MANILA, Philippines--A former supporter and campaign contributor of Pampanga Gov. Eddie Panlilio said the priest-on-leave should forget his plans for the presidency.
In a press conference on Tuesday, Lolita Hizon, a major contributor to Panlilio's campaign kitty in 2007, claimed the priest--who significantly increased the collection of fees from quarrying in Pampanga and stopped the corruption attending the process--had done nothing for Pampanga.
“What has he done? He keeps on going around the country, campaigning. He doesn't do his job as governor,” said Hizon.
She claimed that the governor was often out of his office, instead of staying put and issuing administrative orders.
“There would be more accomplishments if he would just sit down,” Hizon said.
She also called Panlilio a “hard-headed fellow” and described him as “ignorant of governance.”
Hizon said she had a falling out with the governor after discovering that Panlilio allegedly did not report a P1-million campaign contribution to the Commission on Elections, and that the governor only reported P5 million.
“People should learn a lesson and think 10 times before supporting him for the presidency,” Hizon said, adding that Panlilio should step down from office.
Meanwhile, Candaba Mayor Jerry Pelayo doubted if Panlilio could win votes for his presidential bid in his home province of Pampanga.
“In the coming elections, if almost all his supporters withdraw their financial support, then how can he win as President?” Pelayo asked.
He also slammed the governor for severely putting down his town mayors and other provincial officials.
“Nakakahiya na taga-Pampanga siya, pero palagi niyang dinudurog ang dangal ng mga taga-Pampanga (It’s embarassing that he’s from Pampanga and yet, he’s always destroying the honor of the people from Pampanga,” Pelayo added.
Earlier, Panlilio warned that jueteng has been going on unabated in Pampanga because the police were tolerating it.