It’s too early to concede defeat, Isabela’s Dy says

CAUAYAN City, Isabela — Gov. Faustino Dr. Jr. has denied reports that he has conceded defeat to his closest rival, broadcaster Grace Padaca.

Dy, national chairman of the Nationalist People’s Coalition (NPC), said the results of the canvassed COCs (certificates of canvass) "are not yet enough to proclaim a winner."

"Let them wait for the final results of the official canvass before they claim victory," Dy said, adding that he was unfazed by the partial results.

Partial results coming from 27 of Isabela’s 36 towns showed Padaca leading Dy by 20,233 votes. The female broadcaster got 145,945 votes versus the incumbent governor’s 125,712 votes.

In the complete, unofficial tally of the National Movement for Free Elections-Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting (Namfrel-PPCRV), Padaca was ahead with 238,938 votes versus Dy’s 196,341.

Dy is confident that he will overtake Padaca’s lead when the COCs from his political strongholds are canvassed by the provincial board of canvassers.

He said that based on his camp’s quick count tally from the province’s 3,700 polling precincts, he was leading Padaca by more than 20,000 votes.

"I’m confident that in the final tally I will prevail over my rival," Dy told The STAR.

Dy’s votes came mainly from Cauayan City, hometown of the Dys, and from the bailiwicks of his political allies — Reina Mercedes, hometown of Dy’s running mate, re-electionist Vice Gov. Santiago Respicio; Cabagan, hometown of the Albanos; Tumauini, Aurora, Cabatuan, Luna and Alicia whose incumbent mayor is Dy’s younger brother, Napoleon.

The bulk of Padaca’s votes came from the capital town of Ilagan and from the municipalities of Jones, San Mariano, Naguilian, Gamu, Delfin Albano, Quezon, Cordon, Ramon, Roxas and Benito Soliven.

For her part, Padaca said she was winning by a landslide and is poised to be the next Isabela governor, a position which the Dys have dominated for more than two decades.

Meanwhile, the Dy camp accused the Isabela United Opposition of massive cheating in the May 10 polls.

The Isabela United Opposition is composed of political parties, progressive groups and church-based organizations which supported Padaca’s gubernatorial bid.

Ballot Box Snatching?

Dy’s running mate, re-electionist Vice Gov. Santiago Respicio, alleged that some priests were involved in ballot box snatching in the towns of San Guillermo and Naguilian.

"We have evidence to prove that some priests were involved in ballot box snatching," said Respicio, who was also trailing behind his rival, former second district Rep. Ramon Reyes of the Isabela United Opposition.

Respicio, a lawyer, said that he was thinking of filing cases against the priests involved in the alleged ballot box snatching.

Priests in the Diocese of Ilagan, covering all parishes in the province, headed by Bishop Sergio Utleg, reportedly served as volunteers of Namfrel-PPCRV.

Utleg, however, laughed off Respicio’s allegations, saying, "They should respect the people’s verdict."

Padaca said Respicio’s claims were "ridiculous and do not need any comment."

At least 100 soldiers from the Army’s 77th Infantry Battalion, led by Col. Alexander Abogado, have been deployed in the provincial capitol to provide security to the provincial board of canvassers.

The Isabela United Opposition requested Brig. Gen. Reynaldo Alcasid, commanding general of the Army’s 5th Infantry Division based in nearby Gamu town, to deploy the soldiers after hundreds of Dy’s supporters forced themselves inside the canvassing area.

The Army soldiers took over the responsibility of securing the capitol after lawyer Reynaldo Doma, provincial election supervisor, complained about the laxity of police personnel earlier sent to secure the provincial board of canvassers.

Chief Inspector Abraham Balderas, police community relations chief, however, said at least 50 policemen were still deployed in the provincial capitol compound to maintain peace and order while supporters of Dy and Padaca remained encamped there.

Meanwhile, the other Dy clan members, including third district Rep. Faustino Dy III, Cauayan City Mayor Caesar Dy and Alicia Mayor Napoleon Dy, were maintaining comfortable leads over their opponents.

The partial, official results in Isabela’s four congressional districts were the following:

• First district: Rodolfo Albano III, son of Rep. Rodolfo Albano, 58,686 votes; Francisco Marallag, 8,180;

• Second district: Rep. Edwin Uy, 60,512 votes; board member Benito Calderon, 33,434;

• Third district: Rep. Faustino Dy III, 14,079 votes; former Cauayan City councilor George Chan, 3,447; and

• Fourth district: Rep. Giorgidi Aggabao, 26,169 votes; Santiago City councilor Anthony Miranda, 20,911. — With Charlie Lagasca