Comelec annuls Padaca's 2007 poll win in Isabela
MANILA, Philippines - The Commission on Election (Comelec) on Tuesday annulled the proclamation of Isabela Governor Grace Padaca in favor Benjamin Dy, who had protested the results of the 2007 elections.
After a recount of votes, the second division of Comelec ruled that that Dy got 199,435 votes against Padaca's 198,384, or a lead of 1,051 votes.
Padaca was proclaimed winner in the gubernatorial race in 2007 with a lead of 17,007 votes over Dy.
Benjamin Dy is the second member of the entrenched political dynasty that Padaca had defeated. In 2004, Padaca defeated re-electionist Governor Faustino Dy Jr., ending the 3-decade rule of the clan in Isabela.
Alleging that Padaca’s camp resorted to massive cheating, Benjamin filed a petition for a recount of votes, involving 683 ballot boxes from 12 towns.
‘Confirmed fear’
"Thousands of ballots with the same handwriting in favor of my political opponent in several contested precincts were also presented that deprived my candidacy of the needed votes to win in the 2007 election,” said Dy in a press release distributed to Comelec reporters.
The poll body has directed Padaca "to vacate the Office of the Provincial Governor of Isabela and relinquish the same to Dy." Dy’s camp will be filing for a motion for the immediate execution of the Comelec order.
Lawyer Maria Donna Guia Lerona-Camitan, counsel of Padaca, said that they will be filing for a motion for reconsideration, and request the Comelec not to remove Padaca from her office immediately.
She told reporters that the Comelec decision did not surprise their camp; it was a "confirmed fear" for them.
Padaca is running for re-election as governor in 2010, against another member of the Dy family.
The second division of the Comelec last week also unseated Bulacan Governor Joselito “Jon-jon" Mendoza in favor Roberto Pagdanganan. Mendoza’s lawyer alleged that a post-proclamation tampering of ballots was conducted to make it appear that Mendoza lost in the recount.
The same division is expected to decide this week the protest filed by former Lilia Pineda against Pampanga Governor Panlilio. (Newsbreak)
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Who's next?
Governor Mendoza first and now Governor Grace Padaca, so who's next GMA? your minions in comelec are really doing their job, right? I guess bigger bonus is on their way. Paano ipa-lifestyle check ang isang government official/employee? Actually, kahit na mai-file ang kaso hindi rin uusad dahil ang Ombudsman ay isa rin Gloria ally kaya walang mangyayari kung ipa lifestyle check yung mga taga comelec. Commissioner Melo, please clean up your department gumagaya ka kay Abalos! Mabuti nga hindi uso sa atin ang suicide bombing dahil kung hindi baka ubos na ang mga corrupt na politicians at mga officials na yan kawawa naman yung mga inosente na madadamay. Nalalapit na ang paghuhukom Gloria at masasayang lang ang pinagagawa mo bahay sa Lubao, Pampanga dahil hindi ka ikukulong doon dahil walang house arrest. Dapat sa iyo sa munti.
hinDY ah!
The Dy family in Isabela are like the Ampatuans, corrupt political dynasty and they want to own the whole province!
They own almost all big businesses in Isabela especially illegal logging and jueteng! Exploiters and manipulators!
Dy won??????????
There is no way Dy won the election. I am an Isabelino, and having Grace Padaca as a governor is the greatest thing that happened to Isabela.
Isabelinos it's your time
to go out and protest... give your support to your duly elected governor, Grace Padaca. Show them (Bansot's aso) that you have elected your governor. .. I wonder, is this another tactic by the Arroyo government to start the mass protest and give her the authority to declare martial law? Take note, there are 3 elected officials now that are declared non-winners by comelec. Are they trying to incite mass protest so that GMA can declare martial law ? The next one in line is Ed Panlilio... he will definitely be declared as non-winner in Pampanga against Arroyo's tuta Pineda.
PumALAKA kasi sa oposisyon!!
dapat kasi loyal kayo sa PALAKA ni idol GMA... alam nyo naman na may blessing ang lahat ng yan kay idol GMA... abangan nyo na lang lahat ng mga talunan last 2007 na kaalyado ni madam GMA ngayon ay may christmas position gift... hanep!
Con-elec?
Who are they conning? The Con-elec has never been clean, honest, impartial and independent. Since the time of Marcos, and still until this day. The Con-elec has always been the sidekick of the powerful politicians for magically creating results in their favor. Yes, the Con-elec at the precint level manned by the poor teachers have been clean, dedicated heroes. But pity their useless efforts because at the top level, they are all crooks and criminals who have connived with the powerful.
What they will do to Gov. Padaca, to Gov. Panlilio, is only the start, a rehearsal for 2010. They are putting the final nails on a Con-elec that doesn't deserve its existence anymore.
What?
What? I am from Isabela and I to declare Dy as the winner last 2007 election is pretty much crazy! The Isabelinos are long been exposed to the dynasty of the DY family who clearly are the once that are cheaters! These Chinese Family in Isabela had long been pocketing peoples money! I wonder how can Padaca cheat if she doesnt have the fund like waht the DY have!! Go to Hell Family DY! Provided you wont cheat next election, I guarantee you will loose by LANDSLIDE!
A Politician's sincerity
Isabelinos should support whoever wins in the election. As long as they can empower the employment aspect of the region, elevate the economy, no private armies, no killings, no corruption, give livelihood to people, educate and support the people through government-led trainings and seminars. An elected government official can make a difference from the past, if he is willing and fears nothing.
palace move
this is another desperate move by the palace to divert the attention of the angry public against the martial law declaration. again and again, the comelec let itself be used, be prostituted, by arroyo's allies in order to advance her own vested interest.
on another note: now that SC approved the motion to transfer the hearing of the ampatuans in quezon city, the arroyo admin will, once again, use force in order to create chaos in the city so that she will have a basis to declare metro manila under martial law. this is the next scenario that the public must await.