Reactionary Elections:
NPA condemns arson incidents in Isabela

Basahin ang artikulong ito sa Pilipino

The New People's Army (NPA) Benito Tesorio Command in Isabela strongly condemned the election-related violence and cheating perpetrated by the Dy family in the province. On May 11, armed men burned ballots and other election paraphernalia in the towns of Jones and San Mariano. The Dys maliciously blamed the NPA for it.

According to the command's spokesperson Ka Delio Baladon, these were perpetrated by the 5th ID, private goons and cohorts of the Dy family when it had become clear that their rivals had routed San Mariano mayoralty candidate Alexander Dy and Faustino Dy Jr., a candidate for governor.

As early as the morning of May 11, Alexander Dy had already threatened poll watchers and COMELEC members who were counting ballots in the San Mariano municipal hall. At around 10 o'clock at night, men aboard two vans suddenly assaulted the municipal hall. They rained bullets on the municipal hall for close to thirty minutes and snatched six ballot boxes before leaving.

Meanwhile, at around 10 p.m. that same night, 16 men entered the Jones municipal hall while the ballot counting was taking place. They ordered everyone to lie on the floor facedown, took away their cellphones and burned down the office and all of the tally sheets that had come in from various precincts. Up to 40% of the ballots were burned.

According to data gathered by the National Democratic Front in Northeastern Luzon, the Dy clique flooded all of Isabela with money and food on the day of the election. They also massed AFP troops in the barangays of Benito Soliven, Ueg, Casala, Macayucayu, Alidabad and San Mariano as well as in villages within the Forest Region, Jones and Echague to intimidate voters.

The Dy family also ordered anew the closure of Bombo Radio DZNC on election day due to its frequent hardhitting commentaries against the clan's antipeople policies.

The arson incidents in Jones and San Mariano are part of the Dys' scheme to create large-scale anarchy so that a failure of elections would be declared in the province and the canvass results nullified.

With their scheme's failure, the Dy clique launched a relentless campaign of intimidation against COMELEC personnel at the provincial level, forcing the board of canvassers to resign and to have the counting of votes suspended until the COMELEC could send in replacements. The progressive and popular former broadcaster Gracia Padaca maintained a big lead over Governor Dy in the Isabela gubernatorial race according to both the COMELEC's official count and NAMFREL's unofficial canvass.

The Dy family has held tight and bloody rein over Isabela's politics and economy over the last 40 years. The clan has been able to maintain and expand its dynasty by using its bureaucrat-capitalist power. It has also effectively used the military and police as its private army, aside from using goons and criminal elements in the province.

Since the 1960s, the Dys have not hesitated to use violence against anyone challenging their power. They also have a long and bloody record of violating the human rights of the people and the revolutionary movement in the province.

Strong opposition from the people and the middle forces, the courage of those who challenged the Dys' control and the vigorous advance of armed struggle, the mass movement and progressive politics in the province were important factors in weakening the Dy family's decades-long domination. Thus, four out of seven clan members running for various positions lost. Aside from Faustino Jr. and Alexander, Benjamin Dy Jr. also lost the mayoralty race in Angadanan and Eloisa Dy-Valle in her bid for councilor in Cauayan City.

21 May 2004
English Edition

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