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Monday, July 18, 2005
'Ex-poll commissioner now in Caraga'
By Ben Serrano
Caraga Correspondent
SURIGAO CITY -- Controversial former Commission on Elections (Comelec) commissioner Virgilio Garcillano was reportedly seen in one of the beautiful beach resorts in Caraga.
Residents who requested anonymity claimed Garcilliano was seen resting with bodyguards in tow in one of the beautiful resorts owned by an Arroyo loyalist who is a local official in the Caraga region.
Sun.Star Cagayan de Oro sources said that Garcillano is hiding in one of Siargao's resorts.
President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo once slept in Pansukian Resort when she and her husband Miguel visited the place last year. The president's daughter, Luli, visits the place occasionally with friends.
Joint committees in the Lower House are investigating the wiretapping controversy allegedly involving Garcillano and President Arroyo and have requested the presence of the former poll official during the hearing on August 3.
They have reportedly requested Mayor Vicente Emano to help make sure that Garcillano appears before the joint committees during the August 3 hearing.
The former elections officer maintains a residence at RER Subdivision, Kauwagan, Surigao City. Sun.Star Cagayan de Oro tried but failed to contact Emano to ask if he had located Garcillano.
Emano earlier said he only met Garcillano a few times back in the 90s.
Radio reports said Cavite Representative Gilbert Remulla, chairman of the joint committees investigating the wiretapping, requested the mayor to assist Garcillano if he decides to appear before them.
Cagayan de Oro City police issued Garcillano an ultimatum to show up or face arrest following the subpoena issued against him by the joint committees. The poll official didn't show up when the deadline expired at 3 p.m. on Wednesday last week.
Several residents in Surigao del Norte claimed seeing Garcillano not only once but many times in the area.
A resident said he saw the former Comelec official having lunch in one of the open rest houses of the beach resort in the region.
Since the first day that Garcilliano reportedly arrived here, many local officials in Caraga, including some from Misamis Oriental, have visited him.
"Maayo man iya panglawas sige gani katawa to (He's in good shape always in jolly mood)," said two of the residents near the beach resort who requested anonymity.
It was not reported whether the Misamis Oriental provincial police informed the Caraga police about the arrest warrant against Garcillano.
Leaders of the Congress committees warned they would have Garcillano arrested for his failure to show up at the congressional hearings despite repeated invitations. (With a report from Danilo V. Adorador III)
(July 18, 2005 issue)
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