Govs in Isabela, Cagayan ‘unclear’

BY ARMAND TAMARAY

TUGUEGARAO CITY, Cagayan -- Results of the May 14 gubernatorial races in Isabela and this province are not yet clear as the Commission on Elections still has to resolve protests filed by the rival candidates.

Cases over the provincial canvassing of the votes cast for governor in both provinces was separately brought to Manila for resolution by the Comelec’s central office after complaints were filed by former Gov. Benjamin Dy (NPC) and Mayor Alvaro Antonio of Alcala, Cagayan, gubernatorial candidates in Isabela and Cagayan, respectively.

Leading in the gubernatorial races at the time the canvassing issued were taken to Manila for resolution were reelectionist Isabela Gov. Grave Padaca (LP) and reelectionist Cagayan Gov. Edgar Lara (NPC).

Based on unofficial results gathered by the Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting as well as the official results of the votes already canvassed, Padaca has a slim margin of some 5,000 over Dy.

Or the margin could even be some 17,000 votes if the ballots from several towns which were being questioned by the Dy camp are included in the tabulation.

The election returns were sent to Manila after the Dy camp petitioned the poll body to exclude from the tabulation several precincts in Ilagan town for having “formal defects.”

Padaca garnered 219,425 compared to 214,150 or a margin of 5,275 votes if the votes from the questioned 182 precincts are excluded as per request of Dy.
In Cagayan, the canvassing was likewise taken to Manila after Antonio’s lawyer, Lara’s main opponent for the governorship, questioned the results of the municipal canvassing in Lallo.

However, Lara assailed Padaca for her “uncalled-for and irresponsible remarks” against the prominent Dy family.

Rep. Faustino “Bogie” Dy III was reacting to Padaca’s statement and aired on television.

“I will demolish you,” Padaca, in a tense voice, said, referring to the Dys. The congressman described Padaca’s remark as a sign of desperation.

Padaca was apparently irked by reports that Benjamin Dy, the lawmaker’s elder brother, was well ahead in the canvassing.