AFP officer denies operation to keep tabs on threats to Arroyo in 2004

The former head of a unit of the Intelligence Service of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (Isafp) on Tuesday denied the existence of military intelligence operation "Project Lighthouse," which allegedly kept tabs on threats to the Arroyo administration during the 2004 elections.

 

Earlier, Air Force T/Sgt. Vidal Doble Jr., a whistleblower who used to work for the ISAFP, testified years ago that Project Lighthouse targeted several personalities who were threats to the then Arroyo administration.

 

However, during Tuesday's Senate probe into alleged fraud during the 2004 and 2007 elections, Lt. Col. Pedro Sumayo said Project Lighthouse was just a proposal to improve the intelligence operations of MIG 21, the ISAFP unit that specializes in communications and surveillance.

 

"[It was meant] to improve my unit on how we could better perform," said SUmayo, who headed MIG 21 from 2003 to 2005.

 

He likewise noted that the proposal was disapproved by their superiors for lack of funds.

 

"Technically Project Lighthouse was never [in] operation," he said. "Products" of Project Lighthouse

 

Among the alleged products of Project Lighthouse were the Hello Garci tapes, which allegedly contained conversations between a woman presumed to be former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and a man presumed to be former election Commissioner Virgilio Garcillano regarding alleged poll fraud.

 

However, Sumayo said that there was no one in MIG 21 who could conduct wiretap operations.

 

"I know for a fact that no one in MIG 21 is trained [to do that]," he said.

 

"I would like to redeem the name of ISAFP or MIG 21. I believe it has negatively affected by the controversy," he added.

 

Sumayo admitted, however, that Doble did approach him shortly after the 2004 elections and showed him the Hello Garci tapes.

 

"The voice in the tapes sounds like that of the former president, PGMA," he said.

 

BUt he said he immediately turned off the tape upon hearing it because they were not supposed to be conducting such operations.

 

"It was unusual.  Hindi po yun ang dapat naming ginagawa. [We work] on kidnappers, terrorists and destabilizers," he said.

 

Sumayo said he surrendered the tapes to Army Col. Allen Capuyan, former head of the ISAFP's special operations group, and that the same ordered him to destroy the tapes and transcripts of the Hello Garci scandal.

 

Sen. Panfilo Lacson, however, said Sumayo's reaction was "not normal" for someone working for an intelligence unit. He likewise said that Capuyan was not even in Sumayos's chain of command.

The Senate hearing was ongoing as of posting time. - VVP, GMA News