Eddie Panlilio

Infobox_Governor


name=Eddie T. Panlilio
caption=
order=26^th
office=Governor of Pampanga
term_start= June 30, 2007 [cite web
url = http://www.dilg.gov.ph/LocalGovernmentCode.aspx
title = Local Government Code
accessdate =
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author = Sec. 43, Local Government Code of 1991
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publisher = Philippine Congress
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lieutenant=
predecessor=Mark Lapid
birth_date= birth date and age|1953|12|06
birth_place= Minalin, Pampanga, Philippines
height =
death_date=
death_place=
spouse= Celibate
profession= Priest
party=Independent
religion=Roman Catholic
footnotes=

Eddie "Among Ed" Tongol Panlilio is a Filipino Roman Catholic priest who was elected as the 26th governor of Pampanga. He was suspended from his priestly ministry upon announcing his intention to run as governor. He is the second priest to be elected to public office in the Philippines (the first being Fr. Margarito Gonzaga, who was elected mayor of Alburquerque, Bohol in 1971). [cite web
url = http://www.lawphil.net/judjuris/juri1978/nov1978/gr_34854_1978.html
title = Pamil vs. Teleron, L-34854, November 20, 1978
accessdate = 2006-09-06
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Personal Background

Fr. Ed Panlilio is the 6th of the Panlilio brood of seven. He was born in Minalin, Pampanga on December 6, 1953 to parents Gervacio Panlilio and Catalina Tongol. The 53 year-old priest has made his mark as a prime-mover for social development, a dedicated and well-loved priest and pastor, and a leader. He is afflicted with vitiligo, a rare skin disease.

Priesthood

“Among Ed,” as he is fondly called, is noted for his eloquence as a preacher. But the poor of Pampanga know him better as the tireless director of the Social Action Center of Pampanga (Sacop) who put a face to the Church’s presence among the communities displaced by lahar in the 1990s. Today he is recognized as the visionary behind the province’s most successful micro-lending program for the poor. "(Comments attributed to Randy David)" Specifically, for 15 years, Panlilio was head of the Archdiocese of San Fernando's Social Action Center of Pampanga (on Mt. Pinatubo's 1991 eruptions). He also established the Talete Panyulung ning Kapampangan Inc. (TPKI), based on the Grameen Bank-approach. Now on its 20th year, TPKI released P2 billion in loans to small entrepreneurs in Central Luzon. [ [http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/breakingnews/regions/view_article.php?article_id=110740 newsinfo.inquirer.net, Gawad Kalinga takes Panlilio as partner in lifting poor] ]

Fr. Ed Panlilio lives a simple life, born out of respect and understanding of the plight of the marginalized and neglected in Kapampangan society. As a priest, he has been guided by the mission to “reflect the love of God and witness the character, personality and qualities of Jesus to help the people who have been entrusted to his care, especially the needy”.

The call to a priestly ministry came early on while the young Ed was in his teens. After finishing elementary at the Minalin Central Elementary School, he opted to enroll at the Don Bosco Academy as a sophomore after spending a year as a freshman at the Don Honorio Ventura College of Arts and Trades (DHVCAT). His exposure to seminarians in the religious-run school could have motivated him to join them as an aspirant.

It was not a smooth and steady climb to the priesthood. He was in and out of various seminaries as he went through a long discernment process. There was no turning back after he made the decision to pursue a priestly vocation; he was finally ordained priest in December 13, 1981 (after finishing his Theology Studies at the St. Augustine Major Seminary). In December 2005, the Archdiocese of San Fernando joined Fr. Ed in celebrating the silver anniversary of his sacerdotal ordination. "(Excerpts from Fr. Ed Panlilio's Profile)"

Panlilio, along with two other priests, was suspended from his pastoral duties for running for elected office in 2007. Bishop Leonardo Medroso, chairman of the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines Episcopal Commission on Canon Law cited a conflict between a role in political parties and in the church. [ [http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/storypage.aspx?StoryId=104678 AbsCbn, Priests urged: Keep out of politics] ]

Gubernatorial Campaign - May 2007

Panlilio ran for the position of governor of Pampanga province in the 2007 Philippine general election. Panlilio defends his controversial decision to pursue a political role as a logical continuation of his ministry for the poor, whom he sees as having been exploited and neglected for too long by successive administrations of corrupt and uncaring politicians. [cite web | last = David| first = Randy | title = (Last updated 01:01am Mla time) A priest in politics |publisher = INQUIRER.net | date = 2007-04-01 | url = http:// http://opinion.inquirer.net/inquireropinion/columns/view_article.php?article_id=58175 ]

His experience under the Social Action Center spurred him to announce his intention to run as the governor of the province. Because of this, he was suspended from his priestly ministry and is forbidden to perform any duties as a priest, including saying Mass. He won over his two leading competitors, provincial board member Lilia Pineda and re-electionist governor Mark Lapid (both allies of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo), winning over Pineda by a slim margin of only 1,147 votes out of a total of over 600,000 votes cast for all three candidates. [cite web |last=Orejas |first=Tonette |title=(UPDATE 2) Catholic priest elected Pampanga governor |publisher=inquirer.net |date=2007-05-18 | url=http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/breakingnews/regions/view_article.php?article_id=66755 |accessdate=2007-06-01] .

His campaign song is "Kapampangan Ku", composed by Andy Alviz, who also served as the creative director of Panlilio's campaign and later as his advisor for culture and tourism. [cite news|publisher=Sun-Star Pampanga|title='Blueprint' for Pampanga's culture, tourism promotion ready|last=Ocampo Flora|first=Ian|date=7 August 2007|accessdate=2007-08-10|url=http://www.sunstar.com.ph/static/pam/2007/08/07/news/.blueprint.for.pampanga.s.culture.tourism.promotion.ready.html] A coffee table book called "Luid Ka!" narrates the details of Panlilio's unlikely campaign. [ [http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/breakingnews/regions/view_article.php?article_id=108658 Inquirer.net, Book details priest's march to victory as Pampanga gov] ]

Governorship

Inauguration

Eddie Panlilio was inaugurated as the 26th governor of the province of Pampanga on June 30, 2007. Associate Justice Consuelo Ynares-Santiago of the Supreme Court administered the oath of office. During the inauguration, the new governor vowed to stop corruption and to make the province an example of a “new dawn in Philippine politics”. [cite web | last = Orejas | first = Tonette | title = Fr. Ed vows new dawn in politics = Philippine Daily Inquirer | date = 2007-07-01 | url = http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/inquirerheadlines/nation/view_article.php?article_id=74126 ] [cite web | last = Pascual | first = Federico | title = Priest-governor’s move against jueteng awaited = Philippine Star | date = 2007-07-01 | url = http://www.philstar.com/index.php?Opinion&p=49&type=2&sec=25&aid=20070630103] On July 4, 2007 Among Ed began serving his term amid the province's hope to erase its reputation of being the country's Vatican of "jueteng" or illegal gambling. Pampanga has had a long history of patronage politics and corruption. [cite web | last = Ong | first = Christie | title = Catholic Priest elected in the Philippines begins term as Governor = ChannelNews Asia | date = 2007-07-04 | url = http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/southeastasia/view/286207/1/.html]

Quarry Industry

One of Panlilio's achievements in office was to increase the province's revenue from quarry taxes. It is suspected that under previous governors, notably Mark Lapid and Lito Lapid, the large quarry industry was riddled with corruption and graft. [cite web | last = Orejas | first = Tonette | title = Panlilio to distribute half of quarry revenues to 13 towns = Inquirer.net | date = 2007-07-16 | url = http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/breakingnews/regions/view_article.php?article_id=76918] [cite web | last = Orejas | first = Tonette | title = 28-day quarry income exceeds 2006 earnings = Inquirer.net | date = 2007-08-13 | url = http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/breakingnews/regions/view_article.php?article_id=82161] The increased tax base has led to fighting among mayors over the new revenue. [ [http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/inquirerheadlines/regions/view_article.php?article_id=90105 Inquirer.net, Board votes in favor of mayors vs Panlilio] ]

Pamisaupan

On August 27, 2007, Panlilio campaigned to bring his government closer to the Kapangpangans by leading the caravan "Pamisaupan" ("Helping One Another")" in Pampanga. Panlilio and his team delivered bags of cement, toilet bowls, boxes of floor tiles and cans of paint to San Luis Hospital which has only 2 doctors, 8 nurses and 10 midwives to serve 140,000 residents of San Luis, San Simon and Candaba towns. Panlilio further vowed to improve the facilities and conditions in the province's 9 district hospitals including the Diosdado Macapagal Provincial Hospital from funds (P143-million development fund) and private groups' contributions. Panlilio stated: "What we are doing is bringing the provincial government's services to the people to make health, education and livelihood assistance accessible to them". The capitol's P37-million special education fund (SEF) would be utilized for the SEFs of towns. [ [http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/breakingnews/regions/view_article.php?article_id=84970 Inquirer.net, Panlilio brings government closer to people] ]

On September 15, 2007, Panlilio, 53, in his 5th "Pamisuan", personally led 348 officials and employees and cleaned the century-old canopy of Pampanga capitol building's façade. Among the eight previous governors since 1938, Panlilio was the second to have led a general cleaning (the first was Juanita Nepomuceno in 1977).

White Ribbon campaign

Gov. Panlilio, launched the White Ribbon campaign on October 1, 2007 to engage the people of Pampanga to get involved in the crusade for good governance and good citizenship. Some 70 people gathered and white ribbons marked with words "Good Governance" and handbills with messages were distributed. Panlilio stated: "I believe that the spirit of the white ribbon is still very much alive. This campaign is really a call and for a response to people to be involved in good governance and good citizenship"." [ [http://www.sunstar.com.ph/static/net/2007/10/02/san.fernando.capitol.launches.white.ribbon.campaign.(11.10.a.m.).html SunStar, San Fernando: Capitol launches White Ribbon campaign (11:10 a.m.)] ]

Lawsuits and controversies

Bribery and plunder issues

On October 13, 2007, Eddie Panlilio admitted that a palace staff personally gave him a brown paper gift bag with P500,000 (P1,000 bills in 5 bundles, P100,000 each). Panlilio confessed that money changed hands after the meeting "because as a priest and a public officer, I should not lie. I believe that since the money came from Malacanang, I also believe it is public money. So I should be accountable for it and transparent about it"." Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo called the meeting with 200 officers of the Union of Local Authorities of the Philippines (Ulap), an organization of governors, mayors and other local officials. It was held after Mrs. Arroyo met 190 congressmen, where envelopes of P200,000 and P500,000 were distributed. Cebu Rep. Antonio Cuenco confirmed he was given P200,000 as "Christmas gift"." [ [http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/inquirerheadlines/nation/view_article.php?article_id=94297 Inquirer.net, Saying he can't lie, Fr. Ed admits taking P500,000] ]

Panlilio on June 23, 2008 filed a 6-page complaint-affidavit for plunder against Lubao businessman Rodolfo “Bong" Pineda before the Ombudsman in Quezon City. He accused Pineda of conspiracy with Joseph Estrada, based on the verdict rendered by the Sandiganbayan. [ [http://www.gmanews.tv/story/102829/Pampanga-gov-files-plunder-case-vs-Bong-Pineda gmanews.tv, Pampanga gov files plunder case vs Bong Pineda] ]

Pampanga Bishop Pablo Virgilio David, on July 10 led the 69 bishops-signatories (of 80 bishops who attended the July plenary assembly of the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines), to petition the Ombudsman, to “really attend to the merits” of the plunder case. Bishop Broderick Pabillo, director of the CBCP National Secretariat for Social Action, on the request of the Pampanga Anti-Gambling Council (PAGC) appealed to the CBCP. The letter states: “In the whole trial of Estrada, the name of Bong Pineda was mentioned several times. But he was dropped along the way. He has been free and no case was filed against him.” [ [http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/inquirerheadlines/nation/view/20080711-147737/69-bishops-back-Panlilio-plunder-case-vs-Bong-Pineda inquirer.net/inquirerheadlines, 69 bishops back Panlilio plunder case vs Bong Pineda] ]

Panlilio’s Expose Triggered Lawyers’ Ad Against Corruption

Integrated Bar of the Philippines (48,000 members in 83 chapters nationwide) president Feliciano Bautista informed Newsbreak newspaper that the bribery expose of Governor Eddie Panlilio triggered hitting the “culture of corruption” in the Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo administration. The advertisement was published in the Philippine Daily Inquirer on December 17 and in Philippine Star on December 20. IBP called for 3 courses of action: a) "prosecution of cases against corrupt government officials, b) continued Senate investigation on alleged corruption in government contracts, and c) filing of an impeachment case against President Arroyo." [ [http://www.newsbreak.com.ph/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=4033&Itemid=88889051 newsbreak.com.ph, Panlilio’s Expose Triggered Lawyers’ Ad Against Corruption] ]

Corruption, perjury and 19 PML war

Panlilio on June 26, 2008, in his 20-page counter-affidavit filed with the Office of the Ombudsman, moved for the dismissal of the April, 2008 (Vice Governor Joseller Guiao / provincial board / Panlilio supporter Lolita Hizon) corruption (R.A. 3019) suit against him failure to implement the September, 2007 Ordinance 176. DOJ Justice Secretary Raul M. Gonzalez did not act on Panlilio's November, 2007 petition to nullify the ordinance, for it was "not a tax ordinance," further ruling that the P 300 was a "regulatory fee." Panlilio's however, who obtained a temporary restraining order from the Pampanga RTC (challenging Gonzalez's ruling), also asked for the suspension of the Ombudsmand perjury case, on the ground of "prejudicial question" raised by the Pampanga civil action. [ [http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/breakingnews/regions/view/20080626-144966/Panlilio-seeks-dismissal-of-graft-case-over-quarry-ordinance newsinfo.inquirer.net, Panlilio seeks dismissal of graft case over quarry ordinance] ]

In Diliman, Quezon City, Candaba Mayor Jerry Pelayo, in tears, joined by 18 Pampanga mayors (except San Fernando and Angeles mayors) waged war against Panlilio by means of prayer. The members of the Pampanga Mayors League (PML) on June 26, 2008, attacked Eddie Panlilio due to his "autocratic style of governance" and alleged poor performance in office. The PML released the statement: "Panlilio is a type of leader who loves to project himself in media as good and working governor when in fact he has not accomplished anything significant for the welfare of the Kapampangan and for the development of the province for almost a year in office except the increase in quarry collection." [ [http://www.gmanews.tv/story/103583/Pampanga-mayors-declare-war-vs-Governor-Panlilio gmanews.tv, Pampanga mayors declare 'war' vs Governor Panlilio] ] [ [http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/storypage.aspx?StoryId=123152 abs-cbnnews.com, Pampanga mayors lambast Panlilio for non-implementation of projects] ]

Lawyer Elly Velez Lao Pamatong filed a perjury criminal case with the COMELEC Legal Department on June 24, 2008, against Eddie Panlilio for under-declaration of expenditures and contribution receipts: "Contrary to law, Fr. Eddie T. Panlilio, knowingly and maliciously concealed P6,011,329.51 in political contribution and what he declared was only P4,761,699.90." [ [http://www.sunstar.com.ph/static/net/2008/06/26/pampanga.guv.faces.perjury.html sunstar.com.ph, Pampanga guv faces perjury] ]

Recall under COMELEC Resolution 7505

On August 21, 2008, an NGO "Kapanalig at Kambilan Ning Memalen Pampanga Inc." (Kambilan), led by its president Rosve Henson, a former election campaigner of losing gubernatorial candidate Lilia Pineda, launched a recall campaign against Panlilio, on the ground of loss of confidence in the governor’s leadership. In the case of Pampanga, the required petitioners must be at least 98,703 which represent 10% of the total number of registered voters in Pampanga as of 20 April 2007, the Philippine general election, 2007. This is based on the records of COMELEC (www.comelec.gov.ph), as required by Section 74, RA 7160, and COMELEC Resolution 7505 , in relation to ARTICLE X, Sec. 3 and Section 74 of R.A. 7160, LOCAL GOVERNMENT CODE [http://www.chanrobles.com/localgovfulltext.html] , as amended by Section 1, RA 9244. [http://www.ops.gov.ph/records/ra_no9244.htm] Panlilio is the first Pampanga governor which was subject of the recall campaign. [ [http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/inquirerheadlines/regions/view/20080822-156095/Recall-petition-vs-Among-Ed-started newsinfo.inquirer.net, Recall petition vs Among Ed started] ] [ [http://www.gmanews.tv/story/115233/Recall-move-vs-Pampanga-gov-launched gmanews.tv/story, Recall move vs Pampanga gov launched] ]

436th Pampanga Day

Amid a musical concert by the ArtiSta. Rita and a fair of native food in the December 2, 2007 6th Duman Festival at the centuries-old Sta. Rita de Casia parish church, Panlilio was the first Pampanga chief executive to have graced it. Duman is the Epitome of Artisanal Food, thus, for the duman makers, he sang “Siuala (The Voice),” and stated: “Let us be inspired by our duman makers. Let’s live by hard work and work together to bring progress to our families and communities.” [ [http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/inquirerheadlines/regions/view_article.php?article_id=106286 Inquirer.net, Hail to Pampanga’s ‘duman’ makers] ]

On December 3, 2007, Panlilio led guests in thanksgiving prayers (observance of the 436th founding anniversary of Pampanga by Spain). For the 7 p.m. dinner, the biggest less-garnished bringhe “kalameng manuk” or Aeta chicken cake (indigenized version of the Spanish Paella) was cooked on convert|10|ft|m|sing=on wide black iron paellera (pan) by Claude Tayag and 21 student chefs from the Angeles University Foundation (AUF), with ingredients: 4 liters, cooking oil, 5 kg, finely minced garlic, 10 kg chopped red onions, 100 kg Magnolia boneless chicken breasts, 5 kg chicken gizzards, 50 cans Purefoods chorizo (sausage) Bilbao, 8 liters fish sauce, 2 kg grated turmeric, 100 kg glutinous rice, 50 kg chicken soup, 50 kg first-pressed coconut milk, 2 kg raisins, 5 kilos red bell pepper and 15 dozens hard-boiled eggs. 2,000 servings (each bowl contained 12 oz) were served with a P20-donation for the SVD mission in Porac, Pampanga.

The governor and Clark International Airport Corp. executive vice president Alex Cauguiran unveiled the giant convert|20|ft|m|sing=on sitting and smiling fiberglass Santa Claus at SM City Clark, the biggest in the Philippines. He also attended and graced the Pamangan Capampangan food festival rganized by the Sinukwan Festival Committee and the Save Pampanga Movement. [ [http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/inquirerheadlines/regions/view_article.php?article_id=104937 Inquirer.net, Pampanga folk cook biggest ‘bringhe’ ever] ]

Gawad Kalinga housing

On January 6, 2008, Gawad Kalinga leader Antonio Meloto and Among Ed launched the GK Village in Barangay Tabun. GK goes for "massive partnerships" with Panlilio's housing program for poor families. Mayor Marino Morales opened the Tabun village in June 2007 with the support of Couples for Christ, the Santos Ventura Hocorma Foundation and the Cabinet spouses. Dr. Reynaldo Espiritu, CFC, said GK put up 10 villages in Pampanga. Jose Luis Oquiñena , GK executive director, told the settlers: "Walang iwanan (No one will be left behind)" - the GK's slogan 2008. [ [http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/breakingnews/regions/view_article.php?article_id=110740 newsinfo.inquirer.net, Gawad Kalinga takes Panlilio as partner in lifting poor] ]

Filipino of the Year 2007

On January 13, 2008, Panilio was named (20 votes, over Chief Justice Reynato Puno, 15 votes), the Philippine Daily Inquirer "Filipino of the Year 2007". Panlilio struggles with the 3 Rs of no-holds-barred Pampanga political resistance: recount (political protest by Pineda), recall (petition) and ‘‘requiem (death threats).” [ [http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/inquirerheadlines/nation/view/20080113-111988/Gov-Ed-Panlilio-is-Inquirers-Filipino-of-the-Year-2007 Inquirer.net, Gov. Ed Panlilio is Inquirer’s Filipino of the Year 2007] ] Meanwhile US based Filipino members of the Global Filipino Nation (GFN) and Fr. Resty Lumanlang, chair of the Save the Pampanga Movement, formed a coalition "to push for the platforms of change and get rid of corruption in the local government." [ [http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/storypage.aspx?StoryId=105374 www.abs-cbnnews, US-based group supports Panlilio] ] On February 19, 2008, the Supreme Court issued a status quo ante order stopping the Commission on Elections from recounting the votes in Pampanga pending resolution of a petition for certiorari filed by Gov. Eddie Panlilio. [ [http://www.gmanews.tv/story/81230/SC-stops-Comelec-from-holding-Pampanga-recount---report gmanews.tv/story, SC stops Comelec from holding Pampanga recount - report] ] On March 4, 2008, the Supreme Court resolved to deny Lilia Pineda's motion to lift the February 18 status quo order. [ [http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/breakingnews/regions/view/20080318-125570/SC--Recount-of-Pampanga-votes-remains-suspended Inquirer.net, SC: Recount of Pampanga votes remains suspended] ]

References

External links

* [http://amonged.org/ amonged.org] - Fr. Ed Panlilio website
* [http://www.sacop.org.ph/ sacop.org.ph] - Social Action Centre of Pampanga (SACOP)