Priest running for Pampanga gov gets manna from heaven

SAN FERNANDO, Pampanga – Donations may be falling like manna from heaven, but can Catholic votes put a priest in the Governor’s office?

Three days after Catholic priest Fr. Eddie Panlilio filed his candidacy for governor of this province, donations to his campaign have reached an estimated P1 million from various multisectoral groups seeking "good governance" in Pampanga.

In an interview with The STAR, Panlilio confirmed the estimate, saying that some donations were in kind, such as posters. At least 30 local lawyers have also vowed to provide him with legal services for free.

Cellphone text messages and e-mails endorsing his candidacy spread after priests, during their sermons in Masses in all parishes last Sunday, read aloud a pastoral letter issued by Archbishop Paciano Aniceto calling on Catholics and "all people of goodwill" in this province to be wary of the use of funds raised from jueteng and illegal sand quarrying in the coming polls.

Panlilio, who resigned as parish priest of Betis in Guagua town, has been dubbed as the "third alternative" to "two evils" in the gubernatorial race in this province.

He filed his leave of absence with Archbishop Aniceto before he filed his certificate of candidacy last March 28 at the Comelec provincial office in San Fernando City.

Lakas-CMD Gov. Mark Lapid, who has been charged with graft and corruption for alleged anomalies in lahar sand quarrying, is seeking re-election, while provincial board member Lilia Pineda, wife of Rodolfo "Bong" Pineda who was tagged as a big-time gambling lord during the impeachment trial of former President Joseph Estrada, is challenging him under the banner of Kampi.

Panlilio said that some Protestant groups have vowed to support him, even as he called on other Christian groups "which embrace Gospel values" to support his candidacy.

Already, the Couples for Christ (CFC), which has about 10,000 member-couples all over Pampanga, has openly declared support for Panlilio.

Ric Miranda, one of the top officials of CFC, noted that apart from the couples, his group also has thousands of other followers who are members of the Singles for Christ and Youths for Christ who are also likely to support Panlilio.

E-mails titled "Do you care for Pampanga?" from couple Derrick and Danza Hizon of San Fernando are also being passed on to local voters, seeking support for Panlilio.

It also reported that "donations have already started to pour in," noting that the first donors were Methodists. It added that "30 lawyers have already offered their services pro bono, in support of (Panlilio’s) crusade."