This, as Ilagan Bishop Sergio Utleg called on the Catholic faithful in the province to be vigilant throughout the continuing canvassing of votes in the gubernatorial race where re-electionist Gov. Faustino Dy Jr. was trailing behind dzNC Bombo Radyo broadcaster and polio victim Ma. Gracia Cielo Padaca.
In the complete but unofficial count of the National Movement for Free Elections (Namfrel) of votes from Isabela’s 36 towns, Padaca led Dy by a margin of 42,728 votes. Padaca got 238,737 votes against Dy’s 196,009.
In the latest tabulation of the provincial board of canvassers of election returns from 27 of the 36 towns, Padaca garnered 145,954 votes against Dy’s 125,712.
Padaca ran under the banner of Aksyon Demokra—tiko, and Dy, under the Nationalist People’s Coalition, of which he is the national president.
Dy has still refused to concede defeat to Padaca, saying, "Let them wait for the final results of the official canvass before they claim victory."
In a pastoral letter, Utleg cited what he described as "disturbing developments" which, he said, could thwart the will of the people.
He pointed out the burning of the canvassing centers in Jones and San Mariano towns, discrepancies in the certificate of canvass (COC) in Cordon, and the "frivolous objections based on technical grounds designed to delay the canvassing votes."
All these factors, including alleged pressure on the provincial board of canvassers, have slowed down the counting of the COCs, spawning fears that the resulting delay can make the process vulnerable to cheating, the bishop said.
Bishop Utleg expressed fear that the "disturbing developments" might distort the outcome of the elections in Isabela which were generally orderly, peaceful and credible.
"To date, one week after the May 10 national and local elections, I continue to appeal to you for vigilance, courage and prayerful endurance. We thank the Lord for an election and canvassing of votes that have so far been relatively peaceful and credible," he said.
"We, however, view with grave concern and anxiety the proceedings in the canvassing of votes that have caused undue delay...," he added.
Meanwhile, Cordon election officer Urbano Oprecio told police probers that he had just arrived home after submitting the town’s certificate of canvass (COC) to the provincial board of canvassers when unidentified men fired at his house.
Police found seven empty M-16 shells outside Oprecio’s house in Rizal Village in this city. No one was hurt in the attack.
Oprecio suspects that the strafing had something to do with the COC that he submitted.
The STAR learned that lawyers of the Isabela United Opposition questioned the Cordon COC because its tally of gubernatorial votes was inconsistent with Namfrel’s.
The COC showed Dy with 12,791 votes against Padaca’s 2,313. However, in Namfrel’s count, Dy had 5,591 votes, and Padaca, 8,275.
Padaca’s lawyers have asked the provincial board of canvassers to defer the canvassing of the COC submitted by Oprecio "until such time its authenticity is proven."
Oprecio belied claims that he tampered with the COC, saying it bore the signatures of two members of Cordon’s board of canvassers, namely municipal treasurer Rustico Bayaca and education department representative Luzviminda Javier.