Monday, September 22, 2008 'Running priest' hits guv's critics
CITY OF SAN FERNANDO -- Rushing to the aid of the beleaguered Pampanga Governor Eddie Panlilio, running priest Robert Reyes lambasted businesswoman Lolita Hizon and Vice-Governor Joseller "Yeng" Guaio as he described the move to unseat Panlilio from office as "dirty patronage politics."
Reyes came to the Capitol last Friday to express his full "priestly" support for Panlilio and defended the latter over the issues of recall and call for his resignation -- and even on the ouster issue of Provincial Administrator Vivian Dabu.
"I am wondering how Guiao became a vice-governor when he is often seen at the PBA (Philippine Basketball Association)," Reyes said, hitting on Guiao's coaching stint in the PBA.
Before the press conference, Reyes also challenged Guiao to take over as governor and "show that Pampanga is not corrupt and clean the Capitol of all its evil."
Reyes also criticized Hizon for supporting calls for the removal of Panlilio. "That is why I no longer eat tocino," he said in reference to Hizon's preserved Pampanga's Best product.
The running priest meanwhile hailed Panlilio for his efforts in the province and even offered to talk to Dabu to give her some tips on "public relations."
Reyes tried to reason with the protesting Balas members to talk issues out but failed.
In an interview with Hizon over the weekend, she just laughed at the words of Reyes.
"Because he (Reyes) is ignorant about the topic and the issues of the province, he should just keep quiet. Birds of the same feathers are the same birds," Hizon said, adding that Reyes is merely using the provincial issues for grand standing and to deflect the issues from Panlilio.
Hizon said the governor should be the one defending himself and not use other national figures to protect and defend him in public.
"All these issues will come to rest if and when a recall election is in place," she added.
In a separate interview, Guiao also called Reyes's comments "unfair," adding that the latter could not comment on issues that are complicated.
"His words are uncalled for and unfair. It just goes to show that he does not have a deep understanding of the issues in the Capitol. The least he could have done if he is really for fairness and good intentions is ask us on our side of the story," Guaio said.
Guiao said Reyes is a non-Kapampangan and only the people of Pampanga can solve their own problems. He added that whatever Reyes said would only be interpreted as intruding into provincial issues.
According to the vice governor, there is an "ardent clamor" from the members of the Provincial Board (PB) to discuss the comments of Reyes and probably even "entertaining the option of declaring Reyes as a persona non-grata."
"Some of the board members have called me up and some are very much considering the clamor to declare Reyes as persona non-grata," he said. (Ian Ocampo Flora)
