A Roman Catholic priest, who vows to restore morality and dignity to "the lost flock" of his province, is set to become the provincial governor of Pampanga in Central Philippines. Fr. Eddie Panlilio is making a strong showing in the initial count by two poll watchdogs as of Wednesday.

An independent candidate, Panlilio garnered 19,314 votes, according to tallies by the National Movement for Free Elections and the Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting. The tallies came from 289 of 1,203 polling precincts in Arayat, Bacolor, Lubao and Sto. Tomas towns and this capital city.

Panlilio's rivals, Board Member Lilia Pineda and reelectionist Gov. Mark Lapid, had posted 15,526 and 13,182 votes, respectively.

Panlilio, 53, enjoyed wide margins in this city and in Sto. Tomas, a parish he served in the late 1990s.

The priest said he decided to run for public position because he wants to bring morality back to his province and to offer an alternative to the corrupt administration in Pampanga. He said he also wants to rid the province's image of being the gambling capital of the Philippines.

Ironically, Panlilio's closest rival for the gubernatorial post, Pineda, is the wife of suspected big-time gambling lord, Bong Pineda. The Pineda's are also known to be close to President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.

Panlilio's tabulation, which is displayed in the lobby of his headquarters, showed him with 169,000 votes, against 157,300 for Lapid and 149,858 for Pineda.