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Arroyo son Mikey willing to offer help to Panlilio, for now


(Updated 10:27 p.m.) Presidential son and Pampanga Rep. Juan Miguel "Mikey" Arroyo said Wednesday he is willing to help priest-turned-governor Eddie Panlilio until the administration Lakas-Kampi-CMD party picks its standard bearer for the 2010 elections. At Malacañang, Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita said Panlilio should be allowed to pursue his dream to seek higher public office next year. In a telephone interview with GMANews.TV, Mikey Arroyo said he can "humbly offer [his] services" to Panlilio if the latter asks for it, since his party Lakas-Kampi-CMD has not forbidden him to campaign for another presidential candidate. "As long as my political party hasn't ordered me to campaign for a different individual, I can offer my services to Gov. Panlilio in whatever capacity I can," Arroyo said.
Arroyo said he might be able to help Panlilio with "logistics," and that there are Pampangueño businessmen based all over the Philippines that he can talk to who could extend help to the Pampanga governor in his presidential bid. Although he expressed doubt whether Panlilio - who had previously linked the presidential son to alleged jueteng operations in Pampanga - will accept his offer, Arroyo maintained that he was very "sincere." Arroyo said Panlilio "has a better chance of winning the presidency than being re-elected as governor," adding that even some of the governor's supporters in the province have turned against him. But Arroyo noted that since most of Panlilio's supporters are outside Pampanga, there was no telling whether the governor's presidential bid might turn out successful. "Whether or not he can muster enough support is between him and his campaign team. First of all, I don't want to be so assuming as to even dwell about that issue, that is germane only to the candidate," Arroyo said. 'Non-performing asset?' "If he really wants to serve the country form the highest position of the land, then he should really go for it," said the presidential son, adding that there is no legal impediment to Panlilio's presidential bid. Arroyo, who is on his second term as representative of the province's second district, had earlier told GMANews.TV that some political leaders and members of the clergy in Pampanga have asked him to run for governor in the 2010 elections as Panlilio is a "non-performing asset" there. But another lawmaker who hails from Pampanga, Bayan Muna Rep. Satur Ocampo, said Panlilio might be better off if he seeks re-election. "Siguro at the minimum, he should [seek re-election] as Pampanga governor kasi dapat maging realistic [tungkol sa] resources, organization na kailangan ng isang presidential candidate. I doubt if meron siyang sufficient na nakalatag na ganoong organization (Perhaps at the minimum, he should run again for governor because one has to be realistic about the resources, organization needed by a presidential candidate. I doubt if he has organized enough for a presidential bid)," Ocampo said in a phone interview with GMANews.TV. "Pero it is his choice, and I respect his position," Ocampo quickly added. The militant lawmaker, who said he had previously discussed provincial issues with the governor but not the latter's presidential bid, said he would be "watching developments" in Panlilio's next moves. On Tuesday, Panlilio announced that he would definitely file his certificate of candidacy in November as "God is calling" him to seek the presidency. Panlilio, who is currently on leave from his priestly duties, said he is set to ask formal dispensation from the Church before he files his COC. “This priesthood that I love so much, I’m willing to give up for a greater love and that’s love for the country. For me the heart of priesthood is accepting the love of God and working for other people especially the poor," he said. Let people decide Ermita said rather than thwart Panlilio’s dreams, the Pampanga governor should be allowed to go through the election process and in the end, it is the people who would decide if the priest-turned politician deserves to be the next president.
“Let’s not fault him anymore, pagbigyan na (give him a chance)…this is a free country," he said. Meanwhile, university political science professor Benito Lim said it will be better if the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) allowed Panlilio to run, and let people judge him. “Panlilio’s entry into politics may show the Church is practicing what it preaches, for good men to run in the elections. But with the opposition from some bishops, it appears the Church does not practice what it preaches... It appears many are getting dizzy with the Church’s inconsistent positions," he said in a radio interview. Many senior bishops, including Lingayen-Dagupan Archbishop Oscar Cruz, a canon lawyer, had frowned on Panlilio’s presidential bid. Cruz said Panlilio must seek dispensation from the Vatican before pursuing his political plans. Still, Lim noted the CBCP’s pastoral statement last July 12 where it called on good people to be candidates for political election. “We call upon those who are competent, persons of integrity, and committed to change to get involved directly in principled partisan politics, and become candidates for political election, aware that the common good is above the good of vested interests," the CBCP said in its July 12 statement. “Sabi mo pipiliin mo matino na tao dapat. E parang sinasabi nila mismong galing sa kanila di tapat ... So may contradiction ang simbahan dapat mabuti ihalal pero kung pari takbo ayaw na (The Church encourages good men to run. But now that one of its own is running, it is lukewarm to him. There is a contradiction of sorts because you want good men to run but not priests)," Lim said. But Fr. Francis Lucas, head of Church-run Catholic Media Network (CMN), said there should be no question that Canon Law prevents a priest from running for politics. In an interview on dzBB radio, Lucas also said the CBCP does not need to issue a statement to address Panlilio’s case. Section 3 of the Canon 285 of Code of Canon Law (1938) states that “Clerics are forbidden to assume public offices which entail a participation in the exercise of civil power." “There is a limitation to priests’ service. They cannot directly engage in elective positions. So the CBCP need not issue a statement on Panlilio’s case. All of us embrace Canon Law. If you go against Canon Law, you risk penalties and sanctions," he said. Meanwhile, Lucas said Panlilio can still return to the Church even if he gets a dispensation from the Vatican – should he lose in the 2010 presidential race. “May possibility. Pero ang sinasabi ko lang parang pumapasok ka sa mata ng butas ng karayom yan. Mahirap yan. Iniwan mo na, alangan bumalik ka pa riyan. Pero di ko sinasabing imposible ha (There is a possibility but a small one. It’s like passing through the eye of a needle because it is hard to return to an institution you left. Still I’m not saying it’s impossible)," he said. - GMANews.TV
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