Priest heeds call to join
gov race in Pampanga

A parish priest in Betis, Pampanga on Thursday gave in to the clamor of his provincemates and filed his certificate of candidacy for governor, QTV’s Balitanghali reported. The priest - Father Ed Panlilio – said that he will temporarily leave the priesthood but he will remain a man of God. Panlilio said he already filed a leave of absence before a local archbishop and he is waiting for a reply. Panlilio has been part of the clergy for 26 years and headed the Pampanga Social Action Center for the past 20 years. He was also the founder of a non-government organization and became part of the rescue operations during the eruption of Mt Pinatubo in June 1991. The priest will be facing Incumbent Governor Mark Lapid and Board Member Lilia Pineda, both of whom have announced their respective plans to run for governor. The Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines did not express immediately opposition to the possibility of Panlilio becoming a politician. "Yung kanyang pagkapari will remain. Kaya lang yung kanyang function as a priest ang (mawawala)," Bishop Pedro Quitorio, CBCP spokesman said. The parish priest vowed to stop jueteng operations and corruption in the province. On Wednesday, Panlilio celebrated a mass, which will be his last before campaigning, as his parishioners cried. Before this, residents of Guagua town in Pampanga held a prayer vigil to convince Panlilio to enter politics and run for governor. The prayers seem to have worked as Panlilio on Thursday went to file his candidacy at the Commission on Elections office in Pampanga pushing a cart bearing the image of the Blessed Virgin Mary and a slogan saying “Dalhin ang hinaing mga mahihirap sa kapitolyo." Meanwhile, laywer Ely Pamatong, also on Thursday morning filed his candidacy for Pampanga governor but local Comelec officials refused to accept his COC due to lack of requirements such as documentary stamp and result of his drug test. Pamatong believed he is more qualified than the other candidates for gubernatorial post in the province. He said although he is born in Zamboanga del Sur, he is qualified to run in Pampanga because he is running a school in the province for five years now. – GMANews.TV