The Philippine Online Chronicles

“Garci is a liar then, he is a liar now,” was Presidential Spokesperson Edwin Lacierda’s Twitter reaction to former Commission on Elections (Comelec) Commissioner Virgilio Garcillano’s statement that he did not orchestrate poll fraud in 2004 in favor of former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.

Presidential Political Adviser Ronal Llamas, who earlier disclosed that he received “feelers” from Garcillano that he intended to confess, said, “I thought he had a masteral (degree) in lying. I was wrong. He has a doctorate in telling lies. His offer of help is unwanted. Let him help himself and GMA.”

He added that Garcillano blew his chance at redemption.

“He also denied talking to GMA, it was Frank Sinatra who talked to GMA. What a liar! But the whole country has already judged him. Until now, he’s still protecting GMA, by his own words he was damned,” Llamas said.

Llamas said Garcillano apparently changed his story after meeting with his “handlers” Zambales Governor Hermogenes Ebdane and alleged “jueteng lord” Bong Pineda in Subic a week ago.

At a press conference in his home in Bukidnon yesterday, Garcillano denied all allegations and added that the administration should stop using him.

“This controversy has already destroyed my career not only in this country but in the whole world and even if I will talk, then nobody will believe in me,” he said.

He denied that he sent feelers to Malacañang.

“What else can they get from me, I have already said everything. Maybe they want me to say something else, but I don’t know what it is,” he said. He added though that he was not against the Aquino administration and that he is willing to help “in political reforms needed.”

According to MindaNews, President Aquino visited Garcillano in his Subic house.

“MindaNews sources said Aquino’s visit to Garcillano in his Subic house so unnerved the former Election Commissioner that he called some of his friends in the middle of the night to tell them about the visit,” the article read.

Garcillano’s lawyer Ed Tamondong reportedly confirmed the visit. He also said that the Palace is trying to turn Garcillano into a state witness “at the center of a fictitious story” to prosecute Arroyo.

He claimed that the controversial “Hello, Garci” tape was spliced and that there was nothing wrong in his conversation with Arroyo.

“All she asked was why her advantage two or three days before the start of the canvass in Lanao del Sur came up to only 892,000 when three days before that, it was more than one million,” he said.

Answering questions of reporters, he asserted that it was not his voice in the recorded conversation.

“I spoke the truth during the congressional investigation in 2004 and 2005. I may sound ludicrous or ridiculous, but that is the truth,” he said.

Nevertheless, Comelec Chairman Sixto Brillantes said the poll fraud probe is not anchored on him alone. There are other witnesses who could attest to what had happened.

“It’s alright if he is not going to participate. Then he can probably be compelled to participate through a subpoena... If he does not appear, he can be converted into a respondent. Charges can be filed against him,” Brillantes said.