RSSMANILA (UCAN) – Supporters of suspended priest Father Eddie Panlilio are appealing for help to re-elect him as provincial governor of Pampanga, northern Philippines.
Father Panlilio, 56, is running against the well-funded campaign of Lilia Pineda of President Gloria Arroyo’s Lakas-Kampi-Christian Muslim Democrats party.
Businessman Patrick Pantaleon, who is raising support, said in a letter that the priest needed financial backing if he was to win.
Pantaleon belongs to more than 50 groups in Metro Manila supporting Father Panlilio’s re-election on May 10.
“Our campaign funds are very little compared to Mrs. Lilia Pineda and our president,” Pantaleon acknowledged.
Vowing that his group “will continue fasting and praying for what God truly wants in Pampanga,” he appealed to those who believe in the leadership of the priest, who has been serving as Pampanga governor since 2007, to unite by contacting his group.
Father Panlilio faces a tough campaign against Pineda, the wife of Rodolfo Pineda, who is considered a “kingmaker” because of his reputation for funding political campaigns.
The Pinedas have successfully dodged allegations of links to illegal gambling. The Senate’s probe of witnesses’ allegation that Lilia Pineda distributed bribes to regional and provincial election officials at Arroyo’s home in Quezon City in 2004 failed to uncover wrongdoing. The gubernatorial candidate has denied the allegation.
Platform of ‘good governance’
Father Panlilio says he will run on a platform of good governance and demand an end to the politics of money, patronage and influence-peddling.
He won against Pineda in 2007 by just 1,147 votes and faces a disqualification case this late in his three-year term. COMELEC (Commission on Elections) has still to rule on the case Pineda filed against him for rigging votes.
Archbishop Paciano Aniceto of San Fernando, Pampanga, suspended Father Panlilio from the priesthood when he registered as gubernatorial candidate in 2007.
Supporters, including former seminarians, had been pushing Father Panlilio to run for president but the priest backed out after Benigno Aquino III announced he would join the race.
Pantaleon and other supporters say he should continue in government citing the priest’s success as governor. The provincial capitol reports unprecedented quarry revenues totaling 540.48 million pesos (US$11.6 million) during his three years as governor.
Pantaleon said his group will travel to Pampanga, some 60 kilometers northwest of Manila, beginning next week, to help set up Father Panlilio’s campaign.
The official campaign period runs Feb. 9-May 8 for candidates for national positions, and March 26-May 8 for those running for local positions.
PR08765.1588 February 8, 2010 45 EM-lines (414 words)
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