Lara confident of retaking Cagayan gov post

TUGUEGARAO CITY – The governorship row in this northernmost province is far from over.  

This, after former Cagayan governor Edgar Lara finally broke his silence yesterday after more than a month since he lost the governorship, expressing optimism that the Commission on Elections (Comelec) would issue a resolution within the next few days for him to retake the post which he had held for two consecutive terms.

Lara, who enjoyed a slim lead only to lose it in last month’s recanvassing of election returns (ERs), said his lawyers are confident that the poll body’s second division would nullify the proclamation of his rival, Gov. Alvaro Antonio.

“We have a strong case here, that’s why we are anticipating a ruling favorable to us very soon or within the month,” said Lara, who belongs to the Nationalist People’s Coalition. 

For his part, Antonio, a former three-term mayor of Alcala town, yesterday declared that he is the still the legitimate governor of Cagayan unless the Comelec rules otherwise.

“Right now I’m still the governor until the Comelec will say otherwise. Governor Lara, being a lawyer, should know it,” he said, dispelling rumors over his possible ouster.

Antonio also cleared Sen. Juan Ponce Enrile, a native of this province, of allegations that he “engineered” his victory by allegedly exerting influence on the Comelec.           

Enrile, together with the politically influential Mamba clan led by third district Rep. Manuel Mamba, supported Antonio in the May 14 elections.

“He (Sen. Enrile) campaigned for me in the last elections but never manipulated the results of the elections here,” said Antonio, who ran under the administration’s Lakas-CMD. 

A day after the re-canvassing of the questioned ERs, which led to Antonio’s proclamation and eventual oathtaking as governor on July 9, Lara’s camp filed a motion before the Comelec’s second division to nullify Antonio’s proclamation.

In the re-canvassing of the questioned ERs from Lallo town, Antonio obtained 175,484 votes as against Lara’s 174,822, or a slim margin of 662 votes.

The result was a complete reversal of last May’s canvassing where Lara obtained 175,336 votes as against Antonio’s 174,731, or a difference of 605 votes.