Padaca: Don’t fall prey to recall plotters

ILAGAN, Isabela — Gov. Grace Padaca is unfazed by the reported recall plan against her, calling on her constituents not to fall prey to its plotters.

"Huwag na tayong babalik sa sitwasyon na hindi bumuti ang ating kalagayan nung sila ang nasa poder (Let’s not return to a situation where our lives did not improve when they were in power)," Padaca, Isabela’s first woman governor, said in her radio program Gob. Grace over dwSI last Saturday.

This, as former justice secretary and chief government peace negotiator Silvestre Bello III said he would support a "better alternative" to Padaca if the recall move against her pushes through.

Bello, regional chairman of the administration’s Lakas-Christian Muslim Democrats (Lakas-CMD), said he would throw his support behind former congressman, now Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) chairman Rodolfo Albano Jr. should he decide to square off against Padaca in the recall election.

"Manong Rudy is a better alternative. I will support him kung kakandidato siya sakaling matuloy ang recall (if he would run in case the recall pushes through)," he said.

The 1991 Local Government Code allows the electorate to remove a local elective official from his or her position for loss of confidence even before his or her three-year term expires.

The recall election, however, should be held one year after the assumption of office of the concerned official.

Former Santiago City mayor Jose Miranda also joined Bello in supporting Albano, saying the Mirandas and the Albanos have been political allies since the time of their patriarchs.

Miranda, brother of fourth district Rep. Anthony Miranda, said their father, Raymundo, and the late governor Delfin Albano were party mates in the old Nationalista Party.

"The Mirandas will definitely prefer Manong Rudy than Grace," he said.

Bello, Miranda and second district Rep. Edwin Uy, considered as Padaca’s political godfather, were Lakas originals being the first Isabela officials who expressed support for the presidential bid of then Defense Secretary Fidel Ramos in 1992.

Albano Camp Mum

Albano’s camp refused to deny nor confirm reports that he is interested in running in the recall election, if it pushes though.

But local politicians identified with the Albanos have reportedly been getting in touch with local leaders.

Bello and Miranda said Isabelinos have expected better governance from the new set of provincial officials, adding that Padaca’s overwhelming lead over former governor Faustino Dy Jr. in the 2004 polls showed that the people yearned for change.

Padaca, a broadcast journalist-turned-politician, trounced Dy with a margin of more than 40,000 votes. The Dys had lorded over Isabela politics for decades.

But eight months into her three-year term, Padaca has been hounded by certain issues against her administration.

The Valley Times, the province’s oldest circulating community newspaper, has criticized Padaca for still defying a Civil Service Commission order reinstating seven provincial department heads whom she has placed on floating status.

The paper also hit what it described as her "pure-talk, less implementation" style of governance, her supposed lack of a doable and effective executive agenda, and for her alleged extravagant use of provincial resources despite President Arroyo’s call for austerity.

LP Monitoring

Benito Soliven councilor Dave Siquian, provincial chairman of the Kabataang Liberal ng Pilipinas (Kalipi), told The STAR that the Liberal Party has been closely monitoring the progress of the recall move. Padaca recently joined LP.

Siquian said some provincial board members and mayors have expressed interest in affiliating with LP.

"Mahihirapan na sila (referring to the recall plotters) kapag sumama na ang mga kasapi ng sangguniang panlalawigan at mayors sa partido (They will have a hard time when the provincial board members and mayors join the party)," he said.

Sources said a group of local officials and businessmen has initiated a signature campaign, the first phase of the recall process.

At least 175,000 petitioners or about 25 percent of the province’s 705,000 registered voters are required to start the recall move.

The provincial chapter of the League of Municipalities has denied having any hand in the oust-Padaca-move. It, however, refused to take a stand on the issue.

Alicia Mayor Napoleon Dy, the league’s president, said the mayors, indeed, have grievances against Padaca. But he said these were not enough basis for them to support the recall move.

Dy, however, said the mayors do not have a choice but to support Padaca’s recall if Isabelinos are, indeed, already dissatisfied with her administration.