AKBAYAN'S Manifesto of Support for Pampanga Governor Ed Panlilio

The war being waged by the Pampanga Mayors League against Pampanga Governor Among Ed Panlilio should be called for what it truly is an attack against the gains of people power and good governance.



The mayors claim that Among Ed's `autocratic style of governance' failed to address the most pressing problems hounding the province, from solid waste management to access to clean water, a year after he took office. They likewise dismissed the revenues gained by the provincial government by curbing corruption in the collection of taxes from quarrying.



These allegations cannot be divorced from Among Ed's continuing effort to curb corruption in the province, the latest of which is the plunder case he filed against alleged gambling lord Rodolfo `Bong' Pineda. The case follows a Sandiganbayan verdict that states that it was through Bong Pineda that ex-President Joseph Estrada was able to amass millions of pesos from illegal gambling, making Pineda himself culpable for plunder. The plunder case against the jueteng lord, along with a new taxation policy on quarrying that has drastically reduced corruption, has made local trapos all the more desperate to unseat Among Ed.



In a province where well-entrenched political dynasties abuse their position in public office to accumulate economic wealth and political influence, Among Ed's anti-corruption measures must be hurting traditional politicians. That the interest of the Pampanga Mayors League intersects with Bong Pineda's - whose wife Lilia ran against Among Ed during the previous gubernatorial race and whose son Dennis is the incumbent mayor of Lubao, Pampanga - point to the real motive behind this so-called war against the Pampanga governor.

Among Ed's brand of politics marks a new turn for the province. Instead of concentrating power between and among local politicians, he is instituting good governance from below. He has actively sought the participation of people's organizations and NGOs in crafting and implementing the province's programs and projects. He is activating local institutions - the local health board, investment board and ecological board - precisely to put democracy in practice and to ensure that local institutions of governance and performing their duties.

This is the type of people power that should be replicated in other local communities. After his historic victory in an election marred by cheating and violence, Among Ed is practicing the kind of governance that marks a democratic society, one that is participatory, transparent, and accountable to the people.

Change in Pampanga would not happen overnight, especially with its long history of corruption and political violence. But the steps being taken by Among Ed is toward the right direction. We call on all Filipino citizens to support Among Ed and help transform Pampanga into a trapo-free province.