'Great escape: Massive gov't conspiracy'
By Michael Lim Ubac, TJ Burgonio, Inquirer News Service
BAFFLED by the "great escape" of former Election Commissioner Virgilio Garcillano, leaders of the opposition could only conclude that his flight was a massive and difficult operation that had the complicity of major government departments.
Two administration lawmakers likewise theorized yesterday that a "conspiracy" involving ranking government officials had helped cover up the escape plan.
Administration Representatives Gilbert Remulla (Cavite) and Robert Ace Barbers (Surigao del Norte) in separate interviews said that a high-profile former election official like Garcillano could not just easily elude government agents tracking him since June.
"A conspiracy is always possible," said Barbers, although he conceded that some influential people in the private sector could have had a hand in Garcillano's departure for Singapore.
Reality show
The first episode of the national reality TV show "Hello Garci" featuring poll fraud had evolved into "Goodbye Garci," according to former senator Vicente Sotto III.
"This latest development proves that the whole government machinery had been mobilized to help in the survival mode of Ms Arroyo in Malacañang," Sotto said in a statement.
"The flight of embattled former Comelec commissioner and chief election fraud operator Virgilio Garcillano to Singapore and probably on to London was a massive and difficult operation needing the complicity of major government departments such foreign affairs, justice, interior and local government, and transportation," Sotto said.
"There must be a conspiracy. There was no way Garcillano could have left without the knowledge of certain agencies," said Ramon Montano, a retired major general and former chief of the Philippine Constabulary.
Montano said the "conspirators" would have involved officials from the Bureau of Immigration, Air Transportation Office and Subic Air International Air Charter Inc. (Subic Air), which allegedly provided the plane that flew Garcillano to Singapore.
Cancel passport
Senate Minority Leader Aquilino Pimentel Jr. dared the government to cancel Garcillano's travel documents to show it was serious about bringing him back to the country.
"For now we have lost him. But we have the capacity to cause his repatriation ... by canceling his passport. Canceling his passport will make him an illegal alien and will lead to his arrest by immigration authorities," Pimentel said in an interview.
Pimentel, however, was skeptical when asked if the government, particularly the Department of Foreign Affairs, would cancel Garcillano's travel papers.
"That's where the problem lies. The government should have done it a long time ago. Gloria (Ms Arroyo) will not want it because Garcillano will spill the beans on her and tighten the noose of guilt around her neck," he said.
Reacting to Pimentel's challenge, DFA spokesperson Gilberto Asuque explained that the agency, under the Passport Law, could only cancel the document if its holder had been declared a fugitive by the court.
A lot of explaining
Remulla said airport and immigration officials had a lot of explaining to do.
"At the very least, they should take a leave, if not resign, until they are cleared of the suspicion of conspiracy," said the lawmaker, visibly irked by the failure of Air Transportation Office chief Nilo Jatico and Immigration Commissioner Alipio Fernandez to inform the House of Representatives about Garcillano's whereabouts.
Remulla said the two officials should resign if they cannot come up with a "satisfactory explanation."
Remulla, chair of the joint House committee investigating the wiretapped conversations between President Arroyo and Garcillano purportedly to rig the balloting in 2004, will resume next week the inquiry into the "Hello Garci" audiotape to grill the two officials. With a report from Volt Contreras
BAFFLED by the "great escape" of former Election Commissioner Virgilio Garcillano, leaders of the opposition could only conclude that his flight was a massive and difficult operation that had the complicity of major government departments.
Two administration lawmakers likewise theorized yesterday that a "conspiracy" involving ranking government officials had helped cover up the escape plan.
Administration Representatives Gilbert Remulla (Cavite) and Robert Ace Barbers (Surigao del Norte) in separate interviews said that a high-profile former election official like Garcillano could not just easily elude government agents tracking him since June.
"A conspiracy is always possible," said Barbers, although he conceded that some influential people in the private sector could have had a hand in Garcillano's departure for Singapore.
Reality show
The first episode of the national reality TV show "Hello Garci" featuring poll fraud had evolved into "Goodbye Garci," according to former senator Vicente Sotto III.
"This latest development proves that the whole government machinery had been mobilized to help in the survival mode of Ms Arroyo in Malacañang," Sotto said in a statement.
"The flight of embattled former Comelec commissioner and chief election fraud operator Virgilio Garcillano to Singapore and probably on to London was a massive and difficult operation needing the complicity of major government departments such foreign affairs, justice, interior and local government, and transportation," Sotto said.
"There must be a conspiracy. There was no way Garcillano could have left without the knowledge of certain agencies," said Ramon Montano, a retired major general and former chief of the Philippine Constabulary.
Montano said the "conspirators" would have involved officials from the Bureau of Immigration, Air Transportation Office and Subic Air International Air Charter Inc. (Subic Air), which allegedly provided the plane that flew Garcillano to Singapore.
Cancel passport
Senate Minority Leader Aquilino Pimentel Jr. dared the government to cancel Garcillano's travel documents to show it was serious about bringing him back to the country.
"For now we have lost him. But we have the capacity to cause his repatriation ... by canceling his passport. Canceling his passport will make him an illegal alien and will lead to his arrest by immigration authorities," Pimentel said in an interview.
Pimentel, however, was skeptical when asked if the government, particularly the Department of Foreign Affairs, would cancel Garcillano's travel papers.
"That's where the problem lies. The government should have done it a long time ago. Gloria (Ms Arroyo) will not want it because Garcillano will spill the beans on her and tighten the noose of guilt around her neck," he said.
Reacting to Pimentel's challenge, DFA spokesperson Gilberto Asuque explained that the agency, under the Passport Law, could only cancel the document if its holder had been declared a fugitive by the court.
A lot of explaining
Remulla said airport and immigration officials had a lot of explaining to do.
"At the very least, they should take a leave, if not resign, until they are cleared of the suspicion of conspiracy," said the lawmaker, visibly irked by the failure of Air Transportation Office chief Nilo Jatico and Immigration Commissioner Alipio Fernandez to inform the House of Representatives about Garcillano's whereabouts.
Remulla said the two officials should resign if they cannot come up with a "satisfactory explanation."
Remulla, chair of the joint House committee investigating the wiretapped conversations between President Arroyo and Garcillano purportedly to rig the balloting in 2004, will resume next week the inquiry into the "Hello Garci" audiotape to grill the two officials. With a report from Volt Contreras
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