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Tuesday, November 29, 2005
Execs, groups urge Garci to 'come out'
By Lizanilla J. Amarga
LOCAL groups, opposition political lieutenants, and public officials were mixed on former Commission on Election (Comelec) commissioner Virgilio Garcillano's statement that President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo should not have made any public apology for calling him up as recorded over the "Hello Garci" tapes.
This came after the regional office of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) in Northern Mindanao said they are currently monitoring Garcillano's whereabouts.
"But as of now, even if we meet up with him face to face we will still be unable to do anything as we do not have a warrant of arrest for him. Wala gihapon mi mahimo," NBI Regional Director Virgilio Mendez said.
Mayor Vicente Emano believes that Garcillano should come out in the open to clear issues despite how the former commissioner is caught in a "damn if you do, damn if you don't" situation.
"The opposition would always make sure that Garcillano is discredited either way," he said in dialect over dxIF Bombo Radyo Monday
Mindanao lawmakers and Forum spokesman Congressman Antonio Cerilles, pro-administration Camiguin Governor Pedro Romualdo and former City Councilor Butch Bagabuyo agrees with Garcillano that there was no need for the President to make any public apology for calling a Comelec official.
Cerilles told Sun.Star Cagayan de Oro that though he agrees with Garcillano's statement still Arroyo's public apology was due to how the former commissioner did not come out in the open in time.
"If he (Garcillano) came out then there would be no need for anyone to apologize for anything," said Cerilles.
Lackey of Arroyo
Cerilles said Arroyo's apology stemmed from her sense of "delicadesa" for calling a Comelec official and the bad impression that it gives to the public.
"But he (Garcillano) is correct in saying that there was no need for Arroyo to apologize as even opposition officials called him up," he said.
Romualdo for his part agreed that there was nothing to apologize.
He added that it was Senator Franklin Drilon and former Social Welfare secretary Dinky Soliman who "prodded" Arroyo to make the apology but that it was an "entrapment" as both betrayed the President by calling for her resignation.
Bagabuyo, lawyer of opposition mayoralty bet lawyer Eddie Tamondong in a graft case against Mayor Vicente Emano, said there was no lapse in judgment in Arroyo's part.
"He (Garcillano) is correct. There was no lapse in judgment. What occurred was premeditated cheating. And there was no rigging in that election but there was dagdag bawas. Therefore the cheating was in the counting," said Bagabuyo.
Bagabuyo's client Tamondong is currently the lawyer of Garcillano in filing two petitions at the Supreme Court to lift the warrant of arrest against him and in putting a stop to Congress' move of making use of the "Hello Garci" tapes.
In an interview over GMA-7, Garcillano said, there was no "lapse in judgment" in the part of the President in calling him as the electoral counting at that time was already over.
He said Arroyo only wanted to protect her votes.
The former commissioner also disclosed that even members from the opposition called him up for the same thing.
Garcillano said there are also no prohibition and "nothing wrong" with calling Comelec officials to inquire about their votes.
Former Integrated Bar of the Philippines chapter lawyer Manuel Ravanera said, "Why doesn't he (Garcillano) declare that our election last year was the cleanest and the most credible ever?"
"The fact is that he is being used by Arroyo to clear her name. Even his statements on TV are scripted. He has shamelessly reduced himself as a lackey of Arroyo," said Ravanera.
Insurmountable doubt
Karapatan lawyer Beverly Musni said Garcillano did not like Arroyo's apology because of several "obvious reasons."
She said first is that the apology of Arroyo means an admission of guilt of his co-principal by direct participation.
"This already casts an insurmountable doubt on his contrary declaration of innocence," said Musni.
Musni said Garcillano knows that the "acts of Arroyo were not simple lapses of judgment but were consciously and willfully committed to ensure her winning in the presidential election."
"Yet, when caught cheating, she cowered in fear of the people's wrath and apologized, thus, causing him to run for cover from the fallout. Garcillano didn't expect this to happen, more so in his retiring years," Musni said.
Meanwhile, City Councilor Reynaldo Advincula said the act of the President in calling Garcillano during canvassing "could be considered a lapse in judgment."
"Dapat lang mangayo siya apology," he said.
Misamis Oriental Minority Floor Leader Butch Olano said Garcillano is just playing a game.
"Nagdrama lang na sila. Even will tell na giduwa-duwaan lang ta nila," Olano said.
(November 29, 2005 issue)
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