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Wednesday, December 07, 2005
7 senators, congressmen called Garci during elections (11:40 a.m.)
MANILA -- Former Comelec commissioner Virgillio Garcillano Wednesday named at least seven senators and several congressmen mostly from the opposition who called him during the election period.
The former poll official was also quick to state that none of the callers asked him to do something illegal, irregular or improper.
Garcillano named former Senator Loren Legarda, Senators Juan Ponce Enrile, Jamby Madrigal, Alfredo Lim, Richard Gordon, Mar Roxas and Panfilo Lacson as the senators who called him during the election period.
He also named several congressmen and among them are Representatives Francis Escudero, Allan Peter Cayetano and Clavel Martinez.
Garcillano during the questioning made by Escudero also admitted that he talked to the President at one time only. He said the President was only inquiring how come her lead in Mindanao has reduced.
The former poll official said he was never asked by the President to rig the poll results.
Garcillano also denied leaving the country.
Garcillano has already denied helping Arroyo to cheat in the elections. The accusation - based on wiretaps of phone calls in which the President is allegedly heard speaking to an official, believed to be Garcillano, about ensuring a million-vote victory - set off her worst political crisis.
Arroyo has apologized for a "lapse in judgment" in talking with an election official before the results were announced, but denied influencing the outcome.
Garcillano was escorted Wednesday under heavy security from a police camp to the House of Representatives building, where he took a seat as lawmakers prepared to question him.
Garcillano said he went into hiding at the height of the crisis a few months ago amid alleged threats to his life and pressure from rival politicians for him to disclose what he knew of the allegations against the president. He said he hid in the south, protected by former Muslim rebels.(Sunnex)
(December 8, 2005 issue)
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