CAGAYAN VALLEY ELECTIONS MARRED BY ANOMALIES AND MILITARY PRESENCEPress ReleaseRef. Ms. Anna Limbawan, Radyo Cagayano Tel.: 0920-719-0165 MAY 10, 2004 This early, various groups and organizations in Cagayan Valley predict a declaration of electoral failure in provinces of the region. As of last night, the political dynasty in Isabela led by incumbent Gov. Faustino Dy, Jr. has begun cheating and threatening voters. In Jones, Isabela, mysterious vehicles began arriving around 1 am at various barangays within the town's forest regions. Earlier yesterday, military troops arrived followed by Dy's men distributing bribe money to voters. Many names are not to be found in the voter's list. In San Mariano, Isabela, 8 6x6 trucks carrying armed military men arrived at Bos. Ueg, Casala and Dibuluan of said town. A company of the 54th IB is encamped at Bo. Macayucayu, and more troops are stationed at Bos. Alibadabad and Casala. The town of Benito Soliven is also heavily militarized. In Cauayan City, Isabela, incumbent mayor and re-electionist Bodjie Dy gave orders for the closure of Bombo Radyo Cauayan's operations. This is his second attempt of shutting down the radio station this year, and his third since 2002. Regional Director Soriano, COMELEC representatives and other officials, upon Dy's orders, served the closure order at midnight of May 9. Meanwhile, barrios within the 1st and 2nd districts of Cagayan are all militarized. Since May 5, military troops have stayed at Upper Baggao-Gattaran towns, namely Bos. Mabuno, Tanglagan, Pena, and San Carlos. On May 7, military men stationed themselves at Besao, Gattaran, and remain there as of writing. Yesterday, troops arrived at Bo. Bunugan and seized Bo. Capt. Rudy Orpilla. They held up and interrogated him. That night, one Agulay and armed goons harassed Anakpawis members by parking their vehicle in front of the partylist group's headquarters in Nabaccayan, Gattaran. In the 2nd district, there are already reports of vote-buying by re-electionist Gov. Edgardo Lara and congressional candidate Layus. In Sto. Nino, Cagayan, voters are being bribed with free groceries. As in Isabela, around 100 names in Bitag Grande, Centro Bangatan and Alba are not to be found in the voter's list, including those of peasant organization leaders. FACT SHEET: ELECTORAL FRAUD AND TERRORISM CASES IN ISABELACauayan City, May 9, 2004Source of information: Alma Padaca, sister of gubernatorial candidate Grace Padaca There is a discrepancy in the number of ballots in two precincts. The BEI does not want to receive the bundle but the city treasurer insisted on it. Brgy. Daragutan East, San Mariano, May 9, 2004, 7:00 PM Source of information: Imelda Malayo, Anakpawis municipal canvasser in San Mariano Alex Dy (mayoralty candidate in San Mariano), arrived in the said barangay with civilian armed men and harassed the barrio residents. At about the same time, 8 truckloads of Phil. army men arrived in the poblacion area, carrying ballot boxes and delivered the ballot boxes to the different barrios. Brgy. Villaluna, Cauayan City, May 10, 2004, AM Source of information: Frederick Quitalid and Ian Quitalid, Grace Padaca pollwatchers De Luna, a police officer, brother of an SB candidate in this city poked his gun on two Grace Padaca poll watchers and forced them to remove their t-shirts with printed name "Grace Padaca". The two were forcibly taken away from the polling center, thus were not able to continue pollwatching. Cauayan City, May 10, 2004, 12:30 AM Source of information: BAYAN - Cagayan Valley Incumbent mayor and re-electionist Ceasar Dy gave orders for the closure of Bombo Radyo DZNC, served by the Regional PNP Director Jefferson Soriano with a local COMELEC official at 12:30 am. (See separate fact sheet.) Aurora, Isabela, May 10, 2004, 1:00 PM Source of information: Lailani Reyes, Bayan Muna municipal canvasser in Aurora It was observed that some of the ballots did not have a space for partylis positions. Ilagan, May 10, 2004 Source of information: Maricris Apro, CARE volunteer Incidents of vote buying were reported in several barrios. Sample ballots of Gov. Dy and Vice Gov. Respicio with P100 bills attached and appointment paper for poll watching issued by NPC signed by Gov. Dy were distributed among barrio residents Cauayan City, May 10, 2:00 PM Source of Information: Grace Padaca poll watchers PNP and POSU (special police) men were inside the polling center at the Isabela State University Campus and were even distributing sample ballots. Brgy Caquilingan, Cordon, Isabela, May 10, 3:01 PM Source of information: Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting (PPCRV) volunteers Brgy Capt. Rodolfo Manodom, Sr. was meddling with the counting of ballots and insisted in transferring the ballots to the municipal hall. Ramon, Isabela, May 10, 4:00 PM Source of Information: Madonna Castillo, Anakpawis municipal canvasser in Ramon The BEI did not include the local candidates in the counting / tallying, but the watchers protested. San Mariano, May 10, 2004 Source of information: Anakpawis pollwatchers in Minanga Heavy presence of military men in Minanga and Dibuluan, prevented the barrio residents from going to the polling center out of fear. Minanga is the site of a controversial land dispute and a planned demolition by the city government. Brgy. Villa Concepcion, Cauayan City, May 10, 2004 Source of information: Charles Francisco, Bodgie Isidro and DJ Quitalid - all Grace Padaca poll watchers In Brgy. Villa Concepcion, comelec supplies of ballpen used by the voters are all dried up. Ready made ballots are brought by the newly arrived voters. Brgy. San Fermin, Cauayan City, May 10, 2004 Source of information: Graca Padaca poll watchers Victor Dy, barangay captain of San Fermin, set up his own headquarters inside the polling place. Cauayan City, May 10, 2004 The results of votes for the governatorial seat to sangguniang bayan members from four Election Returns were not read by the Comelec because of the repeated appeals by the Dy lawyers. Brgy Fugaru, Angadanan, May 10, 2004 The transfer of ballot boxes from this barangay to the municipal hall was prevented by men connected with Gov. Dy. Ilagan, May 10, 2004 While the counting was still ongoing, ballot boxes from the barrios of Bayabo, Maride, Paliueg, Cabisera 10, San Antonio, were already transferred to the municipal hall, escorted by identified staff of Mayor Albano. Brgy. Canangan, Angadanan, May 11,2004 Ballot box snatching at 1:30 am. Reina Mercedes, May 11, 2004 Vice Governor S. Respicio was recruiting people, to serve as thugs or goons during the planned proclamation rally of progressive partylists and their gubernatorial bet Grace Padaca on May 13. Roxas, May 11, 2004 Source of information: Sheng May Guzman, Bayan Muna municipal canvasser Lawyers of Calderon and Junior Dy delayed the counting for gubernatorial position. San Isidro, May 11, 2004 Source of information: Che Garcia, Bayan Muna municipal canvasser There is an excess of the total number of votes, for gubernatorial position, than the actual number of registered voters. Cordon, May 11, 2004 Source of information: Menandre Salatan, CARE volunteer As of 9 am this morning, municipal canvassing was delayed, even if most of the barangays have submitted their ER's. Naguillian, May 11, 2004 Source of information: Menandre Salatan, CARE volunteer At 12:28 pm, all Canvass Watchers of all political parties and Partylists were not allowed to enter the municipal hall. Comelec officials said that the military will do the poll watching. San Mariano, May 11, 2004 Ten military men in full combat gear entered and stayed in the municipal canvass center, this morning. Their presence brought tension to the people and poll watchers. Ilagan, May 11, 2004 Namfrel, PPCRV officials and canvassers were not allowed in the Provincial Capitol (provincial canvassing center). Cauayan City, May 11, 2004 Lakas - CMD coordinator reported that vote-buying occurred 15 meters away from the polling center, in front of the City hall. Barangay officials and police were involved. Fraud also occured. Cameras, Video recorders, tape recorder for documentation by poll watchers, media were not permitted inside the city hall. Cordon All canvass watchers were not permitted to enter the municipal hall. Quirino, May 11, 2004 Reports of ballot snatching at 8:09 pm, report said that ballot boxes were taken away by an ambulance. ADDITIONAL FACT SHEETSan Mariano Municipal Hall, Brgy Sta. Filomena, May 11, 2004Umaga ng araw na ito, habang binibilang ang ER ng Minanga sa munisipyo ng SM, nagbanta si Alex Dy na papatayin ang mga poll watchers. Sa mga sumunod na mga canvassing pa, habang lumalabas ang kanyang pagkatalo, nagbanta uli siya bandang 7:30 PM sa harap ng mga magsasaka na may mangyayari ngayong gabi. May mga pinapakalat na mga balita bandang 7:45 PM na haharangin ang mga ER at hindi na makakaabot sa kapitolyo (retrieve Election Returns ngayong gabi). Nag-brown out ng 9:00 PM. Habang brown-out, nagpatuloy ang canvassing. Habang nagaganap ang canvassing ng natitira pang mga ER, 55 out of 130 precincts ang na-canvass na at may tatlong ER pa na hinihintay na dumating sa munsipyo mula sa mga malalayong baryo ng Dicamay, Panninang at Tappa. Karamihan sa mga nabasang ER ay panalo si Bobot Go bilang mayoralty candidate at si Grace Padaca bilang gubernatorial candidate. Mga 9:10 PM, biglang lumusob ang dalawang van na puno ng mga naka-camouflage na mga di-kilalang armading kalalakihan na may mga dalang M14 at M16. Nagpaputok sila ng baril sa loob ng halos 30 minuto. Pagkatapos ay sinunog nila ang ilang ballot box at binasag ang salamin ng opisina ng Sangguniang Bayan. Tinangay nila ang 6 na ballot box. Namatay sa pamamaril ng mga armadong kalalakihan si SPO2 Manuel Artos, pulis na taga-Nagulian, Isabela. Kasama sa mga sugatan ang isa pang pulis na si SPO3 Efren Tamang. Ang mga nasugatan ay dinala sa ospital. Ang ilan sa mga nakasaksi sa pagbaril at pagpatay ay sila Eddie Resurecion at Jaime Bulala, mga poll watcher ng Anakpawis. Nandoon din sa pangyayari si Vice Mayor Eddie Viernes, BOC Chair Antonio Diaz at ilang kagawad ng Sangguniang Bayan. Kapansin-pansin na walang naka-respondeng pulis sa labas ng munisipyo at hindi nasabat o nahuli ang mga salarin sa mga nakatayong checkpoint sa kabila ng pagdeklara na ang San Mariano ay kabilang sa COMELEC-controlled areas sa Isabela. Matapos ang pangyayari, banding alas 10:00 PM ay nagkakagulo sa palengke ng San Mariano dahil sa banta ni Alex Dy na susunugin ang palengke. Hanggang hatinggabi ay naghahakot ng kani-kanilang paninda at ari-arian ang mga tindera at residente. Jones Municipal Hall, May 11, 2004 Source: Nellie Soriano (Candate Sangguiang Pambayan), Glen Cabel (Candidate for Mayor) Alas 10:00 PM ay sinunog ang opisina ng Sangguniang Bayan, second floor ng munisipyo ng Jones. Habang nangaganap ang bilangan nagkaroon ng putukan sa river side, labas ng munisipyo. Agad na lumabas at nagresponde ang mga pulis. Sumunod ay nagalisan din ang mga supporter ni incumbent Mayor Raspado. Naiwan sa loob ng canvassing ang mga tauhan ni Glen Cabel na tumtakbo bilang Meyor at iba pang watchers. Biglang may pumasok na labing anim (16) na armadong kalalakihan na pawang mga nakasibilyan. AGad na pinadapa ang mga tao, kinuha ang kanilang mga cellphone, bag, pitaka at sinunog ang opisina at lahat ng pumasok na mga election returns. Ayon sa mga pollwatchers ay malaki ang inilalamang ng gubernatorial candidate na si Grace Padaca laban sa kalaban nitong si incumbent Gov. Faustino Dy, Jr. Sinabi pa ng mga nakasaksi na ang mga armadong kalalakihan na mga tagalog speaking ay sakay ng isang light blue FX at isang white pick-up. Umaabot sa 40% ng ballots ang nasunog, pati bahagi ng mismong munisipyo. Ref. ANNA LIMBAWAN Media Officer, Radyo Cagayano 0920-7190165 |