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Thursday, November 24, 2005
Cops launch manhunt for ex-poll commissioner
By Lizanilla J. Amarga
CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY -- Soon after news broke out that former election commissioner Virgilio Garcillano is in Mindanao, police officers in this city immediately launched a manhunt for him.
Local opposition leaders believe the wife's revelation that Garcillano is still in the country was just a "ploy".
Provincial Governors Oscar Moreno of Misamis Oriental and Pedro Romualdo of Camiguin, along with several local public officers, voiced varied reactions as to news that Garcillano is in Mindanao.
Mayor Vicente Emano has been tasked by the Congress committee investigating the "Hello Garci" tapes, which contain conversations between the former poll commissioner and President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo on the alleged rigging of the 2004 presidential elections, to look for Garcillano as he is a resident of Cagayan de Oro.
The mayor also knew Garcillano during his stint as governor of Misamis Oriental.
In a radio interview, Emano said Garcillano might have been afraid to show up when he saw how National Security Adviser Norberto Gonzales was treated by the Senate.
The Senate has cited Gonzales in contempt for refusing to answer questions on the controversial Venable contract.
Emano also said any decision by Garcillano to come out into the open might be motivated by his intention to clear any suspicions that he cheated for Arroyo.
Cagayan de Oro City Police Office chief Superintendent Aurelio Trampe said he immediately deployed his men to look for Garcillano the moment they heard that the commissioner is just here in Mindanao.
"I told our operating units to look for Mr. Garcillano in his residences in Cagayan de Oro. But negative feedback so far," he told Sun.Star Cagayan de Oro Wednesday.
Garcillano also has a farm in Baungon, Bukidnon and was once thought to have holed up there.
A former opposition congressional candidate, Manuel Ravanera, said that if the words of Garcillano's wife Grace were to be believed, then it is evident that Arroyo has again conspired with the former election officer.
"Garcillano also is a coward and so unprincipled for not coming out in the open to let the Filipinos know the truth on the alleged cheating committed by Arroyo," Ravanera said.
Former councilor Roderico Villaroya said he was suspicious of Grace's disclosure.
"Unbelievable. No wife would tell the whole world where her husband is especially if everybody is looking for him. Its a ploy," he said.
Villaroya said that Grace's claim is a "smokescreen". (With a report from Stephen Capillas)
(November 24, 2005 issue)
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