Recently in Governance Category

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.