Padaca loses allies in bid as governor

By Raymund Catindig

TUGUEGARAO CITY – Former Isabela governor Grace Padaca has lost her remaining political allies as they have decided to support the reelection bid of Gov. Faustino Dy III of the Nationalist People’s Coalition (NPC).

The NPC adopted former congressman Edwin Uy and Gamu town Vice Mayor Fernando Cumigad after they failed to get the endorsement of the Liberal Party.

Uy was Padaca’s runningmate in the 2010 elections while Cumigad was one of her closest allies during her two-term stint as Isabela governor.

“I’m sad but I’m not mad. I understand the circumstances that led them to that decision. The most important thing is for the people of Isabela to have candidates to choose from. I’d settle for this situation rather than have Isabela a province of unopposed candidates,” Padaca said.

Cumigad said his decision to defect to the NPC was for “political survival,” noting that Padaca ignored his call to meet with her allies before the deadline in the filing of certificates of candidacy in October.

Padaca is running for governor again as an independent.