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Tuesday, August 16, 2005
Nalzaro: Is Malacañang fooling the people?
By Bobby Nalzaro
I do not understand why the administration came up with another strategy to downplay the controversial “Hello Garci” tape, which is to insist that it was a fake recording.
Malacanang’s rah-rah boy, Environment Secretary Michael Defonsor claimed that the wiretapped conversation between President Arroyo and Commission on Elections (Comelec) former commissioner Virgilio Gar-cillano was doctored to make it appear that the President committed electoral fraud. As such, it could not be used as evidence in the impeachment case, now pending before the House committee on justice, against the chief executive.
Defensor’s revelation was based on the findings of an American forensic audio expert, Barry Dickey, who analyzed the recordings. But in a Philippine Daily Inquirer report, which quoted a RMN New York based station, Dickey denied Defensor’s claim. Dickey, a certified forensic expert on audio evidence based in Texas, USA, made an analysis of audio recordings of international terrorist Osama bin Laden for TV networks. I am confused why the administration still insists that those recordings were spliced and tampered? Did Defensor send the original tape for examination? Remember that there are now several versions. A few days before the “Hello Garcia” tape was exposed, our Muslim brothers in Greenhills were already selling pirated versions.
But whether the “Hello Garci” tape is fake or not, is no longer the issue. No less than the President has already acknowledged talking to a Comelec commissioner during the canvassing of votes in last year’s election, claiming it was a “lapse in judgment.” So, why are those Malacañang drumbeaters, like Defensor, refuting the President’s admission. I doubt if the environment secretary would act on his own on this very sensitive matter without clearance from the Palace. He must have a go signal from his boss.
But this is a miscalculation on the part of the administration. Do they take us for fools? They are not just fooling the Filipino people but also themselves. Malacañang should no longer question the authenticity of the recordings because the President has already acknowledged her “mistakes.” What they should do is to defend the President against all these allegations that she rigged the election in her favor once the impeachment trial would begin. Naglubog lang mo sa issue.
***
Some telecommunication companies especially the giant, Philippine Long Distance Telephone Co. (PLDT) are complaining about the rampant pilferage of their cables. We all should know how important communication systems are nowadays.
(bgnalzaro@gmanetwork.com/09193181404)
(August 16, 2005 issue)
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