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Garcillano to use 'Hello, Garci' tune in campaign


The "Hello, Garci" tune is making a comeback, this time not to destabilize President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo but to prop up the campaign of the man believed to be behind the infamous poll scandal—Virgilio Garcillano. QTV-11’s News on Q reported Wednesday night that Garcillano, who filed his candidacy to run for congressman of Bukidnon, will use the "Hello, Garci" tune that circulated as ringtones at the height of protests against Mrs Arroyo in 2005 as campaign jingle. The ring tone starts and ends with the ring of an analog phone, followed by the music of rap group In Da Club "50 Cent" playing. It plays for 17 seconds and has the President saying, "Hello! Hello! Hello! Garci" three times and asking, "So, will I still lead by more than one million?" Garcillano is running as an independent. He is expected to run against Malou Acosta, the sibling of incumbent Rep. Nereus Acosta, in the first district of Bukidnon. Before filing his candidacy, the report said Garcillano went to several towns in a motorcade with his supporters. He wrote in his certificate of candidacy "Garci" and "Chill" as his nicknames. He said he was not afraid to use "Garci" in his electoral campaign even if the nickname reminded people of the scandal in the 2004 elections. Garcillano was allegedly involved in the electoral fraud or the so-called "Hello Graci scandal" that spelled presidential victory for Mrs Arroyo, three years ago. He allegedly delivered Mrs Arroyo's a one million vote margin in the May 2004 elections. The report about Garcillano's filing of candidacy immediately drew flak from the opposition. "It's the travesty of the electoral process when the principal character in the 'Hello Garci' scandal remains scot-free and is now running for public office," said Genuine Opposition Spokesman Adel Tamano in a press statement. "Garci is back and it's a very scary scenario. The 2004 presidential phonepal, a central figure in the alleged 2004 electoral fraud, is known in electoral circles as a 'technician'. His opponents should be very afraid. Moreover, given his history, his candidacy mocks the election process," he added. Tamano recalled how Senator Aquilino Pimentel has accused Garcillano not only of involvement in dagdag-bawas (vote padding/shaving) operations but also of distributing money in previous elections to Comelec officials from the Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao. The opposition also noted that at the height of the 'Hello Garci' controversy, wiretapped recording of alleged conversations between Garcillano and President Arroyo revealed the alleged complicity of Comelec, military and Malacaňang officials in the alleged operations to deliver one million votes to ensure the victory of the president over opposition standard-bearer Fernando Poe, Jr. The scandal remains one of the biggest crises that befell the Arroyo administration in 2004 and President Arroyo has since publicly apologized while Garcillano went in hiding. The former Comelec official surfaced late last year and has never been charged. -GMANews.TV

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