‘Strong forces’ stopped Garci from telling truth — govt exec

“Very strong forces" had prevented former Commission on Elections (Comelec) commissioner Virgilio Garcillano from spilling the beans on the alleged rigging of the 2004 presidential elections to favor then-President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, President Benigno Aquino III’s political adviser said on Sunday. “Clearly, there are still very strong forces out there that are preventing Garci from telling the truth," said Ronald Llamas without elaborating. Llamas said Garcillano blew his chance to make up for his wrongdoings against the Filipino people. “The people already know that he cheated for GMA (Arroyo’s initials) during the 2004 elections and this could have been his opportunity to make up for his crimes against the people," he said. Llamas said Garcillano “could have brought closure to this dark chapter in our country's electoral history if only he came out clean, but it seems other motivations prevailed over him and he is sticking to his old story which everyone knows is a lie." Garcillano, at a press conference in Bukidnon on Saturday, denied having a hand in the alleged cheating. He is considered a central figure in the “Hello Garci" scandal that broke out in 2005. The scandal involved taped conversations between a man said to Garcillano, and several personalities, including one that was supposed to be Arroyo, talking about the alleged cheating.

But as far as Malacañang is concerned, Garcillano’s denial and refusal to testify in any investigation on the alleged election irregularities, will not be a setback to the government’s efforts to seek the truth in the 2004 polls. In a radio interview on Sunday, deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte said the government — or any investigating body — can always bank on the testimonies of other witnesses to the alleged cheating. “We cannot force someone who does not want to tell the truth or to talk. There are other witnesses who claimed to be part of it, one way or another. There are evidence and testimonies turning up," Valte told state-owned dzRB radio. She said government is not surprised that Garcillano denied having a hand in the alleged cheating. She also poked fun at the former Comelec official’s credibility. “I think the entire nation has already formed its opinion of Mr. Garcillano. Is there anyone who still believes him?" Valte said. She, however, said government lawyers will have to evaluate if there is something that could be done to run after Garcillano. — KBK, GMA News