Account for P1-million campaign contribution, Panlilio asked

MANILA, Philippines – A former political leader and financier of Pampanga Gov. Eddie Panlilio yesterday called for an accounting of the P1 million she contributed to his campaign but which he allegedly did not declare before the Commission on Elections (Comelec).

“Where did the campaign fund go?” Lolita Hizon asked during a press conference in a Quezon City restaurant.

Hizon, who owns a food processing business in Pampanga, said Panlilio’s failure to declare the contribution has triggered the filing of a perjury charge against the priest-on-leave before the Comelec.

“Many were disheartened and disappointed to find out that the governor currently has a pending case in Comelec for alleged undeclared donations during the elections,” she said.

Sought for comment, Panlilio said, “That’s an old issue. We had formed a committee composed of accountants and lawyers on that, and everything had been ironed out with the (Comelec).”

Panlilio advised Hizon to check with the records of the poll body.

Hizon said she contributed at least P6 million to Panlilio’s gubernatorial campaign, excluding those for food during the gatherings of his supporters.

Hizon recalled asking Panlilio about the P1-million anonymous check she had given him and the governor said he knew nothing about it.

“I know what happened so barely after (his) two months in office, I spoke on TV that he should step down… He should explain what he did to that P1 million,” she said.

Hizon, together with Panlilio’s former trusted aides and campaign supporters, including his resigned chief of staff Archie Reyes, said they wanted Pampanga folk to be aware of the political developments in their province.

The group decried what they described as Panlilio’s mismanagement of the province due to lack of direction.

Hizon said the fact that most of Panlilio’s supporters have deserted him shows “that they have looked at the governor as someone not in his right senses.”

“Many Kapampangans are laughing at the idea that the governor is running for president in 2010… If he becomes president, it will rain cats and dogs,” she said, describing Panlilio to be a “hard-headed fellow.”

Hizon added that Filipinos “should think 10 times” before they support Panlilio’s presidential bid.

Candaba Mayor Jerry Pelayo said Panlilio will not even win in his own province if he runs for president.

“The number of votes that he (Panlilio) got was 219,000. Those who signed the petition for his recall numbered 258,000. Even if he runs again for governor, he won’t win,” Pelayo said, adding that none of the Pampanga mayors support Panlilio.

“The sign he is asking for? God won’t permit that because many would be praying that he realizes the truth. God won’t allow to happen to the Philippines what is happening now in Pampanga,” he said.

Both Hizon and Pelayo said Panlilio has not been doing anything, adding that he only wants media mileage.

“What he just wants is to be talked about in the newspapers. He thinks of all the other people around him as corrupt and that he is the only one who is clean,” Pelayo said.

Two other former close advisers of Panlilio, Roperlee Syquia and Fil Rodriguez, also echoed Reyes’ observation that Pampanga is now in disarray because of mismanagement.

Meanwhile, while he remains undecided on whether he would join the presidential derby in 2010, Panlilio said one thing is sure: he would have to surrender his priesthood if he runs.

In a forum at the Ilustrado Restaurant in Manila yesterday, Panlilio said, “If I run, I have to give up my priesthood. I have no other choice… I might be penalized if, for example, I would run for the presidency, and I did not ask for dispensation. They call it contumacy.”

If he does decide to run for the top government post, he said he has to write a formal letter to local Church leaders requesting for dispensation.

“If I ask for dispensation, that means I will run (for a government office),” he added.

At the moment though, Panlilio said he still prefers to return to priesthood rather than remain as a politician.

He also clarified that he was merely being urged by other people to run for president and that he was not volunteering himself to be a candidate.

In another development, Harvey Keh, lead convenor of the group Kaya Natin!, denied reports that he made an arrangement with the Liberal Party to field Sen. Mar Roxas and Panlilio for the 2010 elections. – With Ding Cervantes and Evelyn Macairan