Pampanga mayors up in arms vs Gov Panlilio

MANILA, Philippines – The mayors of Pampanga on Thursday voiced their frustration over the performance of Gov. Ed Panlilio, barely a year after the priest turned politician took office in the province, a radio report said. In a press conference in Quezon City, members of the Pampanga Mayors League said that Panlilio failed to address the most pressing problems hounding their province like solid waste management and the perennial flooding in their streets. Candaba Mayor Jerry Pelayo also said that Panlilio has also been unable to stamp out prostitution, drug addiction, and other crimes. Residents have even been deprived of clean and safe drinking water, Pelayo was quoted as claiming in the radio report. The mayors said that almost one year into the governor's term, they have not seen even a single project that Panlilio undertook, even as the priest allegedly has likewise refused to use the allotted P1 million government fund for the province. Pelayo even dared the public to troop to their province and see for themselves if there had been any improvement since Panlilio took over the highest post in Pampanga. He likewise scored Panlilio for turning the provincial capitol into a mere "cathedral" with only his photographs plastered on its walls. Pelayo said that Panlilio had committed a disrespectful act toward the local government when he ordered removed all photographs of past Pampanga governors that previously hung on the walls. Panlilio reportedly had the photos stacked and hidden in the building's ceiling and had instead adorned the capitol with his own portraits. Pelayo denied that their collective uproar was triggered when Panlilio earlier lodged plunder charges against Rodolfo "Bong" Pineda, husband of defeated Pampanga gubernatorial candidate Lilia Pineda. Rodolfo's son, Dennis, is the mayor of Lubao, Pampanga. - Mark Merueñas, GMANews.TV