May pag-asa pa ba ang pulitika sa Pilipinas?

I hope that in the 2010 elections, someone will come up and inspire us the way Obama has inspired the US. And yet, when one does come up to inspire us- what do Filipinos do? Well, kick him in the butt essentially.

SIGH!
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*FORMAL STATEMENT OF GOV. ED PANLILIO*


YESTERDAY, AT ABOUT 9:30 IN THE MORNING, SEVERAL RALLYISTS COMPOSED OF FORMER PROVINCIALS CHECKERS AND MEMBERS OF PAMPANGA TRUCKERS WITH THEIR DRIVERS AND HELPERS BARGED INTO THE PROVINCIAL CAPITOL AND PROCEEDED INTO THE SECOND FLOOR KICKING ATTEMPTING TO ENTER MY OFFICE. THE DOOR WAS FORCED OPEN. THE RALLYISTS RETREATED UPON NOTING THAT MY SECURITY OFFICERS ARE READY TO ENGAGE THEM IN COMBAT AND PROTECT ME FROM ANY IMMINENT DANGER. UNDAUNTED, THE RALLYISTS PROCEEDED TO THE OFFICE OF THE PROVINCIAL ADMINISTRATOR AND LIKEWISE ATTEMPTED TO BARGE INTO HER OFFICE KNOWING FULLY
WELL THAT THERE ARE NO SECURITY OFFICERS WHO WOULD PROTECT HER. FORTUNATELY ENOUGH, HER STAFF IMMEDIATELY LOCKED THE DOORS WHEN THEY HEARD THE RALLYISTS GOING UP THE SECOND THE SECOND FLOOR LOBBY.

After some minutes, the rallyists went down, leaving the employees shaken by the incident. This is the provincial capitol. The seat of power in this province. And yet, the Sangguninang Panlalawigan DID NOT see fit to protect us but opened the door for these incidents to happen by unceremoniously and illegally declaring the Macario Arnedo Park as a freedom park.

Not satisfied, at about 11:30 yesterday, the rallyists repeatedly HIT and ATTACKED my two nephews who are here in the country for a vacation. They are here at the capitol to see me. Their infraction: my nephews attempted to tear down the offensive streamers put up by the former checkers. The very streamers for which I have instructed Col Singian to put down, if not arrest the rallysists for violating the law. At the time my nephews were BEING BEATEN, some policeman are just stone's throw away.

For several months now, we have endured the daily insults thrown at us by these rallysists. Malicious, offensive streamers hung around the park and their trucks carrying libelous, suggestive pictures of me and Atty. Dabu were roving the province. What happened yesterday merely accentuated the marked incompetence of our police force. For several months now, I have asked Col. Singian to arrest the rallyists. Yesterday morning, I have asked Col Singian to effect the
arrest against the the rallyists who attempted to HARM me. Since they were NOT immediately arrested, two of those rallyists HIT my nephews. I again asked Col Singian to arrest them. Col Singian and his men DILLY-DALLIED
till the period to arrest had lapsed. TILL THIS MORNING NOTHING HAPPENED.
No arrest was made and none will be made.
And so today, I appear before you to express my condemnation to these acts. To the rallyists, who did not follow the rule of law. They held the rally without a permit and even barged into the provincial capitol attempting to harm me. This attack is not merely an attack to me as a person but an attack to the very office I now hold, the Office of the Governor, an attack to the
people of Pampanga.

To the Sangugunian Panlalawigan, who violated both law and wisdom in
declaring the Macario Arnedo Park as a freedom park. To the police officers
in this province, whose ineptitude and incompetence put me and the lives of
others in danger.
For more than 18 months now, I have been asking the President no less to
replace Col. Keith Singian to no avail. Today, I am raising again my voice
calling the PNP leadership, the DILG Secretary, and the President for the
relief of Col. Singian, Col. Medina, the chief of police of the City of San
Fernando, and their men for gross dereliction of duty and incompetence. And
so, today, I am personally filling my petition for their relief to the
office of the DILG Secretary, the Chief PNP and the NAPOLCOM.
Lastly, I am appealing to our well-meaning kabalens to open their eyes and
be involved. These despicable acts are not merely due to the ineptitude of
the police officers, the lack of wisdom of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan, the
disrespect to authority and law of the rallyists. These loathsome acts are
orchestrated by people who from day one do not wish me to stay a single day
longer as Governor of this province. Their recount and recall move have
failed. Their last resort is to discredit me, to malign me in public, to
humiliate me, to intimidate me, and to make it appear that I am not fit to
govern.
Should it take young, idealsistic men who saw the evil of those posters
and streamers to make us realize that we have been lethargic in fighting the
evil around us? We love this province. Should we remain silent and
indifferent by what is happening around us? Please remember, evil triumphs
when good men do nothing.


Governor Eddie T. Panlilio

Pampanga