By Harvey S. Keh
Amidst the nation’s mourning over the passing away of international democratic icon and former President Cory Aquino, the Supreme Court decided to rule against the appeal of Pampanga Gov. Eddie Panlilio to stop the Commission on Elections (COMELEC) from proceeding with its decision to start the recounting of votes casted during the last 2007 Gubernatorial Elections in Pampanga. It will be recalled that in 2007, various civil society, church and peoples organizations bonded together to support Panlilio against two of the closest allies of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, then Board Member Lilia Pineda and then incumbent Governor Mark Lapid. Despite having very meager resources and no political machinery to bank on, the support of thousands of ordinary Kapampangans led Panlilio to victory over his two well-financed rivals. This inspiring victory of Panlilio in the home province of the President gave hope to millions of Filipinos worldwide that people power is still alive and well in our country inspite of the numerous political and corruption scandals that many of our current government leaders have been involved in. Despite having no prior experience in politics, Panlilio has since tried his best to govern effectively and ethically, recently leading his province to win the prestigious Gawad Galing Pook Award for Outstanding Local Government Units in 2008.
Now, two years after Filipinos all over the world celebrated this momentuous victory, we are now in danger of losing it because of a pending recount which was filed in the COMELEC by Pineda. While every losing candidate has the right to file an electoral protest, what is surprising is the undue haste and attention that the COMELEC has been giving to this particular case against Panlilio. Currently, there are several other earlier electoral cases that have been filed but have not been acted upon by the COMELEC, doesn’t the COMELEC think that these cases should first be resolved before the Panlilio case? Also, Chairman Jose Melo of the COMELEC even said on record that instead of the usual 4 teams that will conduct the recount, the COMELEC will be forming 21 teams to hasten the recount process. Why single out the Panlilio case again? Could there be a hidden hand from Malacanang moving behind the scenes and influencing officials of the COMELEC? In addition to this, many ballot boxes that have been transported already to the COMELEC main office were found to have been tampered or missing their locks, how can we trust that these ballot boxes still contain what is the true mandate of the people of Pampanga if their contents have already been altered prior to the recount? Finally, the COMELEC has already said that it will spend millions of pesos for this recount, given that Panlilio has less than 10 months to serve before he finishes his term, wouldn’t it be better for COMELEC to focus its attention to ensuring the automation of the 2010 elections and to spend this amount for other more worthwhile expenditures such as providing better pay to poll watchers and public school teachers?
As we continue to celebrate the life that former President Aquino lived in the service of every Filipino, we must also realize that it is now our main duty and responsibility to protect the democracy that she and Ninoy Aquino worked and ultimately died for. One of the main pillars and gifts of this democracy is our duly-mandated right to elect and choose our leaders, this right is again being threatened by politicians whose only aim is to promote their own self-interests at the expense of millions of poor Filipinos. Let us remember that this is not just Panlilio or the Kapampangan’s battle but this is a battle that must be fought by all Filipinos who believe that we can still elect honest and upright leaders in our government. This is a battle to protect the democratic gains that ordinary Filipinos like you and me have made against the politics of guns, goons and gold that continues to be perpetuated by many of our traditional politicians. Finally, this is a battle to prove once again that the true power in a democratic and free society resides in the people and not in the hands of the wealthy and powerful elite.
Let us all remember the wise adage that the only way for Evil to Prevail is for Good men to do Nothing.
Will the Filipino people do nothing and allow our hard fought democracy to be usurped once again by a few? I hope not.
Comments are welcome at harveykeh@gmail.com
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Harvey S. Keh is Director for Youth Leadership and Social Entrepreneurship at the Ateneo School of Government. He is also the Lead Convenor of Kaya Natin, a national movement for Good Governance and Ethical Leadership.
20 Feedbacks on "Panlilio and protecting Cory’s gift to the Filipino People"
Benny Yadao
Very well articulated.
As Thomas Jefferson said: “The price of freedom is eternal vigilance.”
Leon Guerrero
Mr.Harvey my Question is
Do you Believe Mr. Panlilio is a good Leader
Tanungin nyo muna ang mga kapampangan at malalaman nyo ang kasagutan,
ang ganda rin naman nang pambobola mo sa mga makakabasa nang blog mo gambling Lord, and Corrupt Leader ang mga tinanalo nya, Tinalo nga ba nya??????
Stoked
Leon Guerrero - As far as I’m concerned, the Mayors of Pampanga who are loyal to the Pinedas and Lapids, are the ones who attack Gov. Panlilio.
simple lamang ang kadahilanan nito, hindi na nila naipagpatuloy ang bulok na sistema ng gobyerno kanilang nakasanayan, namumutiktik sa kurapsyon, sa illegal na gawain at pagmamalabis sa kapangyarihan.
Kung isa ka sa mga Pilipinong gustong magkaroon ng pagbabago sa bansa, bakit kailangan pabagsakin ang mabuting lider para ipalit ang isang tao na nilamon na ng bulok na sistema?
james
i believe you have a good point, we indeed to be vigilant in protecting our rights and freedom. but i think panlilio is not a good example for us. if he were to serve God and his people, he would have relinguished his power after his term. but power and ambition corrupts. And panlilio is getting used to popularity, to power he currently holds, and now he aims higher by running for presidency. now he develops a self-pride, he now thinks he is the right man for the presidency, he thinks he can change everything that transpired in the past decades that made this country so indebted and impoverished. He has become self-righteous. unwittingly he now thinks he is a demi-god. i think he should go back to his parish and to his job there. he doesnt need to be a president to be a saint or to be a hero. i think we should splash him a boiled hot water again to awaken him from his enchantment. i say wrong choice of persona.
Kapampangan ku Pag Maragul ku!!!
Kakatawa naman tong article na to, one sided. KAYA NATIN TO? Di ba heto yung grupo ni Panlilio? No wonder. Are you a Kapampangan, Harvey S. Keh? Not majority of kapampangan people voted for Panlilio, 1/3 of voters lang ng pampanga ang bumoto sa kanya and 2/3 belong to the other two candidates, Walang HIMALA sa Pampanga. Swerte lang sya that time, ewan ko sa recount ngayon. Goodluck sa kampanya nyo para sa pagkapresidente ni Panlilio, siguradong marami kayong maloloko sa GOOD vs Evil Tactics nyo. Oo nga pala, maraming magdodonate nyan ng mga $$$$$$$$, tyak tataba na naman bank account ni Panlilio.
jose l.m. garcia
“ningas cogon” is as perrenial as the grass to filipinos. believe you me - i love the filipinos. but the historical and pervasive see-saw happentances that occur and recur after each sterling event in our history tend to make me cry as, once more, we fail to follow up and give it a boost to perpetuate those positives in our national character. we are strong as we unite but never really go all the way to complete victory in whatever task we try to do. again, we are fragmented as we can be occasionally one.
good try. but not really…
MCG
Me and my family migrated to Canada because I felt that the corrupt system of our goverment will not change for good in our lifetime or even of my children and worse my future grandchildren. When Among Ed was elected in our province I felt that drastic change will be coming soon, and he did. I am a proud to be kapampangan from Bacolor because of Among.
I response to Leon Guerrero’s (Lito Lapid’s Nickname) I am a kapampangan. He is a good leader far better than his predecessors, worst the LAPID’s. Nobody is perfect at least he is trying to be one.
IamPinoy
I think Ed Panlilio is a leader with his own flaws. I’d rather have someone who is not motivated by greed leading than someone who is reputed to be a gambling lord and someone who has the intelligence of 1st grader.
If the standard of the cabalen community
for a “good leader” is someone who forks out cash (500,1000) everytime they come looking for help then they are seriously disenchanted on how government works. Government does not have the responsibility to feed and clothe us, don’t expect food and clothes to drop out of the sky while you’re at home twiddling your thumbs. A good government makes life easy on the citizens but the key thing is you also have to work in order for you to have a decent life. It seems that the kapapampangans are willing to settle for a leader who robs them blindly rather than someone who tries to serve them as faithfully as possible.
To Pinedas Lapids Fanatics
So what are Panlilio’s fault if he is not really a good leader? Why do you think the Pinedas and Lapids are a much better leader
?
To Kapampangan ku Pag Maragul ku!!!
magkano na ang bank account ni Panlilio??? gaano na kalaki ang assests nya simula ng sya ay manungkulan???
chuck berry
im an american ,i have several filippino family members and i have traveled to the philippines for many years with Sabong. I have had many conversations with politicians thereand find them to be very intellegent and concerned about there beloved country. Patrick Antonio , Miriam Santiago and Speaker Mitra when he was alive. There have been many more, all very intellegent. My politicians here that im involved with cant exceed those in the philippines when it comes to there mental awarness. I cant understand why the goverment in the Philippines hasent made big strides in resolving there countries poverty. Im hoping changes are coming cha-cha soon. I admire your people and many of thier leaders. Good luck! Friend in America. Chuck Berry
lakay
Kapampangan ku Pag Maragul ku!!! Says:
:-)… cguro kahit barilin ka pa sa ulo ay hindi ka mamamatay dahil hindi tatamaan ang utak mo kc napakaliit… utak longanisa pa na galing sta rita… he he he….
August 12th, 2009 at 10:56 pm
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sa 2/3 na sinasabi mo hindi bumoto kay among ed cgurado ako na isa ka na doon… kc isa kng kabo sa hweteng ni pineda… he he he… na nabayaran din ng pambili ng gin… kc hangang doon lng ang presyo mo…
lakay
Leon Guerrero Says:
mabuti pa mga langgam may isip… ikaw sa tingin mo may isip ka? he he he…
August 12th, 2009 at 8:13 am
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ano sa tingin mo nandaya si among ed? he he he… utak mo maliit pa sa langgam… kaya hindi ka rin mamamatay pag binaril ka sa ulo dahil hindi tatamaan ang utak mo…
kobrador
IamPinoy, please do not insult the first graders. You must apologize to them.
MEKENI
Im proud again to be a kapampangan because of among ED. I admired among Ed for his honesty.please visit http://pampangacapitol.com/home.php/ to see the accomplishment of among ed.during the time of lapids the collection for quarry the highest/month is around 48,000pesos now with among Ed the lowest is 16 million pesos/month.Alot of mayor,congressman, board members traditional politician or trapos from pampanga are against the government of among ED because they cannot do want they want the fool people & corrupt the peoples money that they just put it inside their pockets.Alot of us are behind among ED we dont like to have a recount as we all know that pinedas are closed friend of arroyo & arroyo control the comelec.we are afraid that they will change the ballot boxes result infavor of pinedas as we all know that they are the jueting lord in central luzon. I wished & pray that among Ed will still be our pampanga governor.Thank you Harvey for sharing this topic to be able for other filipinos to know that there are still few good public servant in the philippines like among ED
Fred
If Malacanan puppet the Comelec declares Pineda as the winner, we as common Capampangan cannot do anything about this. BUT, come next election thru our ballots let us all rise again and deal a devastating defeat to the Pineda for governor, or Guiao for governor, or Lapid for governor, and let us all pray that Among Ed Panlilio will run for re-election for Governor of Pampanga. Did you notice that all municipal mayors except for Mayor Oca Rodriguez of San Fernando are all against Among Ed? Because, since Among Ed became governor, these mayors were all deprived of their shares of revenue from quarrying that rightfully belong to the common Capampangan. If cheated again, may Among Ed Panlilio heed the calls of his cabalen, and be re-elected as governor of Pampanga in 2010. In an honest election let us all remember we deserve who we vote for, BUT we should guard our ballots.
Fred
To Leon Guerrero and Kapampangan Ku Pag Maragul ku. I can see you are supporters of either Pineda or Lapid or both. Maybe you can convince me to drop Among Ed Panlilio and support Pineda or Lapid, if you can explain the humongous difference between the Lapids’ collection of quarry revenue of approximately P30 million versus Among Ed Panlilio’s quarry revenue of more than P250 million in just two years as governor. Numbers don’t lie. Please provide honest answers to the following: What did the Lapid (father and son) do to the quarry revenue? Is Pineda’s husband really a gambling lord? If your answers are honest and good for the common Capampangan, then I will have a hard time choosing between Pineda and Among Ed Panlilio. But before you answer my questions, pray first to God for enlightenment.
margarita
religion is there to guide and not to lead
Fred
To Margarita. I agree. That is why Among Ed said once an acceptable replacement/candidate for governor is found, he will not run for re-election.
I agree religion is to guide and not to lead, if this is in ordinary times. But, this is not in ordinary times. Corruption in the Philippines is pervasive. Guidance is not enough, strong and honest leadership is necessary. Among Ed was sincere when he said he will not run for re-election if an honest and capable candidate runs for governor this coming 2010 election. This is not the first time in the history of the Church where a priest is leading the people. There were popes in the years 1050 and 1500 who where in their own rights were leaders. They saw the need then. If this doesn’t convince you nothing will. I rest my case.
Anobayan?
This is the reason why our country cannot go up but to decline further because of this/ese shenanigan/s being exercise in our electoral systems. The moneyed losser/s with powerful political backing can always make an appeal of recount and wins while the legitimate winner/s with poor resources will end up cheated. The Panlilio case is obviously being singled out for speedy action since many electoral appeals even cannot rule
out todate. It’s very obvious that the appealant had the backing of the most influential person/s in the Philippines. The SC now is putting their integrity at risks on this issue by allowing the recount and the COMELEC (since day one has lost it’s credibility) is very eager to finish the job. Knowing that majority of them are mam’s kids, they have no reasons but to comply. “Utos ni Mam, dali kundi lagot kayo”".
If Among Panlilio loses, expect the flourishment of huweteng in the region and the quarry income to decline tremendously again. It will be Lapid’s system again.
Will you Kapampangans let this to ever happen again?
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