Ateneo official rallies support for embattled Panlilio

check this out guys...kung tingin nyo me pag-asa pang magkaroon ng good governance sa Pinas...send an email of support to Gov. Panlilio thru wesupportgovpanlilio@gmail.com

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November 12, 2007
Updated 20:57:27 (Mla time)
TJ Burgonio
Inquirer

MANILA, Philippines -- A youth leader at the Ateneo de Manila University is rallying support for Pampanga Governor Ed Panlilio who has come under fire from local officials over his exposé of alleged bribery in Malacañang.

Harvey Keh, director for Youth Leadership and Social Entrepreneurship of the AdMU's School of Government, urged the public to send an email of support for the embattled governor at wesupportgovpanlilio@gmail.com.

"I'd like to ask for a few minutes of your time to send an email of support to Governor Ed Panlilio. Let us all tell him that we are behind him in his quest for the Truth,'' he said in an email.

"What is at stake here is not only the people of Pampanga but the nation as a whole. Governor Ed exposed what has long been happening in Malacañang and now he is being punished for it. Will you do something about it?''

Keh said that Panlilio has come under fire from local officials in the province since his exposé.

"Right now, local officials in Pampanga led by Vice Governor Yeng Guiao are ganging up on him and marginalizing him by not respecting his authority as governor,'' he said.

Some media publications in the province were also being used to "destroy his credibility, '' he added.

Panlilio admitted receiving a P500,000 cash gift following a breakfast meeting with President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo in Malacañang on October 11. Some congressmen later followed suit.

The President disclaimed any knowledge of the handouts that came on the heels of a fresh complaint to impeach her over a controversial broadband deal with a Chinese firm, among others.

Occidental Mindoro Representative Ma. Amelita Villarosa, a member of the President's party, Kabalikat ng Mamamayang Pilipino (Kampi), said that Kampi was the source of P500,000 given each to at least two congressmen.

Keh said that Panlilio has been performing well in less than six months in office, but has now become the object of black propaganda.

He said for instance that the governor managed to raise a certain amount of quarry taxes in two months, which his predecessor raised in a year.

The mayors and board members are now demanding part of this collection money, and were blackmailing the governor by threatening not to pass key legislation that will benefit the people of Pampanga, according to Keh.

"Isn't this a familiar refrain in our country? Someone does good and yet he is often punished for doing what is right. And worse, while this is happening, many of us just turn a blind eye, without doing anything,'' he said.

"It is no wonder why majority of our government leaders are becoming bolder and bolder in becoming corrupt since for them, no one would dare complaint about it.''

Keh said the Filipinos deserved the current crop of leaders "because we continue to do nothing despite the fact that we see there is something wrong.''

He said that any email of support would be printed and given to Panlilio "to show him that he is not alone in his quest for the Truth.''

"Let us show the world that the Filipino people will not just allow another Good Man to fail and let evil prevail,'' he said.