by Harvey S. Keh
Contributor

LAST August 21, a group calling itself Kambilan formally launched a movement to recall Gov. Eddie Panlilio of Pampanga. The group aims to gather at least 100,000 signatures from registered voters in Pampanga and submit it to the Commission on Elections (Comelec) as part of its petition to call for a recall election sometime next year.

When Gov. Panlilio was asked about this move to recall him, he said that this move is politically motivated and was initiated by people closely linked with Lilia Pineda, a former board member who ran and lost to Gov. Panlilio during the last election. Lilia Pineda is also the wife of alleged jueteng kingpin, Bong Pineda. Moreover, Gov. Panlilio said that this movement to recall him is a consequence of his recent filing of plunder charges against Bong Pineda for his alleged involvement in illegal gambling operations in Pampanga.

(Editor’s note: Here’s an actual video of Gov. Panlilio reacting to the recall petition taken by INQUIRER.net reporter Abigail Kwok).

As result, civil society groups in Pampanga along with Kaya Natin! recently released statements of support to Gov. Eddie Panlilio. In the statement of Kapampangan Marangal Inc., one of the largest civil society groups in Pampanga, it mentioned that they reject any moves to recall Gov. Panlilio but at the same time they also recommended that Gov. Panlilio improve his way of governing the province to ensure checks and balance especially when it comes to the concentration of responsibilities and power to the Provincial Administrator. Kaya Natin! A Movement for Genuine Change and Ethical Leadership led by Ramon Magsaysay Awardees for Government Service, Mayor Jesse Robredo of Naga City and Gov. Grace Padaca of Isabela also urged Kapampangans to allow Gov. Panlilio to finish his term and wait until the 2010 elections.

Last August 26, an online petitiion to reject the movement to recall Gov. Panlilio was launched and since then almost 1,000 online signatures have already been gathered. The online petition can be found here.

Muslim rebel group Moro Islamic Liberation Front has joined President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo’s call for the postponement of the elections in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM), which is also going to be the election that would test the automated election system mandated by law.

Lira Dalangin-Fernandez also reported on MILF spokesperson Eid Kabalu’s disclosure about his meeting with the President in Shariff Kabunsuan not to discuss the pending peace agreement but to oversee the implementation of a government project involving the clearing and dredging of the heavily silted Rio Grande de Mindanao in the province.

Arroyo’s recommendation came after lawmakers have indicated plans to file separate bills to push for the postponement of the ARMM polls.

Commission on Elections chairman Jose Melo, however, wanted the ARMM polls to push through, but also noted that “it’s up to Congress.”

By Kristine L. Alave
Inquirer

FORMER congressman Robert “Dodot” Jaworski Jr. has vowed to continue his fight for the post of Pasig mayor as the Commission on Elections will start recounting votes from 1,317 of the city’s precincts Monday.

“I want to get closure. In my heart, I know I won in the last elections. I won’t give up the fight. This is for the sake of the people,” Jaworski told the Inquirer.

He reiterated his claim that the official results of the city’s mayoral race in the May 14 elections did not tally with his watchers’ numbers.

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By Inquirer

MANILA, Philippines–The Commission on Elections (Comelec) has accredited the Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting (PPCRV) as its citizen’s arm for the October 29 Barangay (village) and Sangguniang Kabataan (youth council) elections.

In a resolution, the Comelec en banc granted the PPCRV’s August 10 petition seeking accreditation.

The Comelec said that it has considered PPCRV’s commendable participation in past electoral exercises as well as its commitment toward honest, clean, credible, and peaceful elections, for its accreditation of the group.

It added, the PPCRV has also sufficiently complied with the Comelec’s accreditation rules.

The Comelec said that the PPCRV will conduct poll watching and assist voters in various precincts, and assist the Comelec in providing voter’s information and values education in municipalities, cities and provinces. Beverly T. Natividad

By Charlie Señase
Inquirer Mindanao Bureau

COTABATO CITY–After almost five months of waiting, the Commission on Elections (Comelec) has finally proclaimed three winning candidates in this year’s gubernatorial race in Shariff Kabunsuan province.

In July, Governor Zaldy Ampatuan of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) appointed provincial officers-in-charge while waiting for the Comelec’s proclamation of winning bets.

The proclamation was delayed by the election protest lodged by opposition gubernatorial bet Tocao Mastura and his partymates.

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