2008-09-02 12:01:14 - SAN FERNANDO, Pampanga. Pampanga priests support recall petition vs Panlilio

At least 17 priests in Pampanga aligned themselves with the petition against priest-turned-politician Gov. Eddie Panlilio to a recall election due to their 'growing disenchantment on the performance' of the provincial chief executive.

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In their dialogue here Monday with the officers of the Kambilan at Kapanalig Ning Masang Kapampangan, Inc. (Kambilan), the Catholic priests from various parishes in the province signed the petition to recall the governor.

The recall petition, initiated by Kambilanis, called for gathering of some 100,000 signatures, representing 10 percent of the total voting population of Pampanga, intended to ask the Commission on Elections to call for a recall election before January 2009.

The priests identified and signed their names as Msgr. Guido Aliwalas, retired; Fr. Joel

Tubig of Pulung Masle, Guagua; Fr. Bogs Moraleja, Pampanga Chancery; Fr. Rudy de Guzman of Dolores, City of San Fernando; Fr. Rustom Tanglao of Anao, Mexico; Fr. Simeon Pabustan of Del Carmen, Floridablanca; Fr. Lyndon Valenton of San Jose, Floridablanca; Fr. Mar Miranda of the Bulaon Resettlement, City of San Fernando; Fr. Bong Gopez, formerly assigned in San Isidro Guagua; Fr. Donatillo Ocampo; Fr. Eric de Guzman of the Manibaug, Porac; Fr. Miles Lacanlale of Minalin; Fr. Alfred David of Baliti, City of San Fernando; Fr. Rolando Lopez of Apalit; Fr. Gabriel Torres of the Madapdap Resettlement, Mabalacat; Fr. Jay Salvador; and Msgr. Jun Mercado of Lourdes, Angeles City.

The priests who attended the dialogue were among the 30 priests under the group Pampanga Prayer Warriors.

The Catholic church has about 120 priests stationed within Pampanga.

Before signing the petition, the priests clarified several issues with regard to the recall move with the officers of Kambilan.

Msgr. Aliwalas, 84, was the oldest among the priests who came to sign the petition. He attended the meeting on a wheelchair.

Aliwalas was particular with the time frame Kambilan has set for the proposed recall election.

He added that they are supporting the recall not only as priests but as Kapampangans who have their own constitutional rights.

Last week, 12 members of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan of Pampanga, led by Vice Governor Joseller Guiao, also met here and expressed support behind the petition for recall.

Last Friday, Pampanga meat-processing magnate Lolita Hizon, who supported Panlilio in the May 2007 elections, also signed the recall petition.

Msgr. Mercado said that all the 16 priests welcome the recall move.