Padaca starts to make peace with military, Reds in Isabela

CAMP MELCHOR DELA CRUZ, Gamu, Isabela — In her first act since she was proclaimed governor of the country’s second biggest province, broadcast journalist-turned politician Maria Gracia Cielo Padaca yesterday met high-ranking military officials here to request their support for her plan to initiate peace with the local communist New People’s Army (NPA).

Padaca, who was proclaimed governor-elect in Manila following more than three weeks of political standoff, said that one of her priority programs during her first days as governor would be to spearhead ‘localized peace talks’ between the NPA rebels and the military leadership here, as both groups were her so-called partners in the provincial government’s peace program.

During her meeting with company commanders of the Army’s 5th Infantry Division (ID) here, only the crutches of Padaca were allowed inside the negotiating room as the governor requested that all types of firearms be banned inside the room.

Padaca, during her more than four-hour meeting with Army commanders, vowed that she would assist the national government in making peace with the communist rebels by pursuing her own localized peace programs between the Armed Forces of the Philippines here and the local communist guerrillas, which include their front organizations.

Perceived to have links with the underground movement, Padaca has been touted by her politcal rivals as a communist coddler. Incumbent Governor Faustino Dy Jr. sought her disqualification from the gubernatorial race here on grounds that she connived with the rebels in ensuring her victory by resorting to ‘terrorism.’

Padaca, however, repeatedly denied she has links or had even connived with the rebels in terrorizing residents known to be supporters of the Dys.

"If the rebels would sympathize with me, they should open their lines of communication so the peace negotiations would start the soonest," she said.

Meanwhile, Padaca disclosed that she has several former military officials as witnesses to disprove allegations that she has links with the NPA rebels.

The Commission on Elections (Comelec) central office is scheduled to hear Dy’s disqualification case against Padaca today.

Padaca said she would present former Army chief Lieutenant General Orlando Soriano, who served as 5th ID chief during Padaca’s broadcasting stint in Bombo Radyo-dzNC here, as one of her witnesses.

Her other witnesses who will testify today include retired general Homer Capulong, former commander of the 5th ID’s 502nd Infantry Brigade; and Capt. Rene Jargue of the 4th Scout Ranger Army regiment here.