Thus said yesterday Gov. Eddie Panlilio as he expressed disgust over the denial of provincial police director Senior Supt. Keith Ernald Singian that there had been “banging of doors” and ruckus at the height of the rally at the capitol on January 5.
“I could not believe he could blatantly lie,” Panlilio said in an interview at his office.
“If the colonel could lie with many journalist as witnesses, I think he has a serious problem,” said Panlilio. He added that at least five mediamen, including Bong Lacson of Punto and Jenny Salenga of CLTV 36, were with him inside his office when the protesters kicked and repeatedly pounded the door to the governor’s office and that of the Provincial Administrator Atty. Vivian Dabu.
“Or it’s either the sources of Singian are lying and he believed them,” added Panlilio, who was wearing a white polo t-shirt bearing the logo of De La Salle University.
On Wednesday, Singian issued a press statement, saying “we intend to timely refute allegations devoid of truth founded on issues of voluminous hearsays and fictitious stories which can influence public opinion to the great disadvantage and discredit of the Pampanga police force and the PNP as a whole.”
Singian issued the statement following calls made by Panlilio to President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, Interior and Local Government Secretary Ronnie Puno and PNP chief Director General Jesus Verzosa for his removal as police director.
“Before I used the word request, but after he issued the statements, I will now ask the president and PNP to immediately replace Singian,” said Panlilio. He added that he will no longer have a particular choice “but I hope they replace Singian with a good, better and qualified one.”
Panlilio also assailed Singian for allowing the entry of some 70 quarry trucks at the capitol compound before the rally.
Meanwhile, Panlilio stressed that the declaration of the Arnedo Park as a freedom park by the Sangunniang Panlalawigan (SP) “is illegal.” He added that “only city and town councils could declare them as freedom parks.”
Panlilio said “what I really don’t like is that the SP declared Arnedo a freedom park when it’s in front of the capitol.”
”I would not care at all if Arnedo was somewhere else,” he added.
Earlier, the SP, as a body, said “the governor should stop blaming people for his inadequacies and should be humble enough to admit that he is not fit to be the governor of our province.”
