Isabela mayors drop oust-Padaca move

ILAGAN, Isabela — Putting first what they called the "common good and interest" of the Isabelinos, the 36-strong provincial mayors’ league dropped plans to pursue the recall election against Gov. Grace Padaca.

In their regular meeting last Friday at the house of Ilagan Mayor Delfinito Albano, the mayors instead adopted a resolution expressing their willingness to cooperate with the Padaca administration.

Alicia Mayor Napoleon Dy, the mayors’ league president, said their decision was impelled by the declining economic and peace and order situation in the province.

"This decision of the mayors simply means that a recall move against the governor is not, in any way, in the league’s present and future plans," Dy said.

He clarified, though, that the mayors’ league was not behind earlier moves on Padaca’s recall.

Dy, brother of former governor Faustino Jr., whom Padaca trounced in last year’s gubernatorial race, however, said their decision to work with the provincial government does not mean that the mayors would be at the "beck and call" of Padaca.

"We will be her ‘cooperators’ insofar as in the implementation of the programs of the provincial government that could improve the lives of the Isabelinos are concerned," he said.

Dy earlier threatened to file a libel case against Padaca for accusing some mayors of receiving jueteng payola.

Although a number of mayors have reportedly started gathering signatures for Padaca’s recall, the resolution commits them to a "working cooperation" with Isabela’s first woman governor.

For her part, Padaca welcomed the mayors’ decision, describing it as a "welcome break," although she denied having been bothered by the reported oust-move against her.

"Although I have never been bothered by the recall move, the latest development can be considered a welcome break for our people whose welfare should be foremost in the minds of the leaders they elected," said the radio commentator-turned-politician.

Gamu Mayor Fernando Cumigad, a known supporter of Padaca, expressed his appreciation to the leadership of the mayors’ league.

"Let us express our willingness to cooperate with her administration. Let us give her the chance to work with us and the chance for us to work with her," said Cumigad, who was tasked to broker a dialogue between Padaca and the mayors.