Authorities expect peaceful balloting in Isabela

MANILA, Philippines - Despite certain incidents, police authorities in Isabela expect Monday’s balloting in the province to be peaceful.  

Isabela has two cities and 34 municipalities but Senior Superintendent Sotero Ramos Jr., provincial police director, said his men are closely monitoring the situation in each locality, especially in the coastal town of Maconacon, whose mayor, Erlinda Domingo, was gunned down in Quezon City last year.

The Isabela towns of Luna, Alicia, Cabatuan, Gamu, Palanan, Ramon, San Pablo, San Mariano and Jones and Ilagan City are on the authorities’ election watch list due to violent incidents in these areas in the 2007 and 2010 polls.

Ramos though is confident that no violence would erupt in these places as 1,720 policemen and soldiers have been fielded. – Non Alquitran

He also noted that the re-election bid of Gov. Faustino Dy III is facing light opposition. Dy’s challengers are Mario Angelo Padaca, brother of Commission on Elections Commissioner Grace Padaca, who has not been actively campaigning in the province, and independents Lilia Uy and Glorieta Almazan.

Last Tuesday, a Manila-bound shuttle bus owned by the Santiago City government was fired at by alleged supporters of a mayoral bet.

The bus carrying 43 members of a Manila-based dance group who performed in the city’s founding anniversary, was on its way to Manila when four cars blocked it.

The occupants of the cars alighted and started shooting at the wheels of the bus. They also threw stones and spikes on the road.

Police said the armed men were led by one Rogelio Rotoni, allegedly identified with the camp of mayoral bet Joseph Tan. – Non Alquitran, Charlie Lagasca, Raymund Catindig