THE LOBBYiST : More Than Just Views: A shepherd inside the wolves’ den Conversations with “Among Ed” Panlilio

A shepherd inside the wolves’ den Conversations with “Among Ed” Panlilio
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  on 24 January, 2008 04:00:00
 
By Levie Cequeña and Jayson Edward B. San Juan
It was the typical David versus Goliath story: underdog priest Fr. Ed “Among
Ed” Panlilio found himself facing two well-established political names in
Pampanga: Board member Lilia Pineda, wife of alleged jueteng (illegal numbers
game) lord Bong Pineda, and Governor Mark Lapid, son of Senator Lito Lapid.
Against the traditional three Gs of Philippine politics (Guns, Goons, Gold),
Among Ed snatched the Pampanga governorship from the claws of well-entrenched
families. Not since Grace Padaca won as Isabela governor against the powerful Dy
family has a political newbie rocked and shocked the Establishment.
Barely warming his seat, Gov. Panlilio was thrust into the national limelight
after he exposed the alleged bribery in Malacañang following ZTE-NBN
controversy. His expose earned him the ire of other politicians, but brought an
outpouring of support from civil society organizations, students and the youth,
and civic leaders.
Named as the Philippine Daily Inquirer’s 2007 Filipino of the Year, Gov.
Panlilio is the epitome of a new breed of public servants. Winning on the
platform of good governance and hope, he initiated various reforms in government
operations. In his first six month alone, Gov. Panlilio was able to increase
quarry collections by 76 percent compared to collections during Lapid’s
three-year term.
He struggled to introduce changes in the provincial government, which are often
met with stiff resistance from the Vice Governor, Sanggunian members, and
mayors.
Gov. Panlilio narrated to The LOBBYiST how he finally relented to the prodding
of a ragtag team of seminarians and concerned cabalen [provincemates] to run for
governor, eventually won the race, and took on the difficult task of reforming
Pampanga politics.
The LOBBYiST (TL): How did you become the candidate for governor?
Among Ed (AE): It all started from hiya. A group of four or five seminarians,
and a priest met over coffee in The Java Man (Coffee Shop) in Lazatin Road here
in San Fernando early 2007.They talked about Pampanga, our province. Ito ay
isang probinsyang marangal, probinsya ng mga mayayabang, probinsya ng mga bayani
[This is a province of people with dignity, a province of proud people, a
province of heroes]. Jose Abad Santos was from Pampanga. But the candidates for
governor were only two. The group felt walang alternative at parang nakakahiya
naman na ganoon ang nangyayari sa aming probinsya [there’s no alternative and
we feel ashamed of what is happening in our province]. So that’s where it all
started.
TL: You were the priest in the group?
AE: No, I attended on the third meeting. We were looking for a suitable
gubernatorial candidate for Pampanga.
TL: In his column, Randy David was saying you were urging him to run.
AE:Yes, what he said was true. Up to the last minute we were urging him to run.
We met with him and his brother, who was a bishop and he said no, because he was
not really grounded in Pampanga anymore. To which I answered, I will be his
running mate, that I will provide the grounding for him. But he said if he will
run, he knows he will be more effective if he runs as a Congressman or a
Senator, as a legislator because that’s his field. And so I ran.
TL: You came from a rather large family, being the 6th in a brood of seven. How
was it like growing up?
AE: Yes. I was 6th. Dapat sampu kami[We were supposed to ten], but three of my
siblings born after me died when they were babies. They had heart problems, blue
babies. My mother was diabetic. So kung may family planning na noong araw [If
there’s family planning during those days], I could not have been born.
TL: How was your life then?
AE: Simple lang ang pamilya naming [Our family was simple]; my mother was a
housewife, my father was a negosyante [businessman]. May mga jeep siyang
pampasahero, may sinasaka na sugar plantation [He had jeepneys for hire, and he
has a sugar plantation].
TL: Have you always wanted to be a priest?
AE: Yes. I wanted to become a priest very early. I was in grade 5 or grade 6. I
lived in Minalin, Pampanga, which up to now is a 4th or 5th class
municipality.Nakatira kami sa kabayanan. Bago pumasok sa elementary school,
dadaan ka sa simbahan, pagkagaling sa eskwela, dadaan ka uli [We lived in the
town. Before going to school, we’ll passed by the church. Coming back from
school, we passed by it again]. Minalin is a very religious town. Walang
sinehan. Walang dibesryon. So umiikot ang buhay namin sa simbahan, sa
eskwelahan, sa bahay [No movie houses. No diversions. Our lives just revolved
around the Church, the school, and at home]. That early, I was attracted with a
priest’s life. Kasi ang buhay ng pari noon, masarap ang pagkain [The priest
always have delicious food].
TL: Were you a sacristan?
AE: Yes. I was an altar boy. Gusto naming sumama lagi sa pari kasi, masarap ang
pagkain ng pari, mayaman ang pari [We always wanted to accompany the priest
because his food was delicious, and he was rich] [laughs]. God calls you on who
you are, from where you come from. Usually, ina-attract ka Niya sa mga
mabababaw, sa mga mararangya. Kasi ang pari, misa lang ng konti, ang dami ng
pera, at saka respetado [You are usually attracted to God because of the
mundane, and the riches. When a priest hears even only a handful of mass, he
receives money. A priest is respected]. Everywhere he goes, he gets the best
place, he’s being listened to. Ganyan ang pari e [That’s how priests are].
TL: We gathered you went to different seminaries when you were studying. Why?
AE: I am very idealistic. I was looking then of what, for me, was a relevant
formation. Pag hindi ako nakuntento sa isa, lilipat ako [If I’m not contented,
I’ll transfer to another]. So, I stayed in Don Bosco Juniorate (Bacolor,
Pampanga) for two years, in Don Bosco Seminary (Canlubang, Laguna) for a year,
San Carlos Seminary for a year, and then I went to Vigan, in the Immaculate
Conception Seminary for one year. It was in Tagaytay though that I stayed long.
I was in St. Augustine Seminary for four years, plus one year of pastoral work.
For my academic formation, I went to Divine Word Theology, also in Tagaytay.
That’s where I met Fr. Jerry Orbos. Tagaytay was very different then, in the
1970’s. It was very simple.
TL: Just recently, you initiated the white ribbon campaign. Can you expound on
that?
AE: The other governor candidates for Pampanga, they prepared for more than one
year. They had money. When I ran, I went to a process of discernment—whether I
really want to join politics. While I was doing it, my parishioners in Betis,
Pampanga held a prayer vigil outside the church. Betis-Guagua was my parish. It
was a very simple community. Mababait ang mga tao [The people are kind]. The
church is beautiful. You should go there and see the church.Anyway, I filed for
my candidacy March 29. March 28 was the last time I celebrated mass. It was
March 27 when I told my Archbishop I was running. The whole 45 days of the
campaign, I was wearing white. This has been the color of our crusade.
TL: Against corruption?
AE:Our crusade for good governance and responsible citizenship. Magkatuwang
iyon. Malinis [They’re connected. Untainted]. And what color is that? White.
Our white ribbon campaign is a sign and expression of our good governance,
transparency, accountability, creativity, leadership by example. Hanggang
ngayon, iyon pa rin ang pinagkakampanya namin [Until now, that’s what we’re
campaigning for]. And we showed, “Pwede pala [It’s possible].” That’s
the reason why I think we caught the imagination of a segment of the Filipino
nation. Not only of Pampanga.   Pwede pala manungkulan ang isang tao ng malinis,
na naninindigan sa mga prinsipyong pinaniniwalaan niya, na nagbibigay ng basic
services na walang commission, na naglalahad ng kwenta. Katulad sa quarry,
inilalahad namin araw araw ang kita sa lahar, at ipinamimigay namin yun shares
ng quarry sa mga mayors [It is possible for a person untainted by corruption to
serve in government, someone who stands for principles of giving basic services
without bribery, someone who is transparent in their transactions. In the
quarry, for example, we provide a daily report on revenues from lahar, and we
give the revenue shares to the mayors].
TL: How’s your relationship with the mayors?
AE:Strained. Because perhaps this is a new culture were introducing. We have
been so accustomed with patronage politics, with money politics.
TL: Are they old (re-elected) mayors?
AE: More than one-half are new. But even then, we have been accustomed with that
culture, that perception. I am not saying everybody is corrupt or a traditional
politician. What I’m saying is there is a culture of patronage politics, money
politics, and influence peddling.
TL: How’s your relationship with the Vice Governor?
AE: Strained also. I think it’s because when I ran, maraming anggulo. There is
politics and everything that is usually met with opposition. When I ran, I ran
alone.Wala akong political party, Wala akong machinery. Wala akong pera. Walang
endorser. Another reason is meron din akong pagkukulang [I didn’t have any
political party, no machinery, no money, and no endorser. Another reason was
that I also have my shortcomings. Editor’s Note: Gov. Panlilio didn’t
elaborate on what these shortcomings are].
TL: Newspaper reports say you have to look out for the 3Rs (Recount, Recall,
Requiem) against you. How do you react to this?
AE: Nandyan yan. Once tumakbo ka ng public office, kasama yan. Hindi naman yan
external politics. Kapag pumasok ka sa ganitong buhay, dapat nakahanda ka sa
eventuality [It’s all part of it. Once you run for public office, those things
are included. Those are not external politics. If you enter this kind of life,
you must be ready for any eventuality].
TL: But you have bodyguards?
AE: Yes. Basta governor ka, may bodyguards ka automatic [If you’re governor,
you’re automatically given bodyguards].
TL: How’s your day to day life?
AE: I’m here in the office at 7:30 am. And then I end up 5 or 6pm. Sometimes,
8pm like last night.
TL: Where are you staying?
AE: In Clark. There’s a governor’s residence in Clark.
TL: How’s your relationship with Bulacan Governor Jonjon Mendoza?
AE:Hindi naman kami dati magkakilala [We did not know each other then]. But we
are fond of each other because we are both for good governance, we were both
new, we were both given [money in Malacañang] – that’s a natural cause to
bond together. From time to time, we call each other, we exchange notes.
TL: How about your relationship with the Palace?
AE:The President called me up when I won and then I had a courtesy call with her
three days before the oath-taking. Very sweet yung meeting na yun kasi kami lang
with some friends [The meeting was very sweet because there were only a few of
us]. We had lunch. She pledged to help Pampanga. I promised to cooperate. After
the controversy, some reports say nasaktan ang [First] Family sa ginawa ko.
Although ‘yung nangyari, hindi naman scripted yun. Ang punto lang, ako ang
tinanong. E hindi naman ako sinungaling [There were reports that the First
Family was hurt in what I did. But what happened was not scripted. People asked
me what happened. I answered the truth because I can’t lie]. I didn’t come
out in the open and volunteer information. I was asked, and I just told the
truth.
TL: You were asked by reporters?
AE: I was asked by someone from Pampanga who works for the Philippine Daily
Inquirer. She asked if funds were handed in the meeting. I just answered her
questions. Were you there? Yes. Were you given money? Yes. How much? 500
Thousand. When other reporters started asking me, we decided to make a press
conference.
TL: After the incident, were there some efforts to convince you to retract your
statements?
AE:Hindi naman. Wala naman [There’s no effort from them]. But I wrote her
[President Arroyo] a letter. I have a strained relationship with most of the
politicians here – the Board Members, the Mayors. They all went to Malacañang
and pledged support and loyalty. Unequivocal.Ang sabi ng iba – hindi ako ang
nagsasabi ha [There are those who are saying – I never said this] – canine
loyalty was what they pledged. What I said was I will l support her 100 percent
in so far as good governance and good citizenship is concerned. Hindi
unequivocal.When they went to the Palace, I think they were trying to put a
wedge. Yun ang pinalilitaw. Na hindi ako kasama [That’s what they are trying
to paint, that I was not with them]. They were trying to isolate me. They had a
congress for unity here in Pampanga and they invited me the last minute but I
was not able to attend because I had a prior speaking engagement in Guadalupe,
Makati.
TL: You were saying you wrote the President a letter?
AE: Yes. Last Christmas, when the 3Rs issue came out, they said she immediately
called [Police Director] General Razon, and it was relayed to the regional
directors and the provincial director to ensure that I will not be harmed. When
I heard that, I wrote a letter thanking her.
TL: How does “Among Ed for 2010” sound to you?
AE: Governance yan. The Presidency is not just pure intentions. Very intricate
ang pulitika [Politics is very intricate]. I don’t have a party. I don’t
have money.
TL: But would you want to be president?
AE: There was a survey before on what the Filipinos look for in a leader. Trust
is no. 1. Competence, I think, is only 6th on the list. Trustworthiness is
important for the Filipinos because I think there is a crisis in leadership. But
for me that’s not everything. Good intentions are not all. Dapat competent ka.
Theology ang inaral ko, hindi naman politics, hindi naman economics [You must be
competent. I studied Theology, not politics or economics]. And also, political
savvy, that’s another thing. You have to have that savvy for politics. Hindi
naman yun ganun kadali [That’s not easy].
TL: Will you run for governor again?
AE: I’m open. If you ask me, my preference is to go back to priesthood
ASAP.But if I discern that He would want me to run, then I’ll run again, but
my personal preference is to go back because I love my priesthood.
TL: If you will be asked for the three reforms you would like to focus on in
Pampanga, what would it be?
AE: One is the quarry collection and transparency, inilahad namin kung magkano
ang kita [we report on how much we earned from the quarry collection].
TL: How do you that? Yun paglalahad ng kita? Through a website?
AE: Pwede ninyong tingnan ang kita sa quarry collection. Inilalathala sa mga
newspapers dito [You can see the revenues from the quarry collection. We publish
them in newspapers here].Then the second reform would be diminished, if not
eliminated, commission or SOP (standard operating procedure) in government
projects. We talked to the suppliers and contractors. Nakipagkwehtuhan.
Pinakwento namin yun practice nila dati. Sabi nila, “Dati po kasi wala kaming
choice, kung ano ang sabihin sa amin, ginagawa lang namin. Sumasayaw lang po
kami.”So we told them, “Mula ngayon, hindi na kayo sasayaw. Mag-uusap
tayo” [We exchanged stories with them. We asked them about their previous
practices. They said, “Back then we didn’t have a choice. We did whatever
they told us to do. We just dance to their music.” So we told them, “From
now on, you’re not going to dance anymore. We’ll talk”].
TL: So there’s no “commissions” in projects anymore?
AE: They are diminished, if not eliminated. It will be seen because the projects
are still to be implemented. But commissions on our level, wala na[no more]. I
learned that corruption is on different levels. Bawat daanan ng proyekto, may
corruption, from the governor to the staff to the barangay captains [Every step
in the project, there’s corruption, from the governor to the staff down to the
community leaders].
TL: But how do you do eliminate corrupt practices?
AE: Kinakausap namin sila [We talk to them]. During implementation of the
projects, there is a “program of works” which details the specifications of
the project. We provide such program of work to the mayor, to the barangay
captain, to the civil society. That’s where responsible citizenship comes in.
They will monitor the project. What were doing here is to provide a system which
minimizes corruption up to zero-level. I believe we have made substantial
progress.
TL: The third reform is?
AE:Pamisaupan, which means pagtutulungan [cooperation] in Kapampangan. Once
every three weeks, pumupunta kami sa malayong lugar dito sa Pampanga at
tinatanong ko yung mga tao, “Sino na po ba sa inyo ang nakapunta sa
kapitolyo?” Wala pang 10 percent. So ngayon ang kapitolyo ang inilalapit namin
sa kanila. We bring services to them. We bring medical mission, dental mission,
vaccination sa mga nakagat ng aso, artificial insemination [for crops],
pagbibigay ng binhi, cultural dance instruction, papsmear. Lahat ng ito,
dinadala namin [we go to far-flung areas in Pampanga and we ask the people,
“Who among you has gone to the provincial capitol?” The number doesn’t
even reach 10 percent. So now, we bring the provincial capitol to them. We bring
services to them. We bring medical mission, dental mission, vaccination for
those bitten by dogs, artificial insemination for crops, seeds distribution,
cultural dance instruction, papsmear. All of these, we bring to them].
TL: It’s a caravan?
AE: Yes, we actually call it a caravan, and it’s a big affair – one or two
days. Nakikipag-usap kami sa mga barrio leaders.Noong una, sumasama ang mga
mayors, pero ngayon hindi na [We talk to the community leaders. At first, the
mayors accompany us. But now, they don’t]. When we went to Sto. Tomas, every
official was there except the mayor.
TL: Aren’t you offended with the treatment the mayors give you?
AE: To tell you frankly, hindi [no]. I’m a staunch believer that if I’m
doing what I think is right, kaya kong paninidigan. It’s just sad kasi parang
personalan na. At lahat sila [I can be firm when I know I right. It’s just sad
because they take it personally. And this includes all of them]. Even the
Pampanga Day, they boycotted. The board members and the mayors were not there.
Isa lang ang laging dumadating, si Mayor Oscar Rodriguez ng San Fernando. Pero
ang naiisip ko, sino ba naman ang mawawalan d’on? Hindi naman ako [Only one
mayor came, Mayor Oscar Rodriguez of San Fernando. But when I think about it,
who will be at the losing end? It won’t be me].
TL: Is there still Illegal gambling in Pampanga?
AE: Meron pa [There still is]. Jueteng is still widespread. I don’t know how
widespread, but it is. Nagsimula na kami ng campaign against it [We’ve started
a campaign against it].But you have to understand that jueteng has been here for
the longest time. This is the jueteng Vatican because the perceived jueteng lord
or jueteng pope is here.And the jueteng lord here is not just the simple,
may-ari ng jueteng [jueteng owner]. He is seen as a Kingmaker. Lahat ng
nanunungkulan dito sa government, including the military, civil society leaders,
even the religious ay tumatanggap sa kanya [Everybody in government, including
the military, civil society leaders, even the religious accepts money from the
jueteng lord]. And jueteng is supported and patronized by a multitude of people
here.   It’s embedded in the culture.Minsan sa mga prayer sessions ko noong
parish priest pa ako, may mga nagdadasal na tumama sila. Merong mga iba na bigla
na talagang nagpapasalamat sa Diyos dahil kung hindi dahil sa jueteng, hindi
nila mapapagamot ang mga anak nilang maysakit. Ganito ang kultura e [During
prayers sessions when I was still a parish priest, there are those who pray that
they win. Others give thanks to God for winning because if not for jueteng, they
can’t send their children to hospitals. That’s the culture].
TL: What are the campaigns against jueteng that you have started?
AE: You have to know that there have been many attempts to stop it even before.
Remember [then Interior Secretary] Joey Lina’s term? Minsan, nawawala sandali
pero bumabalik din [Sometimes it stops for a while, but it resumes when the
situation cools down]. I don’t have an illusion that I can single-handedly
take it out. Ang sinasabi ko sa mga tao, kung gusto po natin, magkatulungan po
tayo [What I tell people is that, if they want to eradicate jueteng, we can help
each other]. During our first six months, we prepared the people for livelihood
projects to give them an alternative job. Tamang-tama namang meron akong 20
years experience sa micro-enterprise. Yun pagpapahiram ng puhunan sa mga
nangangailangan [It just so happens that I have 20 years experience in
micro-enterprise, micro-lending to start a small business].And then last
December 11, PAGC, or the Pampanga Anti-Gambling Council launched a campaign
drive against jueteng. I issued an Executive Order saying that we are going to
enforce the law, but we will start with information dissemination first.So right
now, we are on an information campaign to show the ill effects of jueteng. Hindi
pa kami nanghuhuli [We’re not yet apprehending people]. We just want the
people first to stop being myopic about jueteng. Kasi ang jueteng, kung bente
pesos lang, ok, pero kung pumapatay ka na ng tao dahil sa jueteng,
nakapagsusustento ka na ng political campaigns dahil sa jueteng, nakakatakot na
yan [In jueteng, it’s ok if it’s just 20 pesos. But if you start killing
people for it, or if you’re able to finance political campaigns because of
jueteng, it starts to get scary].   TL: You were mentioning about your 20 year
experience in Grameen-type banking…
AE: We established an ecumenical NGO in 1986 or 1987 while I was the Director of
the Social Action Center of the Archdiocese of San Fernando.Wala kaming pera
noon, at nasumpungan namin ang TSPI o Tulay sa Pag-unlad sa Pasig [We didn’t
have money then, and we found out about TSPI or Bridge for the Progress of
Pasig]. We went there and asked for help. They said that they cannot lend us
money because they only cater to people in Metro Manila, but they said we can
start something like this for Pampanga residents. We set up an NGO [Editor’s
Note: They set up Talete Panyulung ning Kapampangan Inc. or TKPI (Bridge for the
Progress of Pampanga) for the province of Pampanga] and we helped people by
lending start-up capital for business, especially during the Pinatubo eruption. 
 TL: What was the greatest lesson you learned from your parents? AE: Values,
maging mapagmahal sa Diyos, mapagkalinga sa mahihirap [to love God, and take
care of the poor]. To be centered in God and the needy. My parents are both
deceased. My mother died years ago. My father died last February. My father was
a tinyente del barrio [village head]. He became a councilor and was a Vice Mayor
during President Diosdado Macapagal’s time. After his stint as vice mayor, he
retired from politics and focused on church work.
TL: Who are your heroes?  AE: My heroes are Bonifacio, Rizal, and Jose Abad
Santos. Maganda ang buhay niya [Abad Santos] [Abad Santos lived a beautiful
life]. Abad Santos was the Chief Justice during the Japanese execution. He was
executed by the Japanese forces. During that time, the Japanese were asking him
to renounce his allegiance to the country. His children were urging him to
renounce but he said to his children, “Hindi lahat ng mga tao ay nabibigyan ng
pagkakataon na manilbihan sa kanyang bayan.” Ganoon din ang sinabi ko sa mga
kapatid ko when I decided to run. Noong nag-usap kami, gusto pa nilang lumuhod
sa harap ko, basta lang wag akong tumakbo, pero ang sabi ko,“Hindi lahat ng
tao ay nabibigyan ng pagkakataong manilbihan bilang governor.” Napakadrama,
ano? [chuckles] But that really happened.   [Abad Santos told his children,
“Not everyone is given the chance to serve his country.” That’s why I told
my siblings when I decided to run. When we talked, they even wanted to kneel in
front of me just to persuade me not to run. But I said, “Not everyone is given
the chance to serve as governor.” Melodramatic, isn’t it?]