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Sunday, December 18, 2005
'Garci' to seek end to House wiretap probe
By Stephen Capillas
CAGAYAN DE ORO -- Former Commission on Elections (Comelec) Commissioner Virgilio Garcillano will file through his lawyers a motion before the House of Representatives to suspend the hearings on the "Hello Garci" controversy.
Garcillano held a press conference in his farm in Baungon town in the Province of Bukidnon last Saturday with local and national media.
He arrived in Cagayan de Oro's Lumbia airport where he was welcomed by Comelec officials and workers as well as members of the media.
The former poll official was even teary-eyed after his former co-workers approached him.
However, he was just as quick to change his demeanor after he castigated a TV reporter for questions allegedly "placing him on the spot" concerning the "Garci" controversy.
Garcillano in an interview over Bombo Radyo said his motion stemmed from the fact that he was getting tired of being grilled over a subject he professes to know almost nothing about.
"There was nothing new to talk about since I already told them I am not the voice in that 'Hello Garci' CD and I didn't talk with her (Arroyo) about cheating in the last elections," he said.
Garcillano was also scheduled to host Saturday a Christmas party with Comelec workers and officials in his Baungon farm. As expected fully armed government troopers escorted him.
Cagayan de Oro Representative Constantino Jaraula, who happened to be on the same domestic flight with Garcillano, said though they would resume the hearings next year there is little chance that the former poll official would be cited for contempt.
"Anyway Cavite Representative Gilbert Remulla will file his report citing evidence of alleged cheating but the biggest concern for Garcillano right now is Senator Panfilo Lacson's claim that he used a different passport," Jaraula said.
Taking offense
Lacson is said to have showed a different passport than the one presented by Garcillano, which a government official rather than a civilian reportedly used.
The Singaporean government reiterated that Garcillano passed through their airport before leaving for Europe.
But Garcillano consistently denied this and insisted that he remained in Mindanao for the six months that he went missing.
The former Comelec official said he doesn't understand why Lacson and the others would question him about his passport.
"The issue here is not the passport but the 'Hello Garci' CD and while I admitted that I spoke to Arroyo in May 24, 2004 there wasn't anything in the conversation about cheating," he said.
He also took the time to castigate his accusers saying he hopes that "lightning will strike down those" who are not telling the truth.
Garcillano also took offense at a question posed by an ABS-CBN TV reporter regarding his alleged confirmation that it was his voice in the "Hello Garci" CD.
"What do you mean I admitted that it was my voice in the CD I never said that, I don't like your questioning I won't answer anything from you anymore," a fuming Garcillano said, to which he accused the network of always "trying to pin him down."
Garcillano agreed to an interview with the major TV network a few days prior to his appearance before Congress.
ABS-CBN also broke out the story of his possible return after it got to interview his wife, Grace Garcillano. (Sun.Star Cagayan de Oro/Sunnex)
(December 18, 2005 issue)
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