Panlilio urged to learn from clerics-turned-politicians

MANILA, Philippines - Even as he welcomes the possible entry of Pampanga Governor Ed Panlilio in the 2010 presidential elections, Senator Francis Escudero advised the priest-turned-politician to study the cases of two Catholic clerics from other countries who had embraced politics. Escudero was referring to former Haiti president Jean-Bertrand Aristide and former US Rep. Robert Drinan of Massachusetts. “There may be a lesson or two to be learned from the political forays of Aristide and Drinan. Both had to make a choice eventually," Escudero said in a press statement. He said Aristide was already out of the priesthood when he ran for Haiti’s top post in 1991, while Drinan declined to run for re-election in 1981 after Pope John Paul II ordered that all priests withdraw from electoral politics. Aristide was expelled from the Salesian order in 1988 after his political activities were deemed an incitement to hatred and violence. Drinan, who remained a priest while serving his elective post in the ‘70s, eventually heeded the Pope’s directive. The Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines had said it wouldn’t endorse any candidate in the coming elections. Archbishop Oscar Cruz of the Lingayen-Dagupan archdiocese and Bishop Paciano Aniceto of Pampanga diocese cautioned Panlilio from aiming for the presidency. Escudero said civil society’s initiative to drum up support for the entry of Panlilio and Isabela Governor Grace Padaca in the presidential and the vice presidential contests shows that democracy is thriving in the country. In welcoming the Panlilio-Padaca team-up, the senator said that because Filipinos value freedom and the rule of law, anyone who can contribute to nation-building or help provide solutions to the country’s ills should participate in the political process. “I believe that our democratic ideals are best served when more people of every political persuasion can lend a hand in boosting efforts to engender hope and harmony in the country rather that despair and disillusionment," Escudero said. “If Gov. Panlilio and Gov. Padaca share our national values over individual interests, I am sure we will be able to find common ground in finding the proper way to address many vexing issues facing our nation," Escudero said. On the other hand, Senator Pilar Juliana Cayetano said a deeper and more diverse field of candidates would give Filipino voters more options and better chances of pushing for much-needed reforms. “Both (Panlilio and Padaca) have proven track records in initiating change and clean governance at the local level. We’d like to see more ‘reformers’ at the national level, and so the prospects of them running for higher office should be welcomed," said Cayetano. She said underrepresented sectors must have considerable influence in government. She cited how Padaca - a hard-hitting radio announcer - overcame the odds of being a polio victim, being a woman and being a non-politician to win a tightly-contested election in her province. “More women should run for public office. Political parties should give them a fair chance to make their electoral tickets. Women bring a different perspective to governance. They see things differently because of their experiences and background. True democracy and prosperity requires gender equality at all levels and all sectors of society," Cayetano said. - Amita O. Legaspi, GMANews.TV