Former governor-priest of Pampanga offered PCSO post

Former Pampanga governor Fr. Eddie Panlilio. FILE PHOTO

ANGELES CITY, Pampanga—-A priest could be overseeing government lotto soon.

Fr. Eddie Panlilio, a former governor of Pampanga, confirmed Friday  that he was offered a post in the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office  after Margarita Juico resigned as chair of the agency.

Panlilio, a Catholic priest who was suspended for entering politics in 2007, said the proposal to join the PCSO as a member or chairman of its board was “unofficially” relayed to him two weeks ago. He said he made no commitment.

He declined to say who in the Aquino administration had asked him to serve in the PCSO.

Panlilio, 60, serves as the titular head of the Liberal Party in Pampanga, with Pampanga Rep. Oscar Rodriguez as president.

“The terms of reference were not yet presented to me. I have to study them,” he told the Inquirer after attending a gathering of the Capampangan in Media Inc. (Cami) at the Holy Angel University here.

Panlilio, also called Among Ed, provided updates on the poverty eradication programs of the micro-financing entity Talete King Panlyuling Kapampangan Inc. (TPKI), which he heads as president and chair. Among is a local term of endearment for priests.

During his stint as governor, and after his term ended, Panlilio had been urging PCSO to replace the illegal numbers game “jueteng” and Small Town Lottery with the Loterya ng Bayan (PLB) to bring in more income to the national and local governments and to ensure gainful employment for collectors.