Malacañang dares Panlilio to file corruption charges vs GMA

MANILA, Philippines - Malacañang officials hit back yesterday at Pampanga Gov. Ed Panlilio for his threat to file criminal charges against President Arroyo if he wins the presidential elections in 2010.

Press Secretary Cerge Remonde dared Panlilio to file corruption charges against Mrs. Arroyo now if he has enough evidence against the President, and not wait until he becomes president of the country.

“If Gov. Panlilio is serious, why would he wait until he wins? Why won’t he do it (file charges) now if he has evidence? If he is saying that he would do that if he wins, he is making it a political promise,” Remonde told dzRB.

“If that’s a political promise, then he’s obviously just politicking,” he said.

He said Mrs. Arroyo has no time for politicking and she is busy with her efforts to keep the economy growing despite the current global economic crisis.

Presidential Adviser for External Affairs and Subic-Clark Alliance for Development Secretary Edgardo Pamintuan had strong words for Panlilio, who he said should be scored for hitting Mrs. Arroyo, his fellow “cabalen” or provincemate.

Pamintuan said if Panlilio decides to run for president, he would “miserably lose” as his constituents and former allies would expose his misdeeds and inefficiency in running Pampanga.

He said most, if not all, of Panlilio’s former supporters have abandoned the governor. He also pointed out that only those living in Metro Manila think he will be a good president.

“You want to know the truth about him, ask his own constituents. They will expose him again and again. He should not have this messianic complex. Let him run, the era of clerico-fascists is long gone,” Pamintuan said in a radio interview.

Pamintuan said he no longer considers Panlilio, whom he had helped many times in the past, as a friend after trying to get media exposure at the expense of the President.

Presidential Adviser for Political Affairs Gabriel Claudio said in the end, it would be the people who will judge presidential candidates.