By FRANCIS T. WAKEFIELD
July 22, 2009, 4:47pm
Manila Bulletin
An alliance of ex-seminarians has thrown its full support to the presidential bid of priest-turned Pampanga Governor Ed Panlilio. In a press briefing, lawyer Ricky Ribo, convenor of the Philippine Alliance of Ex-Seminarians, said they are ready to tap their alumni associations to support Panlilio a day after the governor announced that he is ready to be dispensed from the priesthood to run as president in the 2010 national and local elections.
"We are ready to support Among Ed in the 2010 elections because we believe that he is the right person to run the country," Ribo told reporters during the Fernandina Forum at the Club Filipino in Greenhills, San Juan. Ribo said that although Panlilio doesn't have a strong political machinery to back up his bid unlike the other presidential aspirants, they are hopeful that he will end up victorious after the votes have been counted.
He said one way of ensuring that Panlilio will have a stronger chance of winning is by talking to other groups such as those from the military reformist group. He added that business leaders have already talked to them and are also ready to support Panlilio.
"We have enough time to talk to them (reformist) dahil sa November pa naman siya (Panlilio) magpa-file ng candidacy niya sa Commission on Elections. We would be on the losing end if we don't do this. Hopefully, the Holy Spirit will guide us on this," Ribo said.
"May mga lumapit na rin sa amin mga tao who are from the business sector. They are willing to come out in the open after Among Ed files his candidacy in November," he added.
When asked if their alliance, which he said has almost one million members, will support Isabela Governor Grace Padaca if ever she will be chosen by Panlilio as his running mate, Ribo said they will heed Panlilio’s decision.
Ribo said that should Panlilio lose in the 2010 presidential race, there is a big possibility that he can go back to priesthood. However, such decision will come from the Pope himself.
"In terms of going back to the priesthood or rescript, that would only be granted by the Apostolic See or the Holy Father," Ribo said. Panlilio, a suspended priest, ran and won Pampanga’s gubernatorial post in 2007.
Panlilio, during a press briefing last Tuesday, cited love for the country as the reason why he decided to finally run for the highest office in the land and leave the priesthood. "This priesthood that I love so much, I’m willing to give up for a greater love and that’s love for the country. For me the heart of priesthood is accepting the love of God and working for other people, especially the poor," he said. If he becomes president, Panlilio said, among the country’s problems that he will address are livelihood, malnutrition, corruption, food, and insurgency. Asked who are the people he plans to appoint to his Cabinet, he was only able to name two – former Social Welfare Secretary Dinky Soliman and a certain lawyer from Ateneo. "We are not prepared yet. First things first," said Panlilio.
He then called on all those who believe in him and his advocacy to support his campaign.
"I call on all supporters of good governance and ethical leadership in the country to support this candidacy and campaign. I’m asking all the Kapampangans and all those who believe in me and in this campaign, let’s work together because this is for you," Panlilio said.
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