Wednesday, December 9, 2009

Unseating Padaca part of plot vs opposition, solon says


By EDMER F. PANESA, CHARISSA M. LUCI
December 9, 2009, 6:18pm






Original Story: http://mb.com.ph/node/233250/un


An activist lawmaker Wednesday expressed disappointment with the decision of the Commission on Elections (Comelec) unseating Isabela Gov. Grace Padaca, assailing the poll body for allegedly allowing itself to be the “government’s tool in shooting down its political opponents.”

Anakpawis Rep. Joel Maglunsod said he sees politics in the unseating of Padaca, a known supporter of opposition presidential candidate Sen. Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III.

“Five months away before the May 2010 elections, the Comelec is issuing annulment of proclamations to derail the candidacy and campaign of non-administration local candidates,” he said.

The Comelec, in its resolution, nullified Padaca’s supposed victory in her reelection bid in 2007 and declared her rival, former Gov. Benjamin Dy, as winner in that elections.

Maglunsod recalled that for decades, tens of thousands of peasants from Northern and Central Isabela, from the two big plantations of Hacienda Santa Isabel and Hacienda San Antonio, launched mass actions against the alleged joint monopoly of Dy and industrialist Eduardo “Danding” Cojuangco Jr. that turned the 14,000-hectare haciendas into a cassava agri-business empire.

The ruling against Padaca came in the wake of yet another controversial Comelec decision, which is the upholding of the election protest of a known Arroyo ally, Robert “Obet” Pagdanganan against Bulacan Gov. Jonjon Mendoza.

Meanwhile, MalacaƱang said Comelec as institution remains credible amid its decision to unseat Isabela Governor Grace Padaca, while assuring that it had no hand in the ruling that sided with the administration’s ally, former governor Benjamin Dy.


Original Story: http://mb.com.ph/node/233250/un

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