Dy’s rival maintains lead; 6 COCs questioned

ILAGAN, Isabela — Broadcaster-turned-politician Grace Padaca maintained her lead over Isabela Gov. Faustino Dy Jr. in the gubernatorial race as the provincial canvassing wound up yesterday.

Although the certificates of canvass from Isabela’s 35 towns and one city were all tallied, the newly constituted provincial board of canvass decided to exclude the figures from six towns after both camps questioned the COCs from these places.

Padaca’s lawyers questioned the authenticity of the COCs from San Agustin and Cordon towns, while the Dy camp claimed those from Angadanan, San Mariano, Ilagan and Cabatuan were prepared "under duress."

The new board, composed of three lawyers appointed by the Commission on Elections, will decide today on the questioned COCs.

Based on the canvassed COCs from 32 of Isabela’s 35 towns and one city, Padaca posted a margin of 29,473 votes against Dy — 165,398 versus 135,925.

The provincial canvassing was suspended last Monday after the three members of the old board quit, leaving the COCs from eight towns uncounted.

The new Comelec-appointed board resumed — and completed — the canvassing yesterday but decided to include only the votes from Jones and Ramon towns pending questions on the six other COCs.

The new board proceeded with the canvass yesterday despite a heated exchange of arguments between the Dy and Padaca camps.

Dy’s brother, re-elected third district Rep. Faustino Dy III, said he finds his brother’s situation rather "surprising," describing him to be "an achiever with performance unmatched by any other provincial governor in recent times."

Before the canvassing resumed yesterday, Dy expressed confidence that he would overtake Padaca’s lead, saying, "The war is not over yet."