INQUIRER.net Eleksyon 2007

Among Ed voters help in recount

Central Luzon Desk

Tonette Orejas

CITY OF SAN FERNANDO, Pampanga, Philippines—Ranged against a losing gubernatorial candidate who has shelled out P4.4 million to fund the recount of her votes, some voters in Pampanga have begun raising money to pay the honorariums of revisors to guard the votes they gave to Governor Eddie Panlilio.

The Pampanga Christian Ministers Council (PCMC) has raised P25,000 since starting the fundraising drive on Saturday, PCMC mission keeper Pastor Joy Pongco said in a statement.

In an interview on Monday, Pongco said the PCMC decided to help because Panlilio, with his P31,000-monthly salary, does not have enough money to fund the recount that is being done at the instance of his closest rival, former Board Member Lilia Pineda.

A Catholic priest for 26 years before he entered politics in 2007, Panlilio’s net worth is only P720,000, according to his latest Statement of Assets, Liabilities, and Net Worth.

Fundraising

Pongco said the fundraising drive, dubbed “Piso-pisong ambag para sa recount,” sets P1 as a minimum amount.

Saturday’s collection was pitched in by young and old members of 14 ministerial fellowships, she said.

She has informed Panlilio about the turnover of the amount, which is kept in PCMC’s savings account on Monday.

One of the governor’s three volunteer lawyers, Ernesto Francisco Jr., said while Pineda has hired 42 revisors for the two shifts, Panlilio has only 21 revisors.

Each of Pineda’s revisors is paid P1,000 daily while those working for Panlilio gets half only of the amount plus P50 for food allowance.

In a telephone interview on Monday, Pineda said she was spending her income from various businesses to fund the recount.

“I only want to know the truth if ballots with my name, ‘Nanay Baby,’ were counted [and credited] to me,” she told the Philippine Daily Inquirer.

She denied reports that claimed she alleged that Panlilio committed vote-buying, padding, and shaving, and used fake ballots.

Integrity

Those allegations, however, were cited in her election protest that the Supreme Court decided upon last month.

Pongco said she was taking the same drive to other churches in the country.

“When we voted for Among (Father) Ed, it was a step to bring back dignity to our province and the Kapampangans,” Pongco said.

The Kapampangan Kontra Recount Coalition has set a motorcade-rally at the Commission on Elections office in Manila on August 22 to express indignation to what it calls “sham recount.”

K2R spokesperson Arnel Manliclic said while they doubted the integrity of the recount process, they have been forced to monitor the process.

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