[3] As the Isabela Provincial Board passed the resolution urging the special election to be held, three people had been brought up as potential candidates.

Other disturbances included the confrontation of Cordon Mayor Amado Vallejo, Jr. of two lawyers of the Abaya campaign who allegedly harassed poll watchers.

They alleged that some ballot boxes were switched on the trip from the polling places to the provincial capital of Ilagan.

The Abayas held their own canvassing at the People's Coliseum in Santiago, with Edwin Uy, the 2nd district representative, attending.

[8] Ilagan Bishop Sergio Utleg later issued a pastoral letter alleging the special election was the province's "most fraudulent".

The pastoral letter was condemned by the isabela Provincial Board to the "strongest terms" and demanded that the bishop reconsider it.

COMELEC Chairmen Benjamin Abalos had formed a task force to investigate the alleged irregularities of the vote.

[9] By 2013, Aggabao was in his third term in Congress, after losing to Miranda's brother Anthony in 2004; he won in 2007, and successfully defended his seat on the 2010 and 2013 election.