Namfrel to Comelec: Name new Isabela canvassing board

The National Movement for Free Elections (Namfrel) called on the Commission on Elections (Comelec) yesterday to designate a new provincial board of canvassers (BOC) for Isabela.

This, as the provincial canvassing has remained suspended since Monday because two of the board’s three members — lawyer Reynaldo Doma, acting provincial election supervisor, and Dr. Benito Tumamao, schools’ division superintendent — have quit.

The remaining member, prosecutor Anthony Foz, also intends to resign, reports said.

"If (the members of) the BOC quit, it is incumbent upon the Comelec to replace them," said Namfrel secretary-general Guillermo Luz.

The canvassing of votes in Isabela has become heated because of the tough race between re-electionist Gov. Faustino Dy Jr. and broadcaster Grace Padaca.

In the final but unofficial Namfrel count, Padaca led Dy by a margin of 42,728 votes. She was also leading in the suspended provincial canvassing.

Luz said although their quick count has ended, Namfrel volunteers in Isabela remain at work by guarding the ballot boxes.

"They don’t want those boxes left unattended," he said.

Luz defended Bishop Sergio Utleg of the Diocese of Ilagan from accusations of intervening in the canvassing.

"I’m not sure if that is accurate. Bishop Utleg has no participation whatsoever in the canvassing," he said.

Meanwhile, Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Director General Hermogenes Ebdane Jr. has chosen Senior Superintendent Napoleon Estilles, head of the Regional Intelligence Group, to take over the Isabela police command.

On orders of Ebdane, Chief Superintendent Jeffrey Soriano, Cagayan Valley police director, designated Estilles to replace Senior Superintendent Nelson Nario as provincial police director.

Nario took a one-month emergency leave starting Monday following an order from the Comelec directing the PNP to relieve Nario from his post.

The Isabela United Opposition earlier asked Comelec Commissioner Mehol Sadain, who is in-charge of the Cagayan Valley, to relieve Nario due to his alleged close ties with Dy.

Nario, however, has denied the allegations, saying that he, as a police officer, is apolitical.

"I am calling on the people of Isabela to calm down and let the appropriate government authorities handle the political impasse created by the May 10 polls," Estilles said in a statement. — With Lito Salatan