Isabela fiscal clarifies report

The provincial prosecutor of Isabela clarified that he did not resign as a member of the provincial board of canvassers simply because he was not part of it.

In a letter to The STAR, provincial prosecutor Anthony Foz said he "did not serve for a moment" in the canvassing board this year because the Commission on Elections (Comelec) had inhibited him from doing so.

Foz said he was furnished a copy of the memorandum of Comelec Commissioner Mehol Sadain at 4 p.m. of May 10 inhibiting him from serving as a board member, pursuant to Section 12 of Comelec Resolution 6669.

Meanwhile, Foz clarified that he is not an "ally" of Isabela’s Dy clan.

"The records are clear: I was a victim of political harassment because of my relentless drive for truth and justice in the province," he said.

Foz recalled that provincial leaders, including former governor Benjamin Dy, had objected to his appointment as provincial prosecutor.

He said local leaders even wrote then Justice Secretary Teofisto Guingona but the latter instead recommended his appointment to then President Fidel Ramos "because of my competence, integrity and fairness in the administration of justice."

"I am not beholden to anyone but to the institution of justice," he said.