As of yesterday, Isabela Governor Grace Padaca, now with the Liberal Party, her lawyers and supporters are going through the 12,000 (twelve thousand!) page decision of Comelec’s second division headed by Commissioner Nicodemo Ferrer nullifying her victory over Benjamin Dy of the Nationalist People’s Coalition.
Padaca said they have five days since last Tuesday to file a motion for reconsideration. That would be on Monday, Dec. 14.
Padaca said she feels that the preposterous length of the decision was probably a strategy to prevent her from filing a motion for reconsideration so that they can execute the order for Dy to take over the reins of the Isabela provincial government.
The shocking reversal of the results of the 2007 gubernatorial election in Isabela makes us recall the previous case of thwarting the will of the people in the national which was in the 2004 elections.
Remember in July 2005, immediately after the “Hello Garci” tapes were made public, there was a talk that Faustino “Jun” Dy, Jr, brother of Benjamin, who was defeated by Padaca, in what was considered a political upset, the Dy’s being a well-entrenched dynasty in Isabela, was going to spill the beans on Arroyo’s manipulation of the 2004 elections.
At that time, Jun Dy was in Los Angeles because there were reportedly threats to his life. Our sources then said the threats were coming from people who had no permanent address. A source, who had met with Dy in L.A also said that the former governor was sulking for having been abandoned by Malacañang.
The source told me that Jun Dy had told former senator Tito Sotto, who was his golfing partner in LA, of what transpired in Arroyo’s meeting with Comelec regional directors in her La Vista home.
In the 2004 elections, the NPC made a policy that members could make their own individual decisions on whom to support in the presidential race. Although Dy had pledged support for Arroyo, a source said Arroyo was not sure of his loyalty.
FPJ won in Isabela. “At least Dy, didn’t do some hard-selling of GMA. Probably because he was also protecting himself. He didn’t want to turn off voters,” a source said.
GMA’s distrust of Dy made her keep him close to her throughout the campaign. “That is called ‘protective surveillance,'” a retired military official said.
That was how Dy became a witness to a number of meetings of Arroyo with different groups in connection with the 2004 elections. One of those meetings was with Comelec regional directors and provincial election supervisors at the Arroyos’ La Vista home.
Zuce said that in that meeting, Lilia Pineda, wife of alleged jueteng lord Rodolfo “Bong” Pineda gave envelopes containing P30,000 each to the Comelec officials.
I wrote about the “Roof of Dy’s” discontent on August 11, 2005. Here’s part of that column:
“A source who had talked with Dy said there were two cases in the last election where the former governor felt betrayed by Arroyo: his defeat to radio announcer Grace Padaca and the startling loss of Angelo Roncal Montilla, gubernatorial candidate of the Nationalist People’s Coalition in Sultan Kudarat.
“Dy, whose family has controlled Isabela politics for decades, believes that GMA’s husband, Mike Arroyo, operated against him with the help of Isabela Rep. Edwin Uy (Lakas-2nd district). Padaca was the gubernatorial candidate of Raul Roco’s Aksyon Demokratiko.
“As NPC chairman, Dy took up the cudgels for Montilla who found himself in the losing end after posting what was seemingly a formidable lead of more than 28,000 over Lakas candidate Pax Mangudadatu.
“Yvonne Chua of the Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism, in her article on Lintang Bedol, provincial election supervisor for Sultan Kudarat in the last election, said “There was problem (too) at the canvassing for the gubernatorial election. Opposition candidate Angelo Roncal Montilla was leading Pax Mangudadatu until the votes from the last three of the province’s 12 towns came in. Mangudadatu had gotten nearly all the votes cast in Palimbang, Lutayan and Lambayong Mariano Marcos towns. Montilla at first filed a poll protest with the Bedol-led board of canvassers, but later elevated his case to the Comelec office in Manila (SPC No. 04-132) after the board dismissed it outright.”
“In the ‘Hello, Garci’ tapes, there was a conversation between former Comelec Chairman Virgilio Garcillano and someone believed to be Dy. In their talk, Dy said not to bother about his own case and all that he was asking was to help Montilla. But there was something intriguing about Garcillano’s replies.
“Excerpts of the Garcillano-Dy conversation (May 28, 2004, 12:58):
Dy: Hello, hi Commissioner, si Dy ‘to. Ito ang kwan Gil…
Garcillano: Sultan Kudarat?
Dy: Oo, si…Montilla.. tulungan natin yan.
Garcillano: Pro-forma lang yan, kung ano ang posisyon. Kasi nag-usap din kami ni Ma’am diyan, tinawagan niya ako pero di yan.
Dy: Tinawagan ka ni Presidente tungkol dyan?
Garcillano: Hindi naman tungkol dyan pero kakausapin ko din siya tungkol dyan.
Dy: Sabihin mo, yan lang naman ang hihilingin ko naman eh, yan lang ang hihilingin ko sa ‘yo, alam mo naman hindi ako humihiling sa ‘yo.
Garcillano: Hindi. Naipit na nga ako dun sa kaso…
Dy: Yung tungkol dun sa ‘kin pabayaan mo na yan. Ok lang ako.
“The above conversation shows that Montilla’s case was so important as to be discussed by the Comelec commissioner with the President. Garcillano said that he was being caught in the middle.
“A source said Montilla, confident that he won overwhelmingly over Mangudadatu , moved heaven and earth to prevent his opponent from stealing the election from him. Aside from Dy, he contacted his uncle in Negros Occidental who was one of the campaign leaders of Rep. Ignacio “Iggy” Arroyo, brother of Mike. Montilla’s uncle advised him to forget about his protest. He was told that Malacañang was offering him a government position.
Montilla didn’t bite the government job offer. Instead he found a connection to Comelec Chairman Benjamin Abalos. His wife happens to be related to Abalos’ wife. Through their wives, Abalos sent a message to Montilla: Don’t pursue your protest.
At that time, Montilla and Dy were perplexed about Abalos’ advice. They got their answers in the “Hello Garci” tapes. Montilla’s protest, if pushed through, would have revealed the vote-padding done in favor of Arroyo. That’s why Garcillano, even if he was sympathetic to Dy’s request, had to clear the request with “Ma’am”.
In the same PCIJ article, Chua said, “According to the congressional tally, President Arroyo beat Fernando Poe Jr. in Sultan Kudarat, 126,622 to 40,714. Congressional records showed that opposition senators Aquilino Pimentel, Tessie Aquino-Oreta and Sergio Osmeña III objected to the certificates of canvass (COCs) and demanded a return to the election returns (ERs) amid charges that massive “dagdag bawas” (vote padding and shaving) took place in the province.
“The minority said in a report that the President got an additional 53,158 votes in eight towns, while Poe’s votes were reduced by 60,014. The “dagdag-bawas” in the towns involved a swing of 113,172 votes, it said. The eight towns: Palimbang, Kalamansig, Lambayong, Lebak, Bagumbayan, Esperanza, Sen. Ninoy Aquino and President Quirino.”
“As shown in a conversation between Arroyo and Garcillano (May 26, 2004, 11:04) on the threat of Sen. Biazon to have ballot boxes in Tawi-Tawi opened, she didn’t care if her partymates were adversely affected. What was important to her was, her padded votes wouldn’t be reversed.”
As we see here, every crime and anomaly happening today leads back to the “Hello Garci”, Arroyo’s original sin.
Garci, a documented election thieving, cheating, criminal operator is still at large…
BUT WHY?
What’s wrong with this country? Why don’t authorities in this country put this bastard in jail?
That bastard left a trail of criminal offences, and yet if not for joournalists the story would be forgotten.
Hang the bastard from the highest lampost. How could we allow that shithead to go scot free?
“Why don’t authorities in this country put this bastard in jail?”
Anna, maglulupasay ang unana. Magugunaw ang Pinas kapag nag-tantrum si Gloria. hehehe!!!
Could the disqualification of Grace Padaca be Gloria’s payment to Dy? Mukhang ganun nga para manatiling zipped ang bunganga ni Dy. Tapos ay entra si Makalintal to give their operation a semblance of walang-alam kunyari.
Mamatay si Gloria pero hindi ang Hello Garci scandal. Baka madeklara na presidente ng Pinas si FPJ sa oras na mamatay si Gloria, hehehe!
Pilipinas has a serious problem. Filipinos are culturally not good at keeping back-up documents, history seems to say. Pilipinos can make fake back-up documents, but the original true real documents just don’t seem to be available. Padaca’s lawyers should be able to review the 18,000 votes supposedly signed by one person and prove that the Ferrer/comelec decision was flawed.
As for Garcification, Pilipinas has a problem. Rule of law —- testimonies are considered hearsay and worthless unless backed up by additional evidence — makes convicting the guilty very hard to do.
Ay naku po! Kung si Bedol nakalusot, si Garci pa kaya? Parehong magician yun dalawang yun.
Each Comelec official can be bought for 30000 pesos only? wow… ang cheap na man nila to undermine democracy. we have to be vigilant on what comelec is doing and what they do to protect the peoples voting rights including education and awareness. We also must be vigilant on comelec’s local branches in the provinces. If this department has its own political will to serve the public then maybe the country may become at least close to being honest. hopefully in the long run , their processes involving the rule of law will be improved continuously. We have to demand transparency from this department.
Accdg to Ted Failon:
Two COMELEC Commissioners refused to accept bribe from a Bagman after being appealed to by Grace Padaca. That was then.
Now the Bagman himself is already “sitting” (working) at the Comelec itself.
11 December 2009
Of course they will do it so at least gloria’s henchmen will be in position(even for six months only) to do all the wildest thing to keep them in power.
By the way, the joint session to discuss martial, these big nose NOGNOGrales is already insinuating that it is a unicameral rehearsal. It just shows that the henchmen of gloria is at it again to change the system.
gusto nilang mamalagi sa kapangyarihan talagang mga ganid at switik sa kapangyarihan.
prans
madali naman makalusot dito sa current government. Magsakit sakitan ka lang at mag pa confine sa hospital ay okay na puwede ng hindi mag attend ng hearing sa Senado. Tignan ninyo si Bolante malakas pala at heto tatakbong Governor sa Capiz.
A ba naman, hindi mo na ba napapansin, Aling Gloria
N akakasuka na ang mukha mong saksakan na anong pakla
G ahaman mong pag-uugali walang hahanaping pangalawa.
P anguluhang iyong inagaw kaytagal mo nang binababoy
U bos na ang laman ng kaban sige ka pa ring naglulunoy
T alampakan pang sinasabing animo’y kulog ang dagundong
A ting tinatamasa’y kasaganaang dulot ng iyong dunong
N gunit yao’y bunga lamang ng kasinungalingan mo at ilusyon
G a hibla ma’y walang salang malayong kamtin kahit daantaon.
I nalisan mo na kami ng karapatang makapamuhay
N g hindi man masagana’y hindi gapang sa kagutuman
A anhin ang pangako mo kung hungkag ang aming tiyan
N anamnamin yaong pait na bunga ng panlilinlang
G anid mong pagkahayok sa salapi at kapangyarihan.
G apang na ang buong bansa sa gutom at pagdarahop
L abis na pagkaduhagi ang sanhi ng pagkalugmok
O ras ay lumilikwad pagtitimpi unti tuning nauubos
R agasa nitong ngalit huwag hintayin ang pagsabog
I mbi mong mga hangari’y itigil na’t bigyang tuldok
A lis na d’yan, ano ka ba ang tapang ng iyong apog.
H ayo na at magbalot, sa inagaw na trono ay lumayas
A no’t hanggang ngayon ikaw yata’y walang balak
Y ao na habang damdamin nami’y hindi pa nag-uulap
U malis ka na, awa mo na bago pa man sumambulat
P oot naming tinitimping maghahatid sa iyong wakas.
In a touching interview with Ted Failon, Gov. Grace Padaca appealed to the Comelec,”maging marangal naman kayo.”
She said, “para na rin kaming binackhoe”, referring to the backhoe that was used to massacre 57 persons in Maguindanao.
“Ibinaon na rin ang ebidensya,” she said.
She said she accepts the reality of warlord dynasties and she is determined to fight them but what she can’t understand is government destroying institutitions.
But she said, “I will not give up. I can’t give up. I have to believe in what I ask others to believe in.”
The LP needs to be very visible and very loud with its support for Gov. Grace Padaca to be a credible political party for CHANGE. Gov. Grace Padaca is one of the very few who lead by example and who promotes “good governance” in our country. In my view, LP as a political party should exert everything in its power to contest and question the COMELEC position related to election results justifying the order to remove her from office as the legitimate governor of Isabela.
Agree, Olan…the LP must be very vocal in their support for Padaca. With Noynoy-Mar very high on the rating table, they will be a great help to the lady governor’s resolve of not “giving up”.
I wish that Grace Padaca had more forcefully stated that she did not ask any of her supporters to cheat. Even better if Grace can say that none of her supporters had cheated.
Asking “..maging marangal naman kayo” is okay. But COMELEC says someone cheated. Padaca has to forcefully say that none of her supporters even if they were angry enemies of the Dy-clan had cheated.
But she said, “I will not give up. I can’t give up. I have to believe in what I ask others to believe in.”
Excellent stand! Excellent! This is the kind of people we should entrust with the responsibility of running govt.
Bravo!
She needs the support not only of the people of Isabela but also of the nation.
(However, agree with Pepito: Even better if Grace can say that none of her supporters had cheated.)
Anna:
But the qustion is, who has the track record of cheating in Isabela? Padaca? The DYs are the Ampatuans of Isabela. Even the PNP Provincial Director doesn’t report to Padaca. Can u imagine that? As what Mam Ellen wrote in a different thread, it’s payback time for Pandak to the DY family for EX-Gov Faustino’s omerta on what he knew about the Hello Garci scandal. . . comparing the demeanor of a Ramon Magsaysay awardee and a warlord is no contest to me. . .parang kapareho ng nangyayari sa Pamapanga. . .Si Among Ed daw ang namili ng boto noong 2007. Hello! Who is more capable of doing that? The one who has control of jueteng or the priest na di nga mapagamot yung mukha nya na parang mapa? Between the pandak Ferrer and his henchmen in the 2nd divisionin of Comolect and Padaca, Panlilio, et al, who would u believe cheated in the last elections?
They will have complete control of three provinces if comelec is successful in removing the governors. Looks like all provinces north of m.manila will not be LP if comelec gets its way. so hard to beat someone who is cheating.
Pareng Henry, nakakabilaok naman yung “or the priest na di nga mapagamot yung mukha nya na parang mapa?” Buti nga puti yung blotch sa mukha ni Panlilio. E yung isa, malaking itim sa mukha na ugat yata ng lahat ng kaitiman sa buong katawan nya.
Pareng Oblak:
Sensya na. . .mainit lang ulo ko. . .hehehe
Where’s Lintang Bedol?
May God shower the Phil.. with more grace padacas..ang wish ko for Christmas.. mag away away si putot at ang mga ampatuans..may they piss off one another..
..maiba ako..hindi ba si money packed ang Peace Ambassador? busy seguro making peace with jinkie..
linta talaga si bedol..nakadikit pa bala sa hita ni putot..akala ko nalaglag na siya..
“……..Noong 2007, ang boto ni Grace ay 237,128 laban kay Dy na nakakuha lamang ng 220,121 na boto….”
“…..Sa recount, 199,435 lumabas na may boto si Dy at 198,384 na lang ang kay Padaca…”
****************************************************
Noong 2007, sa aktwal na bilangan ay lamang ni Grace ay 17,000 boto mula sa 457,249 na bilang ng mga botante sa lalawigan.
Sa recount na halatang minadali o kaya ay “yari na” mula sa pangkalahatang bilang na 397,819 ay lamang ng 1,051 na boto si Dy.
Kung ikukumpara sa lamang ni Grace noong 2007, malaki pa rin ang diperensiyaupang sabihing panalo si Dy.
Isa pang nakakapagduda sa aapurahang recount na isinagawa ni Ferrer ay ‘yung pagbaba ng bilang ng mga botante sa nasabing lalawigan.
Saan napunta ang 59,430 mga botante ng Isabela?
Sino ba ang may katwiran at dahilan upang mandaya kung may dayaan ngang naganap sa Isabela?
Sa recount na ginanap, sino ba ang bumoto kay Dy?
Sino umaayaw kay Grace?
Para kanino ang mga taga Isabela?
Para kanino ang mga taga Commolect?
But the qustion is, who has the track record of cheating in Isabela?
Henry,
Never occured to me, not even in my nightmares, that Dy didn’t cheat! Good heavens, just like you say, the Dys are the Ampatuans of Isabela…