Padaca finally proclaimed

The proclamation of Maria Cielo "Grace" Padaca as the new governor of Isabela finally pushed through yesterday despite a last-ditch effort by lawyers of incumbent Gov. Faustino Dy Jr. to derail it.

Padaca’s proclamation at the Commission on Elections (Comelec) head office in Intramuros, Manila broke the 32-year stranglehold of the Dy clan on the leadership of the country’s second biggest province.

Flanked by nuns and priests, Padaca said she was more "relieved" than "ecstatic" during her proclamation.

"If people expect that I am ecstatic and happy over this, I am not. Because in the first place, this should not have happened. This should have happened on May 22 when the reconstituted board of canvassers of Isabela completed the counting and saw the verdict of Isabela. This is like being snatched of something precious to you and then having that given back after three weeks. They expect us to be happy about that?" she asked.

The ceremony was delayed by two hours after Dy’s lawyer, Pete Quadra, insisted that the proclamation be postponed for a week so the Supreme Court can rule on their petition to overturn the Comelec order that lifted the temporary restraining order (TRO) on her proclamation.

The issuance of the TRO, which blocked Padaca’s proclamation by Isabela’s board of canvassers, arose from a disqualification petition filed by Dy alleging that she solicited the support of the New People’s Army (NPA) to terrorize voters into voting for her.

Despite her proclamation, Padaca must still answer the disqualification petition filed before the Comelec’s first division.

Padaca has denied the accusations but viewed the reports of support by the communist insurgent group as "a good chance for us to open a communication line."

Despite her dispute with the Isabela clan, Padaca showed traces of magnanimity as she offered reconciliation to the Dy family and provincial leaders allied with them.

Proclaimed along with Padaca were her running mate Ramon Reyes and Anthony Miranda, who was elected as representative of Isabela’s fourth district.

"The crisis has ended and we thank the (Comelec) for doing their job well," said Miranda, who defeated Dy ally and incumbent congressman Giorgidi Aggabao.

A former radio broadcaster and magna cum laude graduate of the Lyceum University, Padaca trounced the re-electionist Dy by more than 44,000 votes. But his siblings and other relatives won in a number of other elective positions in Isabela.

Padaca, who ran under the Alyansa ng Pag-asa of defeated presidential candidate Raul Roco, is one of the convenors of the Isabela United Opposition (IUO), which counts among its members Reyes, Miranda, and Ilagan bishop Sergio Utleg.

In the provincial capital of Ilagan, news of Padaca’s proclamation in Manila was met by a deathly silence.

At noon, capitol employees reportedly took their lunch in silence at the food court inside the capitol compound. A few went home and did not report anymore in the afternoon.

"Parang galing sa patay young mga taga capitol (The capitol employees looked as if they’ve just come from a wake)," said Jeffrey, a tricycle driver, who observed the mood of the capitol employees he had serviced.

Most employees appeared to be indifferent to the proclamation, including Nester Sadiron, president of the Isabela Provincial Government Employees Association (IPGEA) and editor-in-chief of the provincial government’s newsletter Isabela Chronicle.

Sadiron said that Padaca’s assumption as Isabela’s new chief executive would not have any negative effects on the employees.

"Hindi kami laban sa kanyang proklamasyon dahil ang aming pinagsisilbihan ay ang instituyon, at ang provincial government ang aming kinikilalang amo (We’re not against her proclamation because what we’re serving is the institution, and the provincial government is our boss)," he said.

But Dy’s chief of staff, Maita Ramirez, remained defiant.

"I believe Governor Dy’s case is not yet a lost one. His lawyers are doing what is expected of them," she said. — With Charlie Lagasca, Lito Salatan