MANILA, Philippines—Take it from a man of the cloth who has tasted the perks of public office.
Beautiful women and the lure of money are the two biggest temptations for priests entering politics, according to Pampanga Gov. Eduardo Panlilio.
And while he says he has successfully resisted the snare of lucre, Panlilio says jokingly that when it comes to the opposite sex, “it has to be proven yet.”
Panlilio, the cleric who broke the stranglehold of traditional politicians on Pampanga politics by running for governor and winning in 2007, recently sat for an interview with a group of Inquirer editors and reporters.
“There are many temptations. The activist priest Fr. Joe Dizon said there are two. He said the first involved cash and I passed that trial in Malacańang. And then he said there’s another one, women,” he said.
Palace payola
By his own and other people’s reckoning, Panlilio passed the first trial in what has come to be known as the Palace payola incident. The newly elected governor and a group of local officials were attending a Malacańang function in October 2007 when he was handed a bag containing P500,000. After some hesitation, he decided to take the money as “it belonged to the people” and could be used “in a beneficial way.” He also reported the incident.
As for the second, he says that so far he has not faced a moment of temptation though he readily admits that there are “many” beautiful women in Pampanga.
Though he is on leave from his priestly duties while taking a turn in politics, Panlilio does not cease to be a priest and still observes the priestly vow of celibacy.
“Maybe it’s because I passed the first trial so the second one has yet to come,” said the 55-year-old governor, known as “Among Ed” in Pampanga.
True to his calling
Panlilio said a life of prayer, the support of civil society and fellow “prayer warriors” keep him true to his priestly calling and values.
“My room is right beside a chapel so my prayers are really of great help,” he said.
“We have civil society groups who are for good governance and responsible citizenship. We have interfaith gatherings at the capitol. We have prayer meetings,” said Panlilio.
Temptations abound, he said, but “civil society, pastors and priests will go after you. Whatever you do, there will be people who will criticize you so you must decide based on what you think is right.”
He believes he has to make an “accounting to God” and the public for all his actions while in office.
Though Panlilio did not mention it, there is the temptation of power to which every politician has succumbed.
Throughout the interview, there were tantalizing hints of the possibility of running for national office, including the biggest prize of all, the presidency.
Moral leadership
Panlilio said there was a clamor in the country for “ethical and moral leadership” and confirmed that some groups have approached him, urging him to run for “senator, vice president or president.”
But he said that he would only run for national office if there is no other credible candidate.
“If we see that there is someone who will fill up [the post], why would I force myself? I have no political ambition. I will not present myself,” he said.
“If [Chief Justice Reynato] Puno agrees [to run], if Bishop Eddie Villanueva agrees, why would I volunteer myself? I am not a politician. I am a priest. I am a priest in politics,” he said.
While his preference would be to return to the Church after his term ends next year, Panlilio is open to the possibility of running for reelection as governor.
“If God wants it, why not? It’s up to Him but if we see that there is someone who can continue our work, then I’ll withdraw,” he said.
“I would not have joined [politics] if I did not believe that this was what God wanted. So it has become a mission for me. It is a mission that if I don’t undertake [it], something wrong will happen,” he said.
