A group supporting the candidacy of Pampanga Gov. Ed Panlilio and Isabela Gov. Grace Padaca in the 2010 presidential elections was launched Sunday.

Panlilio-Padaca para sa Pagbabago Movement (PPP Movement) said it is convinced that only Panlilio and Padaca, if elected president and vice-president, respectively, can deliver the needed change in the country.

PPP Movement was launched by various organizations namely Kaya Natin! Movement, Pambansang Kilusan ng mga Samahang Magsasaka and the Philippine Alliance of Ex-Seminarians.

Running priest Fr. Robert Reyes is also part of the newly-formed group.

Members of the PPP Movement said they remained unfazed that the chances of Panlilio, a Catholic priest on leave, and Padaca winning in the elections are slim.

They added that they were inspired by the recent victory of US president Barack Obama.

The group also urged the public to contribute at least P1 to help in the campaign.

Reports said Panlilio was not closing his doors to the possibility of him running in the 2010 polls with Padaca as his running mate.

Saying that he is not afraid to lose, Panlilio admitted that he is more afraid to win “because it will be a big responsibility.”

“Pressure to run”

Padaca, for her part, said she was not yet taking seriously the possibility of running for vice president but expressed that there is pressure for her to do so.

“It’s so above me, pero to be frank about it maraming nagre-respond marami ang sumiseryoso so iyon ang pressure sa amin. Kung may aaminin man ako sa inyo iyon ang pressure sa amin ngayon parang may gumugusto na sana matupad iyon,” said Padaca in an interview by ABS-CBN Isabela.

Padaca admitted that the group Kaya Natin!, of which she and Panlilio are members, have been discussing having Panlilio run for president in the 2010 elections.

She said Panlilio himself has been considering her as his running mate.

Merong iba na ang sinasabi nila wala silang gusto sa mga nakikita nila sa survey so ang gusto nila bago so iyon na nga lumabas iyong pangalan ni Governor Panlilio and siya naman siguro kung siya ang tatungin, running mate niya ako. Kasi iyon at iyon ang sinasabi niya,

She said the decision of Kaya Natin! would be a great influence on her and Panlilio’s decision to run.

“Maybe I can go as far as saying na malaki ang magiging bahagi ng grupong Kaya Natin! sa desisiyon ni ‘Among’ Ed Panlilio kasi iyong statement niya na iyon matagal na naming alam, matagal na naming napag-uusapan…Napag-uusapan in the sense na, iyon nga, may mga possibilities, so alam ko na kung ano man ang maging desisyon niya ay malaki ang magiging papel ng grupong Kaya Natin! Ako man kung ano man ang magiging desisiyon ko malaki ang impluwesiya ng grupong Kaya Natin!” said Isabela’s governor.

The group Kaya Natin! describes itself as “a movement composed of good Filipinos from different sectors of society that aim to espouse genuine change and ethical leadership in our country.” With reports from Rod Macenas, ABS-CBN News and Harris Julio, ABS-CBN News Isabela