Jesse Robredo's graces

Even in his death, Kaya Natin! Movement for Good Governance and Ethical Leadership (KN) continues to feel the spirit of our co-founder and the late DILG Sec. Jesse Robredo move within us. Two concrete examples of this was the last minute decision of Among Ed Panlilio to run for Governor of Pampanga and former Isabela Gov. Grace Padaca’s recent appointment at the Commission on Elections (COMELEC). Panlilio is running again against Lilia Pineda, the incumbent Governor and known ally of former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo. Both Panlilio and Padaca are also co-founders of KN. 

 

Rejected several times 

 

As early as the middle of 2011, Robredo, who was already DILG Secretary then, had already talked to Panlilio about the possibility of running again for Governor of Pampanga. Robredo told Panlilio that this would be a perfect opportunity for them to finally put an end to jueteng politics in the province. Robredo even said that even if Panlilio had lost in the last 2010 elections, he actually got more votes compared to what he got when he won in the 2007 elections. The only difference was, the 2010 elections was a two-way fight while the 2007 elections was a three-way affair. In short, Robredo explained to Panlilio that he actually kept his base of voters despite all the fraud and vote-buying that happened in their province during the last elections. Panlilio politely declined Robredo’s request to be the administration party’s official candidate saying that he had already decided to go back to being a priest and was just awaiting word from the Vatican about his request for reinstatement of his priestly faculties. Robredo was undeterred and I could distinctly recall three more instances that he would try to convince Panlilio to run saying that the Aquino administration cannot allow the Pinedas and the Arroyos to lord it over Pampanga and win the coming 2013 polls without a decent fight. The last conversation that they had was a month before Robredo passed away at our KN Anniversary Dinner at Club Filipino and again, Panlilio said that he was already firm on his decision not to seek public office. He thanked Robredo for all the trust and belief that he continues to give to him and in fact, weeks prior to his death, they were already working together towards a concrete plan to stop jueteng in Pampanga.  

 

As we all know, last October 5, the last day for the filing of the Certificates of Candidacies, Panlilio was formally proclaimed and endorsed by President Noynoy Aquino as the official Gubernatorial candidate of the Liberal Party in Pampanga. What changed? Panlilio said that like Robredo he couldn’t allow that in good conscience no one would stand against the incumbent governor of the province. Also, he felt that it was his duty and obligation to continue to fight for the governance reforms that Robredo had already started at DILG and at KN. Finally, Panlilio saw that there continues to be a strong clamor for good governance and ethical leadership in the province and thus, he made his ultimate sacrifice of leaving the priesthood and throw his hat again into the murky land of Philippine politics. As Panlilio tells us, what Robredo didn’t get when he was still alive, he eventually got in his death.

 

From the Senate to the COMELEC

 

If Panlilio’s story is about deciding to leave his quiet life to run again for public office, Padaca’s story is the opposite. All this time, Padaca who like Robredo is also a Ramon Magsaysay Awardee for Government Service, had already decided that she would either run for the Senate or would run again as Governor of Isabela in the coming 2013 elections. Given the results of the recent Senate surveys wherein Padaca would be outside the Top 30, Robredo acted as a good friend and told Padaca to seriously discern about whether she would pursue her bid for the Senate or not. For the past two years, Padaca had been preparing for a serious Senate run as she visited several provinces all over the country as far as even Tawi-Tawi. Last May, Robredo called Padaca and talked to her about reconsidering her bid to run and told her to perhaps consider being appointed as Commission on Elections (COMELEC) Commissioner. Robredo said that if she was interested, he would immediately broach the idea to President Aquino. This was the first time that Padaca ever heard about the idea of her being appointed at COMELEC. At that time, Padaca thanked Robredo for the idea but she said that her heart was still into running for public office since she felt that this was at that time the best way to serve the country. 

 

Last week, we all know that Padaca formally became COMELEC Commissioner and thus, dropped all plans of running for public office in the coming elections. When asked what made her decide to accept the appointment after preparing for a Senate run for the past two years, she said that one of her main advocacies has always been electoral reform. Ever since KN began, Padaca has always talked about the need for ordinary citizens to become more engaged and active in electing good leaders in our regular Caravan of Good Governance that visits colleges and universities all over the country. Her experience of winning over a political dynasty in their province has also become an inspiration to many well-meaning Filipinos who also want to aspire for an elective post. Finally, Padaca shared that she wanted to also help sustain and continue the legacy of Robredo and she felt that by doing well at COMELEC, she would be able to help our country elect more effective, ethical and empowering leaders like Robredo. Like the case of Panlilio, what Robredo didn’t get when he was still alive, he was eventually able to fulfill in his death. 

 

The nation is truly blessed that we had a leader like Robredo who showed all of us that good governance is indeed possible in our country and even in his death, his spirit continues to inspire each one of us to pursue the reforms that he has started. Hopefully, our country will have more Robredos who will continue to place our nation’s collective interest above their own.  

 

Comments are welcome at harveykeh@gmail.com

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Harvey S. Keh is the Lead Convenor of the Kaya Natin! Movement for Good Governance and Ethical Leadership and is also the Director for Youth Leadership and Social Entrepreneurship at the Ateneo de Manila University-School of Government.