Catholic laity backs Panlilio
By Nestor P. Burgos Jr.
Philippine Daily Inquirer
First Posted 00:15:00 10/05/2008
ILOILO CITY, Philippines—The national organization of the Catholic laity has thrown its support behind Pampanga Gov. Eddie “Ed” Panlilio who is facing a recall campaign to oust him from office.
In the statement issued Oct. 1 at the culmination of a three-day national convention of the Council of the Laity of the Philippines here, the national organization of Catholic lay people said they were supporting Panlilio’s campaign to “promote integrity and honesty in the government.”
The statement was issued as Catholic Church leaders called on the laity to be at the forefront of the fight against graft and corruption and for good governance barely two years before the next national elections.
“We are backing (Panlilio) in his fight for good governance and his battle against the proposed recall, which will bring to naught his noble and difficult work against graft and corruption,” the group said in the statement.
Resolution
The resolution was approved by around 500 delegates representing the dioceses of the country.
Panlilio, who is on leave from his duties as priest, was one of the speakers during the opening of the convention last Monday. He was no longer around when the resolution was passed, according to convention secretariat member Joseph Jesalva.
He won the gubernatorial race in a landmark victory against powerful political figures defeating former provincial board member Lilia Pineda and then incumbent Gov. Mark Lapid in the 2007 elections on a platform calling for radical change, good governance and against traditional politics.
But he is facing a recall bid initiated by a nongovernment organization led by a former election campaigner of Pineda.
Citing loss of confidence in the governor’s leadership, the group aims to gather the signature of at least 100,000 registered voters in the province. The number is more than 10 percent of the 977,000 registered voters of Pampanga, which is required in a recall election.
Church leaders have called on lay people to be more active in fighting graft and corruption.
Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) and Jaro Archbishop Angel Lagdameo who spoke in the convention said graft and corruption remains one of the most pressing problems of the country.
“The convention is very practical because this is a good preparation for the forthcoming national elections,” Lagdameo told the Inquirer.
“The Church encourages the vigorous participation of the laity in governance not only in the Church but also of society. The laity must be at the forefront in solving our social problems,” the prelate said.
Bishop Gabriel V. Reyes, chair of the CBCP’s Episcopal Commission on the Laity, said lay people can help minimize if not eradicate corruption.
“Bishops and priests can only exhort them to do it and to provide spiritual formation, but they should be at the forefront,” Reyes said in a separate interview.
He said that based on reports and from accounts of lay people, graft and corruption in the government was worsening.
“The challenge to all government officials in all levels of governance is to live the faith,” said Reyes.
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