Suspended Catholic priest announces run for Philippines presidency

Manila, Philippines (CNA / July 22, 2009)- Suspended Catholic priest Eddie Panlilio, current governor of the central Philippines province of Pampagna, has decided to run for the country’s presidency in 2010 and to seek dispensation from his priestly obligations.

Speaking at a weekly forum organized by the Catholic Media Network in Manila, Panlilio said he intended to file his candidacy by the November 30 legal deadline.

He remarked that he was ready for “all the consequences, including dispensation from the priesthood,” the Philippine Daily Inquirer reports.

Panlilio was suspended from the priesthood when he sought and won the Pampagna governorship in 2007, defeating a close ally of Philippines President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.

He said he would formally request dispensation from the Church sometime between August and November, adding that he would want to be reinstated into the priesthood if he loses.

"This priesthood that I love so much, I'm willing to give up for a greater love and that's love for the country," he said.

Archbishop Oscar Cruz, head of the Catholic bishops’ dispensation office, said Panlilio will be released from his priestly obligations the moment Pope Benedict XVI dispenses him.

The archbishop added that the suspended priest should have sought dispensation during his 2007 gubernatorial campaign. He expressed hope Panlilio should seek dispensation because it is “the right thing to do.”

“He will be sparing Catholic voters ... and priests from being divided,” Archbishop Cruz remarked.

According to the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines, Panlilio said he felt “at peace” when he decided to offer himself as a presidential candidate.

“I’m doing this not for me, not for myself. I felt God wanted me to go on a higher service,” he said. “I have said time and again I have no political agenda. There have been groups telling me to run for the presidency and thought I would pray again. After a period of discernment, I said, yeah, God is calling me to run for the presidency.”

If elected, Panlilio said, he would focus on issues such as people’s livelihood, malnutrition, corruption, food sufficiency and insurgency.

Panlilio also had no plans to marry. If he wins the election, he suggested, one of his sisters can serve as the Philippines’ First Lady.

League Thumbs Down Splitting Of Sulu In South RP

SULU, Philippines (Mindanao Examiner / Nov. 25, 2007) - The League of Municipalities in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) has flatly rejected a proposal to divide Sulu into two provinces.

Sulu’s Second District Representative Munir Arbison, who is on his third and last term, wanted the province divided.

Arbison made the proposal shortly after his reelection in May and he is said to be aspiring to run as governor of the new province in the 2010 national elections.

But majority of Sulu’s 18 municipal mayors were opposed to the division of the province, saying, “the proposal would only cause dissension and disunity among the locals and will only be a stumbling block to peace, progress and prosperity.”
Arbison previously said that he has the support of the mayors.

But the League of Municipalities in Sulu, one of five provinces under the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, passed a resolution signed by 15 mayors withdrawing their support to the proposed division of the province.

The resolution said the mayors were misled into believing that splitting Sulu into two provinces will bring additional funding support and progress.

“The division of the province of Sulu would adversely affect the territory of the province of Sulu and will reduce the capacity of the province to survive as a political unit,” noted the resolution.

“The present administration of the province of Sulu under the able and competent leadership of the Honorable Gov. Abdusakur Tan is creating along an effective governance of the province and have induced at this early a positive change towards the development of the province.”

The League of Municipalities in Sulu, headed by Mayor Isnaji Alvarez of the town of Indanan, also sent copies of the resolution to the Sulu Provincial Board, ARMM Gov. Zaldy Ampatuan and the ARMM Legislative Assembly.

A copy would also be sent to President Gloria Arroyo and House Speaker Jose de Venecia III and Senate President Manny Villar.

The others who signed the resolution were Mayor Munib Estino, of Panglima Estino and also the Secretary-General, of the local League of Municipalities; Mayor Kabir Hayudini of Patikul; Mayor Nedra Burahan of Panglima Tahil; Mayor Sitti Raya Tulawie of Talipao; and Mayor Najib Maldisa of Maimbung.

Mayor Hussin Amin of Jolo; Mayor Gafur Ab­durajak of Panamao; Mayor Arthur Muksan, of Siasi; Mayor Nurmina Burahan of Pata; Mayor Abdusali Asmadun of Lugus; Mayor Ahmad Nano of Pangu­taran; Mayor Rizal Ting­kahan of Parang; Mayor Wahid Sahidulla of Ban­guingui; and Mayor Hatta Berto of Pandami also signed the resolution.

The three remaining mayors who did not sign the resolution were Nasser Daud of Tapul; Mayor Alrazmie Halun of Kalingalang Caluang and Mayor Ahmad Omar of Luuk, known supporters of Arbison.

Sulu has an area of 1,600 square kilometers and is the 15th largest island in the Philippine Archipelago, in terms of area. Sulu is classified as a first-class province in terms of income.(Mindanao Examiner)

Who's Behind The Disappearance? Us?

QUEZON CITY (Mindanao Examiner / 01 May) – The Philippine military on Tuesday denied accusations that it was behind the disappearance of a political activist and son of a popular press freedom advocate.

Jonas Burgos, son of Jose Burgos, considered as one of the pillar of free press in the Philippines, has been reported missing by her mother, Edith, since April 28.

One witness told a television interview that he saw four men dragged Burgos out of a restaurant in Manila. “When I saw the man’s mother appealed on television about her missing son, I know that it was the same man that four people had taken away,” the witness said.

The woman appealed on televisions this week for anyone who saw her son.

Militant party list groups accused the Philippine military as behind the abduction of Burgos, who is a member of the Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas, an organization of peasants in the country.

Burgos was said to be with a woman named Melissa Reyes and an unidentified man who were also reported missing.

Philippine military spokesman Lt. Col. Bartolome Bacarro denied the accusations.

"Even in the absence of evidence, they were quick again to blame the Armed Forces of the Philippines. It's unfair. What we can say is that this action of militant groups is filled with malice," Bacarro told the independent regional newspaper Mindanao Examiner.

He said the military is willing to cooperate with the police in the investigation of the disappearance of Burgos.

Militant groups have also accused the military as behind extra-judicial killings of more than 900 political activists in the Philippines. (Juley Reyes)