Esperon welcomes new probe on ‘Hello Garci’ generals

Former Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) chief Gen. Hermogenes Esperon Jr. is open to the possibility of being reinvestigated for his supposed involvement in the alleged election fraud in 2004. Esperon, one of several generals linked to the so-called “Hello Garci" scandal which allegedly ensured President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo's victory in the 2004 national elections, said Friday there was nothing wrong should the case be revisited. Other generals mentioned in the “Hello Garci" audio recordings were Roy Kyamko, Gabriel Habacon and Francisco Gudani. Esperon, however, pointed out that there was no reason to doubt the result of the fact-finding board led by now retired Vice Admiral Mateo Mayuga that cleared him and other generals of taking part in the electoral rigging. "The Mayuga board finished the investigation. I don't doubt the sincerity and the competence of Admiral Mateo Mayuga. If they want to reopen it and if it is determined that they have to reopen the case, then so be it," said Esperon. Earlier, resigned Brig. Gen. Danilo Lim called for a new investigation on the military's involvement in the “Hello Garci" cheating, saying the witnesses interviewed by the fact-finding board may have been under duress due to the political atmosphere then. Esperon chided Lim, however, by saying that his (Lim’s) group was merely interested in grabbing power. "Let us revisit 1989," Esperon said, referring to the December 1989 coup attempt. “What was their purpose — just to complain about something or to grab power?" “Why [were] there forces on reserve, forces to attack Fort Bonifacio, [Camp] Aguinaldo, and Malacañang in 2006?" Esperon added, referring to the military unrest in February 2006 that the Arroyo administration later tagged as a coup attempt, leading to a proclamation of a state of emergency. Lim, who figured in the failed 1989 uprising, is facing trial by civilian and military courts for his involvement in the failed plots in February 2006 and in November 2007. Lim was granted a provisional liberty by the military leadership over a month ago. Esperon also said what the military did against the groups of Antonio Trillanes IV and Lim were fair. "It's legal and we were just following the Articles of War, and the essence of the military is that you have to follow rules and regulation," he said. Asked if Trillanes was a victim of injustice by the previous administration, Esperon curtly replied: "Let’s just ask the court." The revisiting of the "Hello Garci" scandal, Esperon said, will allow the accused to clear their names. Maybe, it is now up to the Truth Commission to start anew an investigation, he added. The Truth Commission, to be chaired by retired Supreme Court chief justice Hilario Davide but still on the drawing boards, is tasked to look into unresolved controversial cases during the previous administration.—JE/JV, GMANews.TV