MikeLigalig.com

A youth leader at the Ateneo de Manila University
> is rallying support for Pampanga Governor Ed Panlilio who has come under
> fire from local officials over his exposé of alleged bribery in Malacañang.
>
> Harvey Keh, director for Youth Leadership and Social Entrepreneurship of
> the AdMU's School of Government, urged the public to send an email of
> support for the embattled governor at [email protected].
>
>
> "I'd like to ask for a few minutes of your time to send an email of
> support to Governor Ed Panlilio. Let us all tell him that we are behind him
> in his quest for the Truth,'' he said in an email.
>
> "What is at stake here is not only the people of Pampanga but the nation
> as a whole. Governor Ed exposed what has long been happening in Malacañang
> and now he is being punished for it. Will you do something about it?''
>
> Keh said that Panlilio has come under fire from local officials in the
> province since his exposé.
>
> "Right now, local officials in Pampanga led by Vice Governor Yeng Guiao
> are ganging up on him and marginalizing him by not respecting his authority
> as governor,'' he said.
>
> Some media publications in the province were also being used to "destroy
> his credibility,'' he added.
>
> Panlilio admitted receiving a P500,000 cash gift following a breakfast
> meeting with President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo in Malacañang on October 11.
> Some congressmen later followed suit.
>
> The President disclaimed any knowledge of the handouts that came on the
> heels of a fresh complaint to impeach her over a controversial broadband
> deal with a Chinese firm, among others.
>
> Occidental Mindoro Representative Ma. Amelita Villarosa, a member of the
> President's party, Kabalikat ng Mamamayang Pilipino (Kampi), said that Kampi
> was the source of P500,000 given each to at least two congressmen.
>
> Keh said that Panlilio has been performing well in less than six months in
> office, but has now become the object of black propaganda.
>
> He said for instance that the governor managed to raise a certain amount
> of quarry taxes in two months, which his predecessor raised in a year.
>
> The mayors and board members are now demanding part of this collection
> money, and were blackmailing the governor by threatening not to pass key
> legislation that will benefit the people of Pampanga, according to Keh.
>
> "Isn't this a familiar refrain in our country? Someone does good and yet
> he is often punished for doing what is right. And worse, while this is
> happening, many of us just turn a blind eye, without doing anything,'' he
> said.
>
> "It is no wonder why majority of our government leaders are becoming
> bolder and bolder in becoming corrupt since for them, no one would dare
> complaint about it.''
>
> Keh said the Filipinos deserved the current crop of leaders "because we
> continue to do nothing despite the fact that we see there is something
> wrong.''
>
> He said that any email of support would be printed and given to Panlilio
> "to show him that he is not alone in his quest for the Truth.''
>
> "Let us show the world that the Filipino people will not just allow
> another Good Man to fail and let evil prevail,'' he said.

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