Never loose an election in The Philippine Islands

Governor Mark Lapid Governor of Pampanga province in the summer of 2007 decided to run for re-election. His two rivals were a Catholic priest and Lilia Pineda, the wife of the illegal gambling lord, Rodolfo "Bong" Pineda.

The current President of the country being from Pampanga where the election for governor took place put her power behind the wife of the gambling lord. The women lost! The people had had enough of high officials stealing and gambling lords.

At first, many people, especially in his hometown, were quite surprised with the announcement of Fr. Panlilio’s that he would run for governor.

The illegal gambler's wife and the thief lost the election, being beaten by a Catholic priest (Father Eddie Panlilio) who promised to finally give the people an honest government. The last time an honest government was the last American governor-general of the country decades and decades ago.

Due to the millions of tons of lahar ejected from Mt. Pinatubo that has blanketed certain areas of Pampanga province, north of Manila, the province has a superb quality of sand that is sought after to make top-quality concrete.

The www.catholic.org web site reports: "Controversy has marred the quarrying of sand and lahar in Pampanga since Mount Pinatubo erupted in 1991 in neighboring Zambales. In March 2000, the national ombudsman suspended Manuel Lapid, then Pampanga's governor, for alleged anomalies involving quarry funds. Mark Lapid succeeded his father as governor and was also implicated in graft cases for anomalous collection of quarry fees. Father Panlilio succeeded Mark Lapid.

The priest, now suspended from his church ministry, was elected governor on May 14. He said he ran for office because no layperson wanted to oppose traditional politicians."

The last few years the only cost per large truckload is 300 pesos ($6.70 - changes daily according to the world market). Instead of being collected the most efficient way at the quarries this small charge is collected along the various roads and forwarded to the Governor's office.

The newly elected Governor has remitted over 1 million pesos (1 million = $23,000) more per month to the Philippines national government above what the former Governor Lapid was remitting. The obvious meaning was that the Governor's office was stealing $23,000 per month, every month for 7 to 8 years! This does not include the rake-offs from the lowly road-side collectors before it reached the Governor's office.

If this one item was making former Governor Mark Lapid $23,000 per month, then what were the many, many, other various items under his control making him . . . and for years?

Since losing the election people who worked for the Catholic priest have been murdered by the former Lapid and Pineda supporters. Poor losers for sure.

Not many feuds are settled by money in The Philippine Islands, most are settled by the bolo or gun. People run for elected office because of the money they can steal, there is no other reason to run.

The newly elected Catholic priest Governor has been offered body guards from the top Philippine National Policeman. Of course this means the newly elected governor would place his life in the hands of men he does not know. He wisely refused the offer and for very good reason.

The newly elected Governor was invited to the Presidential Palace to meet with the Present President of the country. On his way out he was offered him a bag containing 500,000 pesos ($11,120.00) by a "staff member"! Philippine politics at work with money to grease the skids to gain new support and/or compromise the receiver. He refused, but was told he could use it for "elections or other projects". He took the money, then promptly reported it to the news media. We believe he will use it for poor communities and about time someone did.

We have given a few man-hours (200 or thereabouts) to investigating the newly elected Catholic priest Governor of Pampanga province and so far he seems to be honest. But attempts will be made like those at the Presidential Palace to compromise him and bring him under control. Once anyone is brought under control then he/she is invited to be one of the "Good ole boys" and can make money like those before them. If, after two to three years he remains clean, then they will simply have him murdered. The next compromising ploy will be to get him in bed with someone.

The latest saga (October 20, 2007) is to say charges might be filed against the priest-Governor for taking a 500,000 pesos bribe as he was leaving the Presidential Palace.

If the priest-Governor had not taken the bribe then he would not be believed if he held a news conference saying a bribe attempt was made. But when he opened the bag at a news conference he was instantly believed. Oh well, about par for Philippine Islands' intrigue and backstabbing.

Former corrupt governor Mark Lapid has a host of other problems.

Worst of all, women problems

.More women problems

It just keeps on going on and on and on:

Getting rid of a leech

This Aquino lady is a daughter of the former President of The Philippine Islands