Balas Boys: Guv still our man

Friday
August 22, 2008
Balas Boys: Guv still our man
By Jovi T. De Leon and Ian Ocampo Flora

CITY OF SAN FERNANDO -- A leader of the protesting members of Biyaya A Luluguran at Sisikapan (Balas) on Thursday clarified that "Governor Ed Panlilio is still their governor and symbol of change.

" This statement was made to correct, if not to back off, an earlier statement made by some former Balas members calling for Panlilio's resignation during a meeting with Vice-Governor Yeng Guiao last Tuesday afternoon.

Protesting Balas Boys leader Fil Rodriguez said the group has yet to release an official statement regarding the issue. Rodriguez said that the objective of the "courtesy call" made by Edu de Leon and nine other Balas Boys was merely to inform the vice governor of their plan of action -- which is to call for Panlilio's resignation -- should their projected deadline for a resolution of their appeals expire.

They did not disclose the exact date and time of the deadline though de Leon hinted it is supposed to be within the week. The Balas protest is now on its 11th day.

Rodriguez, deluged with phone calls and text messages from supporters reacting to Wednesday's Sun.Star Pampanga's banner story, said the group's meeting with Guiao "should not be viewed as an expression of our official stand."

"We will at the moment, stick to our current position on our two demands, that is, for them (Panlilio and Dabu) to abide by the terms of our dialogue held at the Social Action Center of Pampanga and for the resignation of Provincial Administrator Vivian Dabu," he said.

Rodriguez admitted that they are in no position to call for the governor's resignation and that in fact, they "still hold the governor in high esteem, a man we look up to as a herald of hope and change for the province."

He said leaders of the group and representatives from civil society were set to meet on Thursday afternoon to clarify the issue and finalize their position regarding the governor.

Rodriguez stressed that they have not decided to call for the resignation of Panlilio. "We are not calling for the resignation of the governor; we stand by our call for the resignation of provincial administrator Vivian Dabu."

Rodriguez and other leaders of the protesting Balas Boys said they are still hoping for reforms to be initiated by Panlilio. They said some Balas members might have just issued their personal view on the possible call for the resignation of Panlilio but this, they said, is not necessarily shared by all the picketing Balas Boys.

"So far it is only Dabu we want out of the Capitol," Rodriguez clarified, adding that if there will be a need to call for the resignation of Panlilio, they will decide as a group.

Sun.Star Pampanga also tried to get the stand of the group regarding the recall initiative launched by a group that calls itself Kambilan.

Asked if they will support the recall, Rodriguez said: "The recall is a totally different issue; we will stick to our original issues."

He said they would have to meet as group before issuing any statement on the matter of the recall move. The Balas members said they will continue to hold their picket until the governor hears their grievances.


source: http://www.sunstar.com