The people's darling always

By Ram Mercado
First Person

THE recall fever, which has afflicted not only a few cabalen, remains at a tolerable 39º Celsius.

News that the Commission on Elections (Comelec) has barely enough funds (P5 million) for the purpose that according to Governor Panlilio's lawyers was estimated to cost about P50 million for the exercise, created a sobering effect on the recall would-be supporters.

In the face of this monstrous funding obstacle, local residents have been discouraged somewhat. They are now adopting an apathetic wait-and-see stance after the news reports doused cold water on the initiative. The fever is noticeably subsiding despite the continued signature campaign.

Malacañang can easily direct the budget department to cause the release of the recall fund as might be needed. But it is a far shot that President Arroyo will join the local political rumble and antagonize the majority of Pampanga residents who oppose the recall move.

She may be tempted to throw Panlilio into the lions' den but her sense of history will deter her from sweet revenge. Her late father, President Diosdado Macapagal, found himself in the heartbreaking situation when very few Pampangos attended public meetings where he was a guest and speaker merely because of his failed "kadwang apag" vision for his province.

Where before the jubilant cabalen burst into frenzied applause and passionate display of admiration for his brilliance, his later crowd remained impassive and quiet when the former president was campaigning for Liberal Party candidates here or to promote a (Marcos) charter change. Pampangos felt a horrendous letdown with his unfulfilled promises.

How would Madame Gloria take a probable cold reception from Pampangos when she visits her adopted province in her post-presidency? This is a futuristic scenario in the aftermath of a possible perception by her cabalen that she had a hand in putting the Among Gob out of office when she was president.

Today she is the darling of her loving and affectionate cabalen as her father was their idol before his "fall." It is a fact that while Panlilio has been reviled, insulted, and lashed for his certain official and personal faults, he has been elected to office by so many thousands of hopeful residents. These come largely from the Catholic faithful who want him to go his full term and oppose an induced abortion after a year.

They are the same people who had put their trust in the maverick priest, mostly the unshod multitude who holds the governor in unquestioning faith.

"Bayu ya pang mitanam, lalaputan da ne, e re buring mamunga," this is the way a small farmer puts it. Paten me ing tanaman due to "loss of confidence."

I am sure the President can feel the pulse of the people in her province. She has too brilliant a mind to ignore the clear reality of the wide acceptance of the people for Panlilio. She is too smart to gloss over the future consequences of any act of persecution to the priest-turned- governor.

With her vast powers, she can smite Panlilio in one stroke, and that's the end of it. Through her legal dragons, Panlilio may not last very long in office should the Palace will it.

If the butcher's maxim is true that there are nine ways of killing a cat, PGMA's people can reinvent a 10th method to skin Panlilio to kingdom come. This would be a man-made disaster after Mt. Pinatubo.

The recall proponents and Panlilio's enemies are now wishing Malacañang will soon intervene to eradicate the pestering problem of a stubborn reformer. This is their only option after realizing little support and encouragement from the masses for his recall. As in a dream fulfillment, the anti-Panlilio forces, most of them Palace allies, would want her to be the convenient "executioner. "

There are genuine allies of the President in Pampanga who truly love her and are concerned of her place in future history. They object to her petty engagement in local politics and advised her against a patently anti-people move.

The loyal advisers of the President want to see the day when Mrs. Arroyo as former president will still be passionately welcomed and lionized by her adoring throng of admirers, with her feeling the same warm love and deep affection that they hold her today.

They want her to remember a costly lesson from her father's experience in the past, and hope that Pampangos, the majority of them Catholic supporters of Among Ed, will flock in droves to meet and embrace her, and in single voice still shout "GMA! GMA! "That, however, would not happen if thousands of Catholic Pampangos who support and believe Among Ed, perceive any act of government-sponsore d harassment or persecution by Malacañang on the stout-hearted and hard-headed man they elected governor.