2007 Election
Panlilio ran for the position of governor of Pampanga province in the 2007 Philippine general election. Panlilio defended his controversial decision to enter politics as a logical continuation of his ministry for the poor, whom he sees as having been exploited and neglected for too long by successive administrations of corrupt and uncaring politicians. His experience under the Social Action Center spurred him to announce his intention to run as the governor of the province. Consequently, he was suspended from his ministry, and is forbidden to perform any duties as a priest, including celebrating the Holy Mass.
Without any political party, he won over his two leading competitors, provincial board member Lilia Pineda and re-electionist governor Mark Lapid (both allies of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo), winning over Pineda by a slim margin of only 1,147 votes out of a total of over 600,000 votes cast for all three candidates.
Read more about this topic: Eddie Panlilio
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“Now that the election is over, may not all, having a common interest, re-unite in a common effort, to save our common country?”
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