CITY OF SAN FERNANDO – Gov. Eddie Panlilio said he is ready to find and back an alternative congressional candi-date should Pres. Arroyo run in the second district in next year’s May polls.
“Kapampangans are intelligent people,” he said, as he expressed confidence that “we can find the right person” to be fielded as candidate against Mrs. Arroyo in her district covering the towns of Guagua, Lubao, Sasmuan, Floridablanca, Sta. Rita, and Porac.
In a telephone interview with Punto, Panlilio, who was in La Union yesterday, admitted, however, that “if elections were held now, there seems no doubt that she will win hands down in the district.”
“There are now irrigation projects there and farmers harvest three times instead of once (a year), and they have covered courts. But more and more people are getting fed up with her,” Panlilio said.
He said “there is no doubt Kapampangans loved her before, but many are beginning to realize the Philippines has been shamed and disgraced (under the Arroyo administration).”
Earlier, residents of Porac town said that President Arroyo’s chances of winning a congressional seat in the second district are very slim.
They decried the lack of concern of her eldest son, Rep. Juan Miguel “Mikey” Arroyo, for the health of people and the environment in this town and nearby areas
Residents here have earlier asked Rep. Arroyo to eradicate the long-time problem caused by the stinking piggeries in the town.
Asked whether Panlilio would back an alternative candidate in case Mrs. Arroyo decides to run for Congress, he replied “we might go towards that direction” and that “we will consult with different sectors” for a “collective decision” on this.
While Malacanang has insisted that the President’s recent frequent visits to the second district of Pampanga where she is a registered voter merely manifested her affection for her “kabalens”, it has never categorically stated the she will not seek the congressional post now occupied by her eldest son Rep. MIkey Arroyo. There are reports that the latter, who is merely on his second term as congressman, will instead seek the governor’s post next year.
Panlilio noted, however, that recent developments point to “probability” of the President’s running for Congress.
“There’s the Lakas-Kampi-CMD merger, the push for Con-ass in the Lower House, and the unusual frequent visits of the President to her district. Put together all these and people will be convinced she will really run for Congress,” he said.
He said he agreed with others who suspect that the President’s objective is to land as prime minister should the Con-ass succeed in shifting to a parliamentary system of government. As prime minister, she would probably be immune from prosecution,” he added.
“If she is a woman of dignity, she must face the allegations (against her),” said Panlilio, a Catholic priest-on-leave.
Two years ago, Panlilio stirred controversy after he exposed the so-called “payola scam” in Malacanang. He claimed that governors who had attended a meeting in the palace were given P500,000 cash each.
Panlilio won the gubernatorial race as an independent candidate against pro-administration bets, then incumbent governor Mark Lapid and former provincial board member Lilia Pineda.
The group Kaya Natin! has been urging him to run for president in next year’s elections, but Panlilio said yesterday he remained undecided. He noted that two factors that could make him decide to seek the presidency, namely enough financial resources and a groundswell of public support, are still lacking.
“The surveys show I am rating rather very low,” he noted.
At one time, Panlilio said that if he becomes president, he would prosecute Mrs. Arroyo for the allegations of anomalies against her.
“Kapampangans are intelligent people,” he said, as he expressed confidence that “we can find the right person” to be fielded as candidate against Mrs. Arroyo in her district covering the towns of Guagua, Lubao, Sasmuan, Floridablanca, Sta. Rita, and Porac.
In a telephone interview with Punto, Panlilio, who was in La Union yesterday, admitted, however, that “if elections were held now, there seems no doubt that she will win hands down in the district.”
“There are now irrigation projects there and farmers harvest three times instead of once (a year), and they have covered courts. But more and more people are getting fed up with her,” Panlilio said.
He said “there is no doubt Kapampangans loved her before, but many are beginning to realize the Philippines has been shamed and disgraced (under the Arroyo administration).”
Earlier, residents of Porac town said that President Arroyo’s chances of winning a congressional seat in the second district are very slim.
They decried the lack of concern of her eldest son, Rep. Juan Miguel “Mikey” Arroyo, for the health of people and the environment in this town and nearby areas
Why should we vote for them? We will even campaign against them and our municipal officials who have exchanged the welfare of the people for their campaign funds,” said a resident of Sta. Cruz who gave his name as Juan Hipolito. “The son has not done anything about it, so will the mother too.”
Residents here have earlier asked Rep. Arroyo to eradicate the long-time problem caused by the stinking piggeries in the town.
Asked whether Panlilio would back an alternative candidate in case Mrs. Arroyo decides to run for Congress, he replied “we might go towards that direction” and that “we will consult with different sectors” for a “collective decision” on this.
While Malacanang has insisted that the President’s recent frequent visits to the second district of Pampanga where she is a registered voter merely manifested her affection for her “kabalens”, it has never categorically stated the she will not seek the congressional post now occupied by her eldest son Rep. MIkey Arroyo. There are reports that the latter, who is merely on his second term as congressman, will instead seek the governor’s post next year.
Panlilio noted, however, that recent developments point to “probability” of the President’s running for Congress.
“There’s the Lakas-Kampi-CMD merger, the push for Con-ass in the Lower House, and the unusual frequent visits of the President to her district. Put together all these and people will be convinced she will really run for Congress,” he said.
He said he agreed with others who suspect that the President’s objective is to land as prime minister should the Con-ass succeed in shifting to a parliamentary system of government. As prime minister, she would probably be immune from prosecution,” he added.
“If she is a woman of dignity, she must face the allegations (against her),” said Panlilio, a Catholic priest-on-leave.
Two years ago, Panlilio stirred controversy after he exposed the so-called “payola scam” in Malacanang. He claimed that governors who had attended a meeting in the palace were given P500,000 cash each.
Panlilio won the gubernatorial race as an independent candidate against pro-administration bets, then incumbent governor Mark Lapid and former provincial board member Lilia Pineda.
The group Kaya Natin! has been urging him to run for president in next year’s elections, but Panlilio said yesterday he remained undecided. He noted that two factors that could make him decide to seek the presidency, namely enough financial resources and a groundswell of public support, are still lacking.
“The surveys show I am rating rather very low,” he noted.
At one time, Panlilio said that if he becomes president, he would prosecute Mrs. Arroyo for the allegations of anomalies against her.
