Panlilio confidential
“YOU MISSED the more essential dialogues.”
So greeted me someone who exuded the holiness of a priest soon as I took a seat at Starbucks SM Clark with my espresso Thursday evening. He had in his hand a copy of the Jan. 19 issue of Punto! where Dayagulo appeared.
Really, so what did I miss?
He just handed me an envelope, saying everything was there and left without telling me his name. So he wanted anonymity: respect that I did.
Here’s what’s inside.
Kong Bong,
Good afternoon!
This is mainly about three of the many dialogues we had with the governor.
The first one was held at the former residence of the governor at De la Paz. The whole team of the governor requested a meeting with him, with the specific request that Atty. Velez (then putative provincial legal officer) and Atty. Dabu (then and still putative provincial administrator)be informed of but not invited to the meeting. That particular condition was set in order for us to speak freely about the two attorneys directly to the ears of the governor. Topic was of course the two attorneys, but more on Dabu and how she made life and work difficult for all of us. This meeting happened around late August or early September.
Another meeting was requested around November, but this one we hoped would be a dialogue along the level of that which we were used to in the seminary, heart-to-heart, as ex-seminarians talking to a priest. Again, the topic centered on Atty. Dabu and Atty. Velez. During that time, those two lawyers made a pact- that if Dabu resigns, Velez will also leave together with another lawyer, Atty. Quiambao. It was ex-seminarians against the lawyers. We poured our hearts out, we shed tears in that dialogue. At that time, there was already a very strong clamor from within our ranks for the removal of Dabu. We even considered resigning en masse just to emphasize our resolve and our belief that Dabu should be removed.
The third was held around September 2008. Many have already resigned by then, including Velez, Archie Reyes (Panlilio’s chief of staff) the Balas heads and a lot more. Another dialogue was arranged: on one side were those who have left, on the other were the governor, Dabu and the rest who remained. This time, the governor demanded that Dabu should be given due process- that she would be present in the dialogue and answer all accusations against her. Venue was the theology department of the Mater Boni Consilii Seminary. Our group wanted it closed door- just us. The governor insisted that there should be observers from the civil society groups, particularly, members of the KMI (Kapampangan Marangal Inc.), some clergy and religious sisters. Our reason for insisting it to be closed door was that we wanted to maintain the confidentiality of some things which happened inside the capitol. But the governor insisted that there should be observers. So we insisted that the proceedings be recorded, video and audio and that there should be a moderator. Present during that dialogue were Fr. Deo Galang, Fr. Paul Velasco, Sr. Celine Saplala, Sr. Vangie, Averell Laquindanum, Banjo Serrano, Rene Galang, and serving as moderator, Aldrin Angeles. We started at around 9:30 p.m. We went home 5:30 in the morning. We were disgruntled, disgusted, exhausted and wasted.
What did we talk about?
1. intelligence funds.
2. cash advances reaching to almost P1.4 million to Rop Syquia (case is now pending before the Civil Service Commission- an administrative case filed by Syquia against Dabu)
3. our "incompetence" (Dabu mu ing competent, anya indispensable ya (Only Dabu is competent, so she is indispensable)
4. our reasons for leaving
5. our in-your-face-recommendation for Dabu to resign
At the end of the almost eight-hour dialogue, Atty. Velez said, "Among, nung ali me buring mako king siping mu i Vivian, ilipat mu ne mu aliwang position, as a consultant or as legal officer. (Gov, if you don’t want Vivian to leave your side, transfer her to another position, as consultant or legal officer)"
At the end of the almost eight hours of dayagulo – to use your word – this is what the governor said, “I'm not removing Atty. Dabu and I won't even consider moving her to another position."
So, there goes the dialogue. For the governor, a dialogue happens only when everybody agrees to what he wants and do what he says.
Sometimes, when we read your columns "attacking" your kumpare, we feel that you are being too cruel. But on second thought, maybe he deserves it; maybe he brought it upon himself to be ridiculed, insulted, his clerical integrity doubted and his personal and mental capacities questioned.
By the way, the letter from the governor which saw print today in Punto (Jan. 20) just shows what kind of people were left behind to stick it out with him.
Thank you and more power.
Brothers in Good Governance.
THIS COLUMN is open to any reaction from the governor or any of the names mentioned in the piece.
So greeted me someone who exuded the holiness of a priest soon as I took a seat at Starbucks SM Clark with my espresso Thursday evening. He had in his hand a copy of the Jan. 19 issue of Punto! where Dayagulo appeared.
Really, so what did I miss?
He just handed me an envelope, saying everything was there and left without telling me his name. So he wanted anonymity: respect that I did.
Here’s what’s inside.
Kong Bong,
Good afternoon!
This is mainly about three of the many dialogues we had with the governor.
The first one was held at the former residence of the governor at De la Paz. The whole team of the governor requested a meeting with him, with the specific request that Atty. Velez (then putative provincial legal officer) and Atty. Dabu (then and still putative provincial administrator)be informed of but not invited to the meeting. That particular condition was set in order for us to speak freely about the two attorneys directly to the ears of the governor. Topic was of course the two attorneys, but more on Dabu and how she made life and work difficult for all of us. This meeting happened around late August or early September.
Another meeting was requested around November, but this one we hoped would be a dialogue along the level of that which we were used to in the seminary, heart-to-heart, as ex-seminarians talking to a priest. Again, the topic centered on Atty. Dabu and Atty. Velez. During that time, those two lawyers made a pact- that if Dabu resigns, Velez will also leave together with another lawyer, Atty. Quiambao. It was ex-seminarians against the lawyers. We poured our hearts out, we shed tears in that dialogue. At that time, there was already a very strong clamor from within our ranks for the removal of Dabu. We even considered resigning en masse just to emphasize our resolve and our belief that Dabu should be removed.
The third was held around September 2008. Many have already resigned by then, including Velez, Archie Reyes (Panlilio’s chief of staff) the Balas heads and a lot more. Another dialogue was arranged: on one side were those who have left, on the other were the governor, Dabu and the rest who remained. This time, the governor demanded that Dabu should be given due process- that she would be present in the dialogue and answer all accusations against her. Venue was the theology department of the Mater Boni Consilii Seminary. Our group wanted it closed door- just us. The governor insisted that there should be observers from the civil society groups, particularly, members of the KMI (Kapampangan Marangal Inc.), some clergy and religious sisters. Our reason for insisting it to be closed door was that we wanted to maintain the confidentiality of some things which happened inside the capitol. But the governor insisted that there should be observers. So we insisted that the proceedings be recorded, video and audio and that there should be a moderator. Present during that dialogue were Fr. Deo Galang, Fr. Paul Velasco, Sr. Celine Saplala, Sr. Vangie, Averell Laquindanum, Banjo Serrano, Rene Galang, and serving as moderator, Aldrin Angeles. We started at around 9:30 p.m. We went home 5:30 in the morning. We were disgruntled, disgusted, exhausted and wasted.
What did we talk about?
1. intelligence funds.
2. cash advances reaching to almost P1.4 million to Rop Syquia (case is now pending before the Civil Service Commission- an administrative case filed by Syquia against Dabu)
3. our "incompetence" (Dabu mu ing competent, anya indispensable ya (Only Dabu is competent, so she is indispensable)
4. our reasons for leaving
5. our in-your-face-recommendation for Dabu to resign
At the end of the almost eight-hour dialogue, Atty. Velez said, "Among, nung ali me buring mako king siping mu i Vivian, ilipat mu ne mu aliwang position, as a consultant or as legal officer. (Gov, if you don’t want Vivian to leave your side, transfer her to another position, as consultant or legal officer)"
At the end of the almost eight hours of dayagulo – to use your word – this is what the governor said, “I'm not removing Atty. Dabu and I won't even consider moving her to another position."
So, there goes the dialogue. For the governor, a dialogue happens only when everybody agrees to what he wants and do what he says.
Sometimes, when we read your columns "attacking" your kumpare, we feel that you are being too cruel. But on second thought, maybe he deserves it; maybe he brought it upon himself to be ridiculed, insulted, his clerical integrity doubted and his personal and mental capacities questioned.
By the way, the letter from the governor which saw print today in Punto (Jan. 20) just shows what kind of people were left behind to stick it out with him.
Thank you and more power.
Brothers in Good Governance.
THIS COLUMN is open to any reaction from the governor or any of the names mentioned in the piece.
posted by A.Caesar Z. Lacson at 11:35 AM
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