MISSING THE ACTION by: Kiko Ortelano

ALARMED!

There is no other way to describe it. GMA is obviouslly alarmed by the fact that the governor of her very own home province has provided another cause for embarrassment to her administration. The first was the revelation of the php500k payola in Malacanang. This incident is obviously the catalyst of the concerted action of all government officials against the governor of Pampanga. The latest one is the assigment of a Provincial Director for Pampanga by the PNP.

No matter what the final justification will be by the PNP, to those who will really look objectively at the issue of the Pampanga Provincial Director post of the PNP, there is really a very big hand toying with the Pampanga governor.

The flip-flopping and the differing and oftentimes incongruent statements of the PNP officers including those of the DILG Secretary, Ronnie Puno, have only strengthened the case of Governor Panlilio.

I do not know if Governor Panlilio has other legal courses of actions to take. If there are, we hope the governor pursues this issue until its correct conclusion. There has to be bastion within the very sick Philippine beureaucracy that aggrieved parties like Governor Panlilio can turn to. If there are none within the government system, the true concerned citizens of our country should rise as one to stop this.

THIS IS NOT THE FIGHT OF GOVERNOR PANLILIO OR THE KAPAMPANGANS ALONE. THIS IS THE FIGHT OF ALL FILIPINOS WHO YEARN TO HAVE A GOVERNMENT THAT WILL TRULY WORK FOR ITS PEOPLE.

The alarm is obvious when everybody who licks the _ _ _ of the president goes out smoking in protecting GMA. Yesterday, GMA spoke about stopping the fingerpointing and just work together. Yet immediately after, in the evening at the HAMON CLTV show, the Mayors of Minalin and Floridablanca and BM Tars Halili, did just that; pointed their fingers to Governor Panlilio for all the wrong that is happenning in Pampanga.

Yes, Governor Panlilio is to blame for:

1. Stopping the corruption at the capitol,
2. Corecting the plunder of the province's mineral resources; specifically lahar,
3. An official and real effort to stop illegal gambling specially jueteng,
4. Bringing the provincial government closer top the people (not necessarily local government officials) by way of the PAMISAUPAN Caravan,
5. Institutionalizing the assistance to deserving college students,
6. Always respecting laws even when it means antagonizing other government officials, both local and national,
7. Tapping of true and legitimate people's organizations in prooviding services to the poor, and more.

Admittedly, there have been members of the governor's internal team who have gone the other way. There may still be a few of those who stayed who are doing the province a disservice.

However, we still believe that Among Ed is the man we need at the capitol. We really just have to work harder if we want him to succeed.

LUID KA!