Panlilio seeks re-election, asks for dispensation from priesthood

SAN FERNANDO, Pampanga, Philippines – Gov. Eddie Panlilio has officially asked his religious superior Archbishop Paciano Aniceto to grant him dispensation from priesthood after he opted to seek re-election as governor in next year’s May polls.

Panlilio, now the official candidate of the Liberal Party, filed his certificate of candidacy at about 9:15 p.m. on the deadline for filing last Tuesday at the provincial Commission on Elections (Comelec) here.

Asked by The Star why he filed his candidacy in the “last minute,” Panlilio said he was hoping that other persons would still accept the offer to run for governor. He said that among those he had invited were San Fernando Mayor Oscar Rodriguez who opted to seek re-election, and Dr. Rey Espiritu of the local Couples for Christ Movement who said he was not cut out for politics.

Panlilio said he submitted to Aniceto on Tuesday a letter seeking dispensation from priesthood. This, he said, would mean more or less permanent disqualification from his priestly powers.

Earlier, Pampanga Auxiliary Bishop Virgilio Pablo David said that the Vatican had already granted archdiocesan tribunals the power to grant dispensation to priests. The local tribunal, he said, is composed of Aniceto and two other members from the clergy.

“I will remain a priest because my ordination was divinely instituted, but then I will be deprived of my priestly powers, including the power to administer sacraments. If I opt to get married later, I could not even get married in church, although it can be done in civil courts,” he said.

He, however, that the permanence of such dispensation remains “debatable,” as he cited the case of another Filipino priest who was reportedly granted dispensation but was later allowed anew to fully exercise priestly powers.

Local political observers have described the looming gubernatorial race scenario in this province as déjàvu as Panlilio will again run against former provincial board member Lilia Pineda.

Panlilio vs Pineda

It will be “one on one” between Panlilio and Pineda in the gubernatorial race this coming 2010 elections.

Like in 2007, Panlilio and Pineda will slug it out for Pampanga’s top post in the May 2010 elections.

Panlilio, together with his running mate Marco Lazatin, a businessman filed their COCs for governor and vice governor.

They are running under the Liberal Party (LP), which Panlilio is the provincial chair.

Pineda and incumbent Vice Gov. Joseller “Yeng” Guiao, meanwhile, have filed their COCs for the same posts Monday under the Lakas-Kampi-CMD party.

The Panlilio-Pineda showdown is a return bout between the two closest rivals.