Pampanga priest eyeing governorship officiates last Mass

GUAGUA, Pampanga – Catholic priest Fr. Eddie Panlilio officiated his last Mass as parish priest of Barangay Betis here yesterday morning before announcing his final decision to run as an independent candidate for Pampanga governor.

Panlilio told The STAR that he has submitted to Archbishop Paciano Aniceto his request for a leave of absence, which, if approved, would suspend his sacramental powers as a priest.

Last Tuesday, Panlilio said Aniceto did not favor his candidacy which leaders of multisectoral groups are pushing as they seek an alternative candidate in the gubernatorial race.

He said Aniceto expressed reservations on his candidacy due to provisions in the canon law on the separation of the Church and the State.

Local church authorities, however, said the canon law provides exceptions to priests seeking political positions in extraordinary cases.

In a text message to The STAR yesterday afternoon, Panlilio’s spokesman, Nina Tomen, said Panlilio was willing "to face sanctions" should Aniceto disapprove his leave to run for governor.

"He is answering a greater call to serve the people and this is another expression of his priestly ministry," Tomen said.

Panlilio announced his candidacy before hundreds of supporters at the parish grounds at noon, saying that he was confident that Aniceto would eventually approve his leave of absence.

Panlilio’s supporters have been batting for a third force in the face of what they consider as "two evils" in the gubernatorial race.

Gov. Mark Lapid, who is seeking re-election under the Lakas-Christian, Muslim Democrats, has been accused of anomalies in the collection of lahar sand quarrying fees, while his rival, provincial board member Lilia Pineda, who is running under the Kabalikat ng Malayang Pilipino (Kampi), is the wife of Rodolfo "Bong" Pineda who has been tagged as a big-time gambling lord.