Isabela poll exec in hiding due to threats

SAN ISIDRO, Isabela — This town’s election officer has gone into hiding for fear of her safety after receiving death threats through text messages.

In an interview with reporters in an undisclosed place, Susan Dolores said her neighbors had also seen ski-mask wearing men armed with high-powered firearms roaming around their neighborhood.

In a related development, local officials have received letters from the New People’s Army (NPA) threatening them of liquidation because of their alleged involvement in "election fraud."

Dolores said she started receiving the death threats a few days after she furnished a certified true copy of the results of the May 12 special polls in the province’s fourth congressional district.

She submitted the document to the members of a task force which Commission on Elections (Comelec) chairman Benjamin Abalos Jr. formed to investigate the alleged involvement of local election personnel in the alleged fraud.

The task force, according to Abalos’ memorandum, has to wrap up its probe and submit a report on June 20.

The certification, Dolores said, showed the "true results" of the voting in this town where the alleged switching of election returns occurred.

"The truth is Dr. Asuncion Abaya got 2,464 votes as against Atty. Giorgidi Aggabao’s 2,163 votes in San Isidro," she said.

She further certified that of the 9,110 voters, only 4,822 cast their votes or a turnout of 52.9 percent.

Contrary to her certification, the district canvass showed that Aggabao got 7,217 votes while Abaya garnered 633 votes, with a voter turnout of 86.1 percent.

Based on the unofficial canvass of the Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting, Abaya won by more than 4,000 votes over Aggabao in the final tally of votes from the seven towns and one city (Santiago) comprising the fourth district.

However, in the official tally by the district board of canvassers, Aggabao won by more than 13,000 votes over Abaya.

Dolores said she is ready to testify before the Comelec task force and the House of Representative Electoral Tribunal.

Fearing for her and her family’s safety, Dolores has appealed to Philippine National Police chief Director General Hermogenes Ebdane Jr. to provide them security escorts.

Meanwhile, the police have been on alert due to the NPA threats to local officials.

A police intelligence report said hit men of the NPA’s Benito Tesorio Front have been deployed here to carry out liquidations.