Padaca faces real death threats – aide

ILAGAN, Isabela — In an apparent attempt to deny claims of any political gimmickry, a close aide of Isabela Gov. Grace Padaca insisted that the death threats against her are real.

Padaca’s aide Bing Franco said the governor was not using the issue for media mileage, contrary to what her political rivals may think.

Last week, Padaca admitted to reporters that she has been receiving death threats from unnamed groups apparently stung by her vigorous opposition to all sorts of illegal activities.

In an interview with ABS-CBN-Cagayan Valley in Santiago City, the 40-year-old Padaca said a "close friend" had told her about an alleged plan by a certain group to liquidate her.

She said she believes that those who want her dead are individuals or groups behind illegal logging, jueteng and other illegal activities.

But the feisty governor, a former radio broadcaster, is undaunted by the threats to her life.

"I don’t care about (the death threats). (They have) no effect on me. I will go on with my crusade even (if) this (campaign against all forms of criminality) will cost (me) my post and my life," she said.

Franco said the governor was at first hesitant to reveal the death threats lest her statements be misconstrued as mere political gimmickry.

"She does not want the people to think that she is merely riding on the issue," Franco said.

Since she was elected in 2004, Padaca has not backed down on her crusade against illegal logging and jueteng, criticizing local police and government officials in several instances for not doing anything about these illegal activities.

She had received support from outgoing Ilagan Bishop Sergio Utleg, who accused influential politicians and mayors, whom he did not identify, as behind the guerrilla-type jueteng operations in the province.

Padaca, who is affiliated with the Liberal Party of Sen. Franklin Drilon, earlier expressed her intention to seek re-election in next year’s polls "to ensure the continuity" of the province’s development gains under her leadership.

Among those expected to challenge her are former governor Faustino Dy Jr. (Nationalist People’s Coalition), whom she defeated in the last elections; second district Rep. Edwin Uy (Lakas-Christian Muslim Democrats), and Tonypet Albano, son of Energy Regulatory Commission chairman Rodolfo Albano Jr. and nephew of slain Ilagan Mayor Delfinito Albano.

Three months ago, during a brief visit here from the United States where he had been in political hibernation since his loss to Padaca, Dy expressed his desire to reclaim the governorship, which his clan had controlled for almost three decades.

For their part, the Albanos, who practically controls the province’s vote-rich first congressional district, is reportedly fielding Tonypet for the governorship, which the elder Albano’s father, Delfin Albano, once held before the Dys practically took control of Isabela politics.

Meanwhile, President Arroyo’s Lakas-CMD is reportedly bent on fielding Uy to further boost her political clout in this country’s third biggest and vote-rich province.

Many local political observers, however, believe that Padaca is still the candidate to beat in next year’s elections as she still enjoys the support of the local Catholic Church and cause-oriented groups.