Local execs, priest vouch for Oriental Mindoro lawmaker
CALAPAN CITY—Expressions of support, including from a prominent Catholic priest and some elected officials, poured in on social media for Oriental Mindoro Rep. Arnan Panaligan after he was dragged into the controversy over questionable flood control projects.
Panaligan’s name came up in the presentation that accompanied the privilege speech of Sen. Panfilo Lacson on Wednesday, particularly the part showing one town in his district, Naujan, cornering 55 percent of the province’s 2025 budget for flood control projects, to the tune of P10 billion.
Fr. Edwin Gariguez, the social action director of the Apostolic Vicariate of Calapan, said he would vouch for the integrity of Panaligan.
No corruption record
“I took this opportunity to clarify the issue of corruption-laden flood control scandals but vouched for the integrity of our Congressman Arnan Panaligan. Based from my personal knowledge … he is not a corrupt politician and has no record of corruption in many years of government service,” Gariguez said in an interview with the Church-run station dzRV 846 here on Thursday.
The priest, who received the 2012 Goldman Environmental Prize for leading a grassroots movement against illegal nickel mining on Mindoro Island, said he sent a message to Panaligan on Thursday suggesting that the lawmaker author a bill requiring more transparency from the Department of Public Works and Highways.
Also speaking out in support of Panaligan were Mayors Paulino Salvador “Doy” Cueto Leachon of Calapan City and Karen Ponce-Miranda of San Teodoro town.
Leachon posted on social an image of an eagle with the caption: “Share this if you #StandForCongArnan.” City Hall employees later used the image as profile pictures for their accounts.
Council resolution
Ponce-Miranda on Friday also took to social media to stress that Panaligan had kept a track record untainted by issues of corruption.
The Municipal Council of Puerto Galera also passed a resolution on Friday in support of Panaligan, citing his “competent leadership and untainted public service.”
Panaligan was the founding mayor of Calapan when it was converted into a city in 1998. He served as mayor for 18 years before being elected congressman of Oriental Mindoro’s first district in 2022 and again in 2025.
A number of residents have questioned Panaligan’s inclusion in Lacson’s speech. The congressman immediately issued a denial of the allegations, saying he had never been a proponent of flood control projects in his district and yet he was never given a chance to first air his side on the matter.
