Whistleblower in 'Hello, Garci' scam has cancer

MANILA, Philippines - A former National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) official who blew the whistle on the "Hello, Garci" wiretapped conversation in June 2005 is battling lung cancer, a Catholic bishop said Friday. Novaliches Bishop-Emeritus Teodoro Bacani said he learned about former NBI deputy director Samuel Ong’s condition after he was invited to conduct the sacrament of the anointing of the sick. In a radio dzBB report, Bacani refused to disclose where Ong was confined, but described the whistleblower as being "in a bad condition and can no longer speak." Bacani said that the Ong family has been good Catholics. The "Hello, Garci" tapes contained alleged conversations between President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo and former Elections commissioner Virgilio Garcillano purportedly on rigging of the May 2004 presidential elections. On June 10, 2005, Ong presented during a press conference at the Metropolitan Club in Makati City what he claimed to be the "mother of all tapes." He did not play the tape but still claimed Mrs. Arroyo cheated in the polls. Ong's disclosure spawned calls for President Arroyo's resignation: from former President Corazon Aquino to some of her Cabinet members and senior officers, who were then tagged as the Hyatt 10. The President then admitted talking with an election officer, although she did not identify the poll official. Both the President and Garcillano denied ever engaging in the alleged rigging of the May 2004 polls. Ong later sought help from Susan Roces and the Catholic Church. As a result, the whistleblower was given refuge at the San Carlos Seminary. - Mark Merueñas, GMANews.TV