PHILIPPINES Ex-seminarians to support priest’s presidential bid

July 23, 2009 | PL07627.1559 | 505 words Text size The Philippine Alliance of Xseminarians (PAX) in a group photo taken in April -- Photo: UCAN/Philippines SAN JUAN CITY, Philippines (UCAN) -- Former seminarians are planning to campaign for Father Eddie Panlilio, a priest who intends to run for the presidency in next year’s election. The Philippine Alliance of Xseminarians (PAX) in a group photo taken in April -- Photo: UCAN/Philippines “We aim to deliver 5 million votes,” said Tyrone Cimafranca, president of the association of former Society of the Divine Word (SVD) seminarians. The association, called XVDs, has about 500 members. They are part of PAX, the Philippine Alliance of Xseminarians. Cimafranca said some former seminarians now living abroad do not qualify to vote, “but we are counting on their influence on their relatives here to whom they send money.” These men have also expressed willingness to contribute financially to Father Panlilio’s campaign, Cimafranca said. “They are just waiting while the campaign organizes the logistics because money is a sensitive matter and we want to do it properly.” Cimafranca said priests in provinces he visited have also told him they support Father Panlilio's candidacy. Father Panlilio, who is governor of Pampanga, announced on July 21 that he plans to seek dispensation from his priestly duties to run for the presidency. He said he would file his certificate of candidacy in time for the Nov. 30 deadline. The priest is currently on leave from his religious ministry. Cimafranca, a lawyer, was speaking to UCA News after the weekly Fernandina Media Forum session organized in San Juan. He arrived late for the July 22 forum because of “all the emails I had to answer” about the possibility of Father Eddie Panlilio being elected Philippine president in the May 2010 election. Cimafranca said friends from around the country and abroad are discussing online what they can do to help Father Panlilio win. PAX has about 1 million members, former seminarian Bal Falcone said during the forum. These include ordained clergy as well as laymen who had studied in a Philippine seminary. “We support (Father Panlilio) 100 percent,” Falcone declared. “We will work for him in every way we can.” Fellow member Ricky Ribo, a lawyer, also addressed the forum. In Father Panlilio, “we see a ray of hope” because he embodies what PAX advocates, he said. These include transparency, good governance and public accountability, he elaborated. Father Panlilio also has no potentially “troublesome” First Lady, has been trained to serve others instead of his own interests, and is prepared to give up the priesthood, “something he loves so much,” to serve the nation, former seminarian Jules Quinabo told the forum. Journalists at the gathering, however, said Father Panlilio must live up to his ideals of honesty and truthfulness and answer questions he has dodged. One insisted the priest categorically answer questions about his alleged two children. Another journalist said the priest-governor has yet to account publicly for gubernatorial campaign funds from overseas donors and money he reportedly received during a meeting in Malacanang, the presidential office. Other participants want Father Panlilio to explain his positions on issues such as military action and population control. His campaign staff must also reveal if any serious medical condition is causing the discoloration of his skin, said another journalist. The Philippine Alliance of Xseminarians (PAX) in a group photo taken in April -- Photo: UCAN/Philippines