Panlilio to question unseating before SC

Claiming politics was behind the Commission on Elections' ruling expelling him from his post, Pampanga Governor Eddie Panlilio is set take the matter to the Supreme Court. In an interview with an online news site, Panlilio said the Comelec's decision affirming an earlier ruling to unseat him came as his reelection bid was gathering momentum. "My lawyer says we have 30 days from receiving the letter until it can be enforced, so we will go to the Supreme Court," the priest-turned-governor said in an interview with the Union of Catholic Asian News. "I think the reason our case has been resolved is because we are beginning to pick up momentum here," he added on the same interview. Earlier, the Comelec en banc dismissed Panlilio’s plea to reconsider a February ruling that declared former provincial board member Lilia Pineda winner in the 2007 gubernatorial race. [See: Comelec sustains decision unseating Panlilio as gov] The poll body reached the decision with a 5-1 vote, with only Comelec Commissioner Rene Sarmiento dissenting. Comelec Chairman Jose Melo, on the other hand, did not take part in the deliberation. 'Will of the people' In the same interview, Panlilio said his people will continue to take charge of the province during elections and his volunteers will be there to "protect the will of the people." "We will guard the polls and the treasury so it can not be used for more vote buying," he said. Panlilio ran as an independent candidate in 2007 and was proclaimed winner with a 1,147-vote lead over Pineda. But Pineda, a known ally of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, contested his victory, and the Comelec handed the win to her after a recount. Still, Panlilio said he believes the ruling will not affect his campaign, saying Pampanga voters are mature enough to realize what he has done for the province. However, the UCA News article cited a survey commissioned by his own Liberal Party in late April showing he had just 30 percent support while Pineda had 70 percent. But his supporters, including Noel Tandog of Philippine Alliance of eX-Seminarians (PAX), said support for him has improved since that survey and campaign contributions are increasing. "Massive vote buying going on has prompted the archbishop to call on people not to sell their votes," Tandog said. No support from archbishop On the other hand, others are more critical of Panlilio and complain he gave "excessive" control over the provincial administration to his chief executive. Pampanga Archbishop Paciano Aniceto said he was disappointed at his former social action director because he reneged on two promises. "Panlilio told me after he became a governor he will no longer seek another term. Second, he said he will just look for a lay leader to replace him as governor," the archbishop said. — RSJ/LBG, GMANews.TV