Dy denies hand in ‘poll fraud’

ILAGAN, Isabela — After three weeks of silence, Gov. Faustino Dy Jr. has finally come out in the open and vehemently denied accusations that he was behind alleged massive fraud in the May 12 special elections in the province’s fourth congressional district.

In a phone interview with The STAR, Dy, who is in Switzerland for a month-long vacation, said his role in the special polls was just as "mere supporter" of former senior board member Giorgidi Aggabao (NPC) who won by more than 13,000 votes over Dr. Asuncion Abaya (Lakas-NUCD) in the official Commission on Elections (Comelec) canvass.

Dy, along with the mayors of the seven municipalities comprising the district, supported Aggabao, while only Santiago City Mayor Jose Miranda backed up Abaya.

"Being the secretary-general of the Nationalist People’s Coalition (NPC), it was my responsibility to provide the necessary support to the party’s candidate," he said, adding that the allegations of massive fraud were "natural reactions" of the losing camp.

"Noon bang natalo si Atty. Aggabao kay Cong. Abaya noong 2001, nagreklamo ba kami (When Atty. Aggabao lost to Rep. Abaya in 2001, did we protest)?" Dy asked.

Asked why he broke his silence only three weeks after the special polls, Dy said, "It is only this time that I am informed of said issues."

He said the accusation that he was the alleged architect of what Abaya’s camp claimed to be irregularities in the special polls was "without basis, malicious and sweeping."

Dy asked the supporters of both Aggabao and Abaya to "disregard whatever political bickerings" the special elections have created between them.

He gave assurance that Aggabao would serve them without any discrimination,

"Ang paninilbihan naman sa bayan ay walang pinipili (Public service does not discriminate)," he said.

Earlier, second district Rep. Edwin Uy, provincial chairman of the ruling Lakas-NUCD, denounced the alleged massive fraud, insisting that Abaya won over Aggabao by more than 4,000 votes.

In the tally based on the fifth copies of the election returns made by the non-partisan Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting (PPCRV), it appeared that Abaya garnered a total of 46,072 votes as against Aggabao’s 41,103 votes.

In the official canvass of the election returns held at the capitol building, Aggabao trounced Abaya by more than 13,000 votes.

Bishop Sergio Utleg of the Diocese of Ilagan and Bishop Eulogio Pandongan of the Iglesia Filipina Independiente’s Diocese of Santiago have both issued pastoral letters describing the special elections as the "most fraudulent" in the province.