SAN FERNANDO, Pampanga – Gov. Eddie Panlilio should decide whether to devote his time to politics or pursue his vocation as a priest.
Vice Gov. Joseller “Yeng” Guiao issued this challenge to Panlilio who he accused of dividing the province, the civil society and the local clergy when he ran for public office despite the fact that he was a priest.
“I am asking him to tell the truth. He should decide if he will go into politics or priesthood,” Guiao said, adding that Panlilio is now reaping the consequences of his actions.
Guiao said he sees the support of 16 priests to the recall petition against Panlilio as “the start of the eroding” of the good governance that Panlilio is espousing.
“These are priests who know him better and they have no political motivation whatsoever. They are doing this on behalf of the province and the governor should listen to their call,” he said.
He said the soonest time that Panlilio makes up his mind would be better for Pampanga.
But Panlilio himself challenged his critics in the local clergy to convince his immediate superior, Archbishop Paciano Aniceto, to compel him to choose between priesthood and politics.
In an interview with The STAR before he left for the United States, Panlilio said he had Aniceto’s “permission” to run for governor in last year’s elections.
“I had his permission when I ran for governor, but the condition was that my status as a priest would be suspended,” he said.
In a press conference earlier this week, Fr. Roland Moralejas, a member of a group of local priests called Prayer Warriors, asked Panlilio to choose between being governor and priest.
Moralejas’ group insisted that priests occupying elective political posts violate the Catholic Church’s Canon Law.
“If he (Moralejas) wants, then he should talk to Apu Ceto (Aniceto),” Panlilio said, stressing that the archbishop is his immediate superior. – With Ding Cervantes