Gov. Grace Padaca listens to Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo's speech during the International Women's Day celebration on March 6, 2009 at Malacanang's Heroes' Hall. (Edited from original by Edwin Paril/OPS-NIB)

The Commission on Elections has reportedly declared former Gov. Benjamin Dy as winner of the 2007 gubernatorial race in Isabela and ordered Gov. Grace Padaca to immediately vacate the provincial capitol. Comelec announced the decision on the recount petition days after it unseated Bulacan Gov. Joselito Mendoza. Both Padaca and Mendoza are members of the Liberal Party.

The poll body is also expected to decide this week on the electoral protest filed versus Pampanga Gov. Ed Panlilio by an ally of Gloria Macapagal Arroyo.  Like Padaca, Panlilio withdrew from the presidential race to support LP standard bearer Noynoy Aquino. We will see if Comelec’s decision in Panlilio’s case will fit the pattern that we are seeing.

Aren’t you amazed at the things that Comelec can do even without Virgilio Garcillano?

Priest-turned-governor Among Ed Panlilio of Pampanga is now considering running for president in 2010 with Isabela Gov. Grace Padaca as his running mate, says an Inquirer report.

Both Panlilio and Padaca are non-trapos who defeated powerful politicians in their respective provinces.

Panlilio and Padaca, with other reform-oriented public servants, have been practicing and preaching good governance.

Are they the change that the Philippines needs?