ILAGAN, Isabela—The top two gubernatorial
candidates of Isabela both welcomed the Commission on Election’s
classification of the province, along with Cagayan, Abra,
Masbate, Samar, Lanao del Sur, Sulu and Basilan as areas of
concern in connection with upcoming May elections.
Reelectionist governor Grace Padaca said the
move will ensure peaceful and credible elections since Comelec
supervision of the elections will check poll violence,
ballot-snatching and ballot-switching. She recalled that in the
elections in San Mariano town in 2004, armed men torched part of
the town hall in an attempt to erase the substantial vote margin
she had already achieved against then incumbent governor and
present challenger Faustino Dy Jr.
Dy also welcomed Comelec’s decision, saying
this will "discourage lawless elements who wish to sow terror
and impose their chosen ones over the true will of the people."
Dy was referring to an old claim by his camp
that the New People’s Army had intimidated voters in the remote
areas in 2004 to vote for Padaca.
The rematch between Padaca (Liberal
Party-Drilon wing) and Dy (president of the Nationalist People’s
Coalition) is expected to be fierce and could spark violence.
The Dy clan had held on to the governorship for more than 30
years until Padaca came along and dislodged them.
The Dys will be out for revenge while Padaca
wants to prove that her victory in 2004 was not a fluke.
Meanwhile, Abra’s incumbent governor Vicente
Valera, the alleged mastermind in the December 2006
assassination of Rep. Luis Bersamin Jr., has been placed by the
Bureau of Immigration on its hold-departure list in connection
with the illegal possession of firearms case filed against him
before the Quezon City regional trial court.
QC-RTC Judge Ramon Cruz granted the Justice
department’s motion to put Valera, who is out on bail and is
considered a flight risk, on the immigration list. He gave merit
to a police intelligence report saying that Valera was planning
to leave the country.
The court dismissed Valera’s argument that a
hold order will violate his constitutional right to travel,
saying it is the inherent right of the court to restrict
outbound travel of persons charged with crimes.
Valera’s case stemmed from a simple traffic
violation which led to the discovery inside his vehicle of
firearms and explosives.
"Any or all of the respondents have unlimited access and use
of said firearms found inside the car, (but) only respondent
Valera should be charged for illegal possession of the two
unlicensed firearms and grenade, based on his letter request for
the release of four firearms and Suburban, he admitted
possession and control of the firearms, all other contents,"
state prosecutor Romeo Senson said. – Leander Domingo and
Evangeline de Vera
