Panlilio-Padaca tandem still undecided on 2010 elections

MANILA, Philippines – Amid reports that they might seek the two highest posts in the land in the 2010 elections, Pampanga Governor Ed Panlilio and Isabela Governor Grace Padaca on Monday said they remain undecided on whether to run for president and vice president, respectively, next year. Panlilio, in an interview on GMA’s Unang Hirit, said that he was still thinking whether he would pursue a presidential bid, which he said would depend on the public clamor for a new brand of leadership. "Patuloy pa rin ang ating discernment. Mas nakikita ko ang aking sarili bilang isang convenor ng reform constituency ng isang reformist presidential candidate [I am still discerning whether to run, but I see myself more as a convenor of a reform constituency for a reformist presidential candidate]," Panlilio said. Panlilio said that as of the moment, he is inclined to return to priesthood after his gubernatorial term. Panlilio took a leave from his priestly duties when he became Pampanga governor. "Ang preference ko [My preference] even now is to go back (to priesthood). Ito ang first love ko [It is my first love]," he said. Gauge public reaction For her part, Padaca said she would first gauge the public's reaction to the possibility of a Panlilio-Padaca tandem before considering whether she would seek a vice-presidential post in 2010. "Basta ako ang titingnan ko, ano kaya ang magiging reaksyon ng mga tao, ng mga Pilipino, sa ganitong possibility...yun ang magiging basis ko, senyal naman siguro para sakin [I will look at the reaction of the Filipino people to this possibility...that will be my basis, perhaps a signal for me to run]," she said in an interview over radio dzBB. Padaca said that while she was not inclined to run for the country's second highest post, she would consider "the push" from non-government organizations in having a Panlilio-Padaca team-up in the polls. Panlilio and Padaca are members of the Kaya Natin! Movement for good governance and responsible citizenship. On Sunday, the movement and several farmers’ organizations launched their coalition for a Panlilio-Padaca tandem. Activist priest Fr. Robert Reyes said the two governors won't only stamp out corruption in the government, but restore dignity to public service as well. P500k Palace 'gift' Panlilio won in the 2007 gubernatorial elections in Pampanga, the home province of President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo. Panlilio defeated then governor Mark Lapid and Lilia Pineda who were staunch allies of President Arroyo. Shortly after his poll victory, Panlilio bared about Malacañang's P500,000 “gift" to governors. The disclosure was made at the height of an impeachment bid against Mrs. President. Panlilio recently accused President Arroyo's son, Pampanga Rep. Juan Miguel "Mikey" Arroyo, of turning a blind eye in the rampant jueteng operations in his province. In 2001, Padaca lost her bid for a congressional seat against a candidate from the politically entrenched Dy family, but won against another member of the clan as governor in 2004 and again in 2007. In separate interviews, Panlilio and Padaca said that if they were able to instill reforms in the local government, they could also do so on a national scale. - GMANews.TV