MAJOR events in the wiretap scandal in which President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo allegedly discussed plans to rig the May 2004 election:

June 5 -- Arroyo spokesman Ignacio Bunye says the opposition will release an audio tape of a wiretap conversation between Arroyo and an election official in which the two allegedly talked about rigging the election.

June 6 - Bunye, releasing CDs of the recordings he received from an anonymous source, claims Arroyo's voice was spliced and the tapes obtained illegally.

June 7 -- Former Election Commissioner Virgilio Garcillano denies he is the voice talking to Arroyo. Commission on Elections Chairman Benjamin Abalos brushes aside need to investigate charges of poll fraud. Bunye says authorities are trying to find out who bugged the president. Leftwing Rep. Teddy Casino says a congressional inquiry could trigger impeachment proceedings.

June 8 -- Top military commanders pledge loyalty to Arroyo, vow to quash coup plotters. Justice Secretary Raul Gonzalez says anyone possessing CD recordings is violating anti-wiretapping law. Media are banned from broadcasting portions of the tapes.

June 9 -- Arroyo denies cheating in the election and calls the allegations part of a plot to unseat her.

June 10 -- Dismissed National Bureau of Investigation deputy director Samuel Ong claims he was the source of the tapes, given to him by military intelligence.

June 12 -- Arroyo pleads for unity, vows to safeguard democracy and economic reforms.

June 13 -- Military intelligence agent Sgt. Vidal Doble is taken into custody. He says unidentified people tried to force him to say the tapes came from the military intelligence agency and that they wanted to oust Arroyo and set up a revolutionary government in which he was offered a post. Ong is charged with sedition, goes into hiding.

June 14 -- Bunye says Arroyo "will not dignify" the opposition allegations and the tapes "are clearly just being used for political propaganda."

June 16 -- A Cabinet member says Arroyo's government is still behind her, but some believe she should break her silence.

June 17 -- Ousted President Joseph Estrada, jailed while on trial for alleged corruption, says he would be willing to serve in any transitional government.

June 20 -- Arroyo says she will respond to the allegations "in the appropriate time."

June 21 -- Five House of Representatives committees open joint hearing into alleged wiretaps.

June 23 -- Renato de Villa, former defense chief and opposition leader, calls for a "citizens' truth commission" to be set up to investigate alleged wiretaps.

June 27 -- Arroyo apologizes for calling election official, but says she did nothing wrong and won't step down. (AP)

[back to main page]