Perhaps this is not a new headline, because from day one, it has been clear that Governor Ed Panlilio, who was elected as Governor of Pampanga back in 2007, has indeed been harassed, maligned, and discredited by many traditional politicians of that region.
Monday, Jan 5 – In a recent attack on him, his administration, and even his nephews, rallyists protesting a recent ordinance by the Panlilio Administration gathered outside the capitol building of Pampanga and stormed the building. This has been reported by all news media agencies, but sadly it is not getting the much needed air time that it deserves.
CITY OF SAN FERNANDO – Some 70 truck owners, drivers and sacked quarry workers stormed the offices of Pampanga Gov. Eddie Panlilio and the provincial administrator on Monday, kicking and banging on the doors as they demanded a dialogue with the officials.
The metal lock at the main door of the governor’s office flew upon the first jolt, according to two capitol employees.
Panlilio’s security aide, PO2 Ernesto Tabili, said the protesters only stopped when he stood in front of the second door and put his hand on his hip to clutch his service firearm.
…The protesters next went to the office of provincial administrator Vivian Dabu some 20 meters away. She locked herself in her office. Capitol employees in the receiving area asked the protesters to leave.
The protesters then massed up in front of the capitol for a joint rally with 40 retrenched quarry personnel.
In response to this incident, Governor Ed Panlilio issued a formal statement on the matter.
YESTERDAY, AT ABOUT 9:30 IN THE MORNING, SEVERAL RALLYISTS COMPOSED OF FORMER PROVINCIALS CHECKERS AND MEMBERS OF PAMPANGA TRUCKERS WITH THEIR DRIVERS AND HELPERS BARGED INTO THE PROVINCIAL CAPITOL AND PROCEEDED INTO THE SECOND FLOOR KICKING ATTEMPTING TO ENTER MY OFFICE. THE DOOR WAS FORCED OPEN. THE RALLYISTS RETREATED UPON NOTING THAT MY SECURITY OFFICERS ARE READY TO ENGAGE THEM IN COMBAT AND PROTECT ME FROM ANY IMMINENT DANGER.
UNDAUNTED, THE RALLYISTS PROCEEDED TO THE OFFICE OF THE PROVINCIAL ADMINISTRATOR AND LIKEWISE ATTEMPTED TO BARGE INTO HER OFFICE KNOWING FULLY WELL THAT THERE ARE NO SECURITY OFFICERS WHO WOULD PROTECT HER. FORTUNATELY ENOUGH, HER STAFF IMMEDIATELY LOCKED THE DOORS WHEN THEY HEARD THE RALLYISTS GOING UP THE SECOND THE SECOND FLOOR LOBBY.
After some minutes, the rallyists went down, leaving the employees shaken by the incident. This is the provincial capitol. The seat of power in this province. And yet, the Sangguninang Panlalawigan DID NOT see fit to protect us but opened the door for these incidents to happen by unceremoniously and illegally declaring the Macario Arnedo Park as a freedom park.
Not satisfied, at about 11:30 yesterday, the rallyists repeatedly HIT and ATTACKED my two nephews who are here in the country for a vacation. They are here at the capitol to see me. Their infraction: my nephews attempted to tear down the offensive streamers put up by the former checkers. The very streamers for which I have instructed Col Singian to put down, if not arrest the rallysists for violating the law. At the time my nephews were BEING BEATEN, some policeman are just stone’s throw away.
For several months now, we have endured the daily insults thrown at us by these rallysists. Malicious, offensive streamers hung around the park and their trucks carrying libelous, suggestive pictures of me and Atty. Dabu were roving the province.
What happened yesterday merely accentuated the marked incompetence of our police force. For several months now, I have asked Col. Singian to arrest the rallyists. Yesterday morning, I have asked Col Singian to effect the arrest against the the rallyists who attempted to HARM me. Since they were NOT immediately arrested, two of those rallyists HIT my nephews. I again asked Col Singian to arrest them. Col Singian and his men DILLY-DALLIED till the period to arrest had lapsed. TILL THIS MORNING NOTHING HAPPENED. No arrest was made and none will be made.
And so today, I appear before you to express my condemnation to these acts. To the rallyists, who did not follow the rule of law. They held the rally without a permit and even barged into the provincial capitol attempting to harm me. This attack is not merely an attack to me as a person but an attack to the very office I now hold, the Office of the Governor, an attack to the people of Pampanga.
To the Sangugunian Panlalawigan, who violated both law and wisdom in declaring the Macario Arnedo Park as a freedom park. To the police officers in this province, whose ineptitude and incompetence put me and the lives of others in danger.
For more than 18 months now, I have been asking the President no less to replace Col. Keith Singian to no avail. Today, I am raising again my voice calling the PNP leadership, the DILG Secretary, and the President for the relief of Col. Singian, Col. Medina, the chief of police of the City of San Fernando, and their men for gross dereliction of duty and incompetence. And so, today, I am personally filling my petition for their relief to the office of the DILG Secretary, the Chief PNP and the NAPOLCOM.
Lastly, I am appealing to our well-meaning kabalens to open their eyes and be involved. These despicable acts are not merely due to the ineptitude of the police officers, the lack of wisdom of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan, the disrespect to authority and law of the rallyists. These loathsome acts are orchestrated by people who from day one do not wish me to stay a single day longer as Governor of this province. Their recount and recall move have failed. Their last resort is to discredit me, to malign me in public, to humiliate me, to intimidate me, and to make it appear that I am not fit to govern.
Should it take young, idealsistic men who saw the evil of those posters and streamers to make us realize that we have been lethargic in fighting the evil around us? We love this province. Should we remain silent and indifferent by what is happening around us? Please remember, evil triumphs when good men do nothing.
Governor Eddie T. Panlilio
Pampanga
The fact that Governor Ed Panlilio’s rise to elected office was, in a sense, a grassroot’s movement by supporters and people of Pampanga that were fed up with the corrupt politics of their region, should be enough for all of us to focus on this region as a fight for a future of possibilities.
Whatever our politics, many have expressed their dismay that we, as a people, cannot get ourselves out of the patronage politics that have come to characterize The Philippine political atmosphere. The election of Governor Panlilio, is different, because it came at a time, when The Arroyo Administration was hell-bent on derailing this process, it came at a time when The Filipino people no longer believed the election process, it came at a time when we were watching, once again, the mockery of our right of suffrage as The Miraculous Maguindanao votes ran in the headlines of newspapers and major media outlets.
Indeed, the election of Governor Ed Panlilio, in my opinion, was the high point of what occurred during the elections of 2007. A high point, but nonetheless, a time of great rumination. As one had to think, that this bordered on the question of separation of church and state, and this also put forward the clear culture of Filipinos as based on the Catholic faith.
But, Ed Panlilio ran on the platform of good governance, and in a region, and a country, marred with much corruption, such a platform has a great amount of inherent risk and which needs much courage to pursue. Because the backlash of such a platform will come from all sectors, all political positions, and positions that are based high up in the hierarchy of our political system.
For now, this will always be the headline, it has been so since day one, and it will probably continue to be until the last day of Panlilio’s term in office. Let’s just hope that the citizens of Pampanga can see through all of this smokescreen to realize that the instigators in all of this are doing so for all the selfish reasons in the world, the corrupt practices of politicians as applied when not in office, what more when they wish to reclaim that which has been lost to them because of The Governor’s election win of 2007.
Popularity: 1% [?]
Apparently Governor Panlilio fails leaderhip-requirement number 4 — that his lawful requests get implemented by his direct reports.
true.
Nick,
The readers should have been introduced to some background of this disturbing incident. Are these provincial truckers and checkers permanent employees of the province who were “downsized” when Gov. Ed. Panlilio took over the province? Or are they contractors or temporary employees who were sidelined when the governor assumed office?
We highlighted the reaction of the Gov. but the readers were not informed of the “root cause” of the recent “mass action”.
Streets are traditional forum for expressive activities, but government buildings are not. These protesters should make use of the streets only to express their disagreement over government policies short of barging into offices of government official. These protesters can be charged with tumults and other disturbances defined and penalized under Art. 153 of the Revised Penal Code. Or for malicious destruction of public property.
But the greater malady that lies behind this tumult is the increasing discontent of the people over judicial and political processes. We tend to gravitate towards pressure politics (tumults and disruptions of public function) as a way of putting our frustration across because the ordinary channel of vindicating our grievances whether imagined or legitimate is ineffective. It is like going to the streets because impeachment process was derailed.
The apparent disconnect of the media over this present public disturbance should work for Gov. Panlilio’s favor because it denied these protesters media exposure that they desperately needed to drumbeat their grievances, real or genuine.
i mean real or feigned.
Why don’t blogs pick this up? What’s the difference with THIS (incident alone) and the PANGANDAMAN BRAWL?? Clearly this is illegal! AN INJUSTICE! Diba?
I am talking about the act itself as stated above.
Hindi lang mga politiko ang nang-bubully (act itself) and definitely hindi lang ito nagmumula sa mga “mayayaman, o may kapangyarihan”
just my two.
This is a very challenging period in the life of Governor Panlilio. Where before he was used to the subservient nature of his flock, the people of Pampanga, for ministering to their spiritual needs as their priest, now he has no one to turn to except for a few followers and two kins who will eventually leave him again for thier adopted countries where they live.
The Governor is alone, and he is in trouble, even his life is at risk, his present immediate threat from a handful of truckers and truck helpers out to take the law into their hands.
He is isolated. The law enforcers are watching from a distance and won’t help because they are taking orders from their god, and their god is not the governor’s god.
The gods of the law enforcers are watching from above, maybe with a little smile on their faces watching the unfolding drama below, might even be happy and hoping for the success of the governor’s tormentors. For they have their own little children there in Pampanga to take care of waiting in the wings to share the spoils when the governor falls.
So, where are the governor’s flock? Oh, the flock, the once subservient flock now immerse in their deafening silence.
Yes, they are there in the background, watching helplessly. Because the local lords, whose gods are the same god as that of the enforcers, are holding the multitude at bay, in the barrios as well as in the towns. For the Lords holds sway in every place, having for eternity been feeding morsels to the flock derive from the fruit of the forbidden.
Then the Lord of the lords in Pampanga will take over!
And the Lord above will be happy!
Hallelujah!
that’s what i’ve been trying to say all along—hindi pa nga nababago ni Ed Panlilio ang Pampanga, heto ngayon siya at nangangarap na maging Pangulo? This very incident is one proof that he’s needed in Pampanga instead of Pangulo.
Panlilio needs to put order first in Pampanga before he can claim na the entire country needs him.
Exactly Bert, Panlilio is alone. Where are the people who voted for him (which was a little more than a third of Pampanga’s voting population)? Do they really think merely electing a good leader is enough civic duty?
People of Pampanga,
You’re 1 step ahead of all provinces towards good governance. The moment you elected Among Ed, you gave hope to entire country. It can be done!
You have to rally behind Among Ed.
If he decided to stay for Pampanga, give him 3 to 4 PBs around him and Pampanga will go all the way to achieve more than you’ve achieved today.
Get rid of your current PBs.
Imagine this, they have praised Vice Gov for being chosen as national coach but they can’t do it for Among Ed for bringing hundred of millions to Pampanga.
There is no doubt that the hands of Pampanga’s rank and file law enforcers are tied to their backs. It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to establish the theory that the Pampanga PNP officers are under orders to stay away in protecting the provincial capitol. It doesn’t take to even be a high school graduate to establish the fact that the “stay away” orders come not only from Lubao but also from Malacanang. As Fed Pascual correctly puts it, Among Ed is not in the good graces of the Mother of Perpetual Help by the Pasig river, what with the bribery exposure.
I am appealing to the well-meaning citizens of Pampanga (the majority in the province) to go and get moving. History is a witness to Pampanguenos gallantry against oppressors. I hope that today’s generation won’t put a stain to that record.
To among ed,
Among, you need not lead the goats. You are God’s shepherd intended for the lambs to feed and guide. Goats are goats… They can not be lambs. You are not for them. You are for the sheep just as it was planned in the very beginning by God. So please, go home. The real flock is waiting for your shepherding. Leave to satan what belongs to satan. Give to God what belongs to God. Jesus moved to other towns where his message will be heard. Your good news will be heard in a Church of lambs not in the state of goats. Go back… Go home now. There is much work to do at home… Don’t waste any single moment.
i am…..
just a lamb looking for a lost shepherd
Too late. Some people don’t even know what’s happening in Pampanga and probably do not have the right to comment negative stuffs to the Gov. As I have said, it’s too late. The man was just used and all of the people who urged him to run are not doing anything to back him up. Even the lady who donated millions for his campaign is suing him because of a request that was not granted. His term is about to end but still the people aren’t doing anything. Mayors saying that Pampanga is jueteng free, just visit our village and you’ll find the kubradors shouting the winning numbers.