Opposition to use ‘Hello, Garci’ report in new Arroyo impeach case

Opposition lawmakers on Thursday said they might use the House report on the ‘Hello, Garci’ investigation on the new impeachment case they would file against President Arroyo on June. Rep. Gilbert Remulla (2D, Cavite), former chairman of the House committee on public information that led the five investigating committees, said the findings that says Malacaňang tried to cover-up the ‘Hello, Garci’ scandal could be used in the new impeachment case. “What we can see is that there was proof a consorted effort was used to obstruct the coming out of the truth," Remulla said. “We are still studying the implication on how it will fit in the impeachment complaint," he added. The House committee report said that Press Secretary Ignacio Bunye’s presentation of the 2 copies of CD’s of the alleged taped conversation was a way of covering-up the scandal. Rep. Teodoro Locsin (1D, Makati) said it is hard to believe Bunye’s alibi that the CDs were just left in front of his house. The committee report findings also revealed that the target of the wiretapping was former Commission of Election commissioner Virgilio Garciliano, but failed to identify if it was indeed President Arroyo who was the voice he (Garcillano) was talking to. The report also said the opposition used the ‘Hello, Garci’ scandal to humiliate the President. House minority leader Rep. Francis Escudero (1D, Sorsogon) said the opposition would first make sure that they have the necessary numbers to impeach the President before they would file the case. “We would make sure that we would work hard to get the 79 figures before we even file the impeachment complaint," Escudero said.-GMANews.TV