership of the governor has resulted in the disunity in the clergy, the civil society and the province. I will support this recall, it is not a personal thing, my support is for a more unified Pampanga," he said.
Board Member Joel Simpauco of the Federation of Liga ng mga Barangays here was optimistic that the barangay leaders will also support the campaign for signature gathering.
"I will discuss that matter with the barangay leaders and hopefully they would come out with a unified stand on the issue," Simpauco added.
The recall process involves the long process of signature gathering, verification and opening up the gubernatorial post for an election.
Asked who would be the possible candidate to replace Panlilio, Henson said leaders of the province could discuss the matter when the recall is proven successful.
"This recall can be a verification of the people's support or dissatisfaction with the governor's performance. Either way we believe that this can unite the province on a more stable leadership," Henson said.
Henson likewise berated Panlilio for taking the recall issue in the national level.
Last Monday, Panlilio and the Kaya Natin! Movement held a press conference in Ateneo de Manila.
The Kaya Natin Movement, a group that advances the advocacy for good governance to which Panlilio is a member, expressed support for the governor against the recall move.
"The recall move is a provincial issue and it should not be carried to the national limelight. The worst is, those who are commenting on this issue are not even from Pampanga," Henson said.
He said that signature gathering has already commenced and that they are set to gather more support from the political and civil society sectors.
