Protest action set vs Comelec decision on Padaca

Youth leaders, politicians, and ordinary citizens supporting Grace Padaca will hold a noise barrage to protest the decision of the Commission on Elections' (Comelec) Second Division to unseat the Isabela governor from her post. Kaya Natin! Movement will stage the protest action along Katipunan Avenue on Monday afternoon to express opposition to the poll body’s decision, which favored administration ally, Benjamin Dy, who was Padaca's opponent in the 2007 elections. “We believe that the Comelec should respect the mandate of the people and the vote of the ordinary Isabelinos. The Comelec is clearly violating these things in its decision to oust Governor Padaca," said Harvey Keh, the group's convenor. Keh said several other groups such as Pinoy Power, Pakisama, and student organizations from the Ateneo de Manila University would joint the protest action. “The Comelec has been corrupted to promote the selfish objectives of certain individuals in the country. This is a very bad thing for the coming elections," he said. The groups supporting Padaca are also raising funds to be able to publish statements of support for Padaca on major dailies. “We are tapping ordinary people for our campaign because good governance begins with ordinary people. In a democracy, power is with the ordinary people," Keh said. A silent protest outside the Comelec main office in Intramuros, Manila will also be staged on Thursday. The Comelec en banc is expected to issue a final ruling on Padaca's case on December 17. - ANDREO C. CALONZO, GMANews.TV