CITY OF SAN FERNANDO – Relatives of Gov. Eddie Panlilio have defended him from Malacanang’s challenge to prosecute Pres. Arroyo “if and when” he becomes president.
“The Arroyo administration is replete with history of preventing or harrassing witnesses from testifying, as what happened in Senate investigations of various scandals that implicated members of the first family,” said a close relative of Panlilio.
The relative asked not to be identified, saying that the Panlilio family has never sought to be focus of attention despite the status of the governor and that its members would face publicity only if necessary.
The relative, who has shied away from media since Panlilio, a priest under suspension in the Catholic Church, declined to comment on the sentiment of the Panlilio clan regarding the possibility of the governor running for president in the 2010 elections.
Panlilio was earlier quoted to have said that he would “definitely prosecute” the President “if and when he becomes president”.
Press Sec. Cerge Remonde immediately challeged Panlilio to file charges immediately instead of waiting for his turn to become president.
Panlilio’s relative said, however, that charging the First Family with any wrongdoing would likely be “an exercise in futility as shown by what has happened to the big scandals that rocked the Arroyo government”.
“There were cover-ups, intimidation of witnesses who ended up being victims themselves,” the relative said, as he cited the ZTE-NBN scandal that rocked the Arroyo government.
Panlilio is reportedly being pushed by the group Kaya Natin for president in the 2010 elections, with Isabela Gov. Grace Padaca as his running mate.
In the 2007 gubernatorial polls, Panlilio won as independent candidate against administration bets former provincial board member Lilia Pineda and then incumbent Mark Lapid. He has been at odds over various issues with Vice Gov. Joseller Guiao, members of the provincial board, and members of the Pampanga Mayors’ League (PML) whose president, Lubao Mayor Dennis Pineda, is the son of Lilia.
Panlilio’s statement elicited angry reactions from some Kapampangan leaders now occupying government posts, saying the governor should “stop using the President to advance his personal ambitions.”
“The Arroyo administration is replete with history of preventing or harrassing witnesses from testifying, as what happened in Senate investigations of various scandals that implicated members of the first family,” said a close relative of Panlilio.
The relative asked not to be identified, saying that the Panlilio family has never sought to be focus of attention despite the status of the governor and that its members would face publicity only if necessary.
The relative, who has shied away from media since Panlilio, a priest under suspension in the Catholic Church, declined to comment on the sentiment of the Panlilio clan regarding the possibility of the governor running for president in the 2010 elections.
Panlilio was earlier quoted to have said that he would “definitely prosecute” the President “if and when he becomes president”.
Press Sec. Cerge Remonde immediately challeged Panlilio to file charges immediately instead of waiting for his turn to become president.
Panlilio’s relative said, however, that charging the First Family with any wrongdoing would likely be “an exercise in futility as shown by what has happened to the big scandals that rocked the Arroyo government”.
“There were cover-ups, intimidation of witnesses who ended up being victims themselves,” the relative said, as he cited the ZTE-NBN scandal that rocked the Arroyo government.
Panlilio is reportedly being pushed by the group Kaya Natin for president in the 2010 elections, with Isabela Gov. Grace Padaca as his running mate.
In the 2007 gubernatorial polls, Panlilio won as independent candidate against administration bets former provincial board member Lilia Pineda and then incumbent Mark Lapid. He has been at odds over various issues with Vice Gov. Joseller Guiao, members of the provincial board, and members of the Pampanga Mayors’ League (PML) whose president, Lubao Mayor Dennis Pineda, is the son of Lilia.
Panlilio’s statement elicited angry reactions from some Kapampangan leaders now occupying government posts, saying the governor should “stop using the President to advance his personal ambitions.”
