‘Running priest’ rallies support for Padaca

Fr. Robert Reyes. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO/RAFFY LERMA

MANILA, Philippines—Running priest  Robert Reyes has called on the public to rally behind Grace Padaca, the former governor of Isabela who has been ordered arrested on graft and malversation charges.

Reyes will hold a “Run for Grace” at 8 a.m. Sunday at the Quezon Memorial Circle and will officiate at a Mass in support of the beleaguered ex-governor.

Padaca was ordered arrested by the Sandiganbayan antigraft court last week, which set bail at P70,000.

Reyes condemned the prosecution of Padaca, saying her political enemies were behind the cases filed against her. He said Padaca was someone to emulate and deserves the people’s support.

“We need good and upright leaders like former Isabela Governor Grace Padaca. They also need the support of citizens who believe in them,” he said. “Good governance is as much about good and participative citizens as it is about good and dedicated leaders.”

The Office of the Ombudsman last July charged Padaca with graft and malversation for the allegedly improper award of a P25-million project to a nongovernment organization, the Economic Development for Western Isabela and Northern Luzon Foundation Inc., for the management of a supervised credit facility for rice farmers. The contract was allegedly awarded without public bidding.

Padaca has denied the charges, saying that her opponents in the 2007 election were behind her persecution. She argued that the public bidding requirement was not applicable in the rice project because this involved a government social program that would be adopted depending on the availability of implementing partners.

According to Reyes, Padaca is to be commended for her devotion to the poor farmers of Isabela and her efforts to help them become self-sufficient and stable.

“This was the type of governance she promoted, economic independence for small farmers through increased productivity and maximal earnings,” he said.

But he said the “old oligarchy” that she unseated when she first ran for office had used their old tricks to undo Padaca’s efforts.

Padaca was a popular radio commentator who took on the Dys, the political clan that held sway over Isabela for almost 30 years. She soundly defeated the then governor, Faustino Dy Jr., for the governorship in 2004. She won reelection in 2007 against another Dy, Benjamin Dy, also a former governor, who protested the results.

In December 2009, the Commission on Elections declared Benjamin Dy the winner of the 2007 gubernatorial election after a recount and ordered Padaca to vacate the post.

Padaca’s party, Kaya Natin! Movement for Good Governance and Ethical Leadership, has thrown its support behind her, claiming that she was a victim of injustice.