ILAGAN, Isabela, Philippines -- Isabela Gov. Maria Gracia Cielo Padaca will seek her third term as governor against another member of the Dy political plan.

Dave Siquian, Padaca’s cousin and provincial executive assistant, filed the governor’s certificate of candidacy (CoC) for her reelection bid under the Liberal Party on Tuesday morning, provincial election assistant Marites Salvador said.

Padaca, 45, will face outgoing Isabela Rep. Faustino Dy III, who filed his CoC for governor, on Monday.

Dy III, 48, defeated Padaca in the province’s third congressional district race in 2001.

In 2004, however, Padaca ran for governor and won over Dy III’s brother, then re-electionist Gov. Faustino Dy Jr., ending the Dy family’s almost 30-year-hold on Isabela leadership.

Padaca also won a second term in 2007 against the Dys’ brother, former Gov. Benjamin Dy. Benjamin, will run for Cauayan City mayor in 2010, although he has a pending election protest contesting Padaca’s victory.

A third possible gubernatorial candidate is Isabela Rep. Edwin Uy, a known ally of Padaca’s.

While Uy has yet to file his CoC, Gamu Mayor Fernando Cumigad, who spoke on his behalf, said Uy would run for governor despite a possible face off with Padaca.

“We respect whatever the decision of the governor (Padaca) but the congressman (Uy) has long decided to throw his hat into the gubernatorial derby. We hope the best [candidate] will win,” Cumigad said.