TRANSCRIPT: Interview ni Jessica Soho kay Virgilio Garcillano

Matapos ang matagal na pagkawala, lumutang si dating Comelec Commissioner Virgilio Garcillano sa hindi pa rin malinaw na dahilan. Ang sigurado, todo tanggi pa rin siya sa isyu ng Hello Garci scandal: isang recorded na usapan nila umano ng dating pangulo at ngayo'y kongresista Gloria Macapagal Arroyo na ebidensiya raw ng dayaan noong 2004 elections. Para bigyang linaw ang mga isyung ipinupukol pa rin sa kanya, nakapanayam ni Jessica Soho via Skype si dating Comelec commissioner Virgilio Garcillano. Basahin ang transcript ng buong interview dito. JS: Magandang gabi po, Mr. Garcillano. Garci: Magandang gabi naman. JS: Una po sa lahat, klaruhin niyo nga po, sino ba ang unang lumapit? Kayo ho ba, o si Sec. Llamas ng Malacañang, o yung kanyang mga kasama: si Major Aquino o yung binaggit niyo hong Zuñiga? Sino ba ang unang lumapit sa kanino? Garci: Si Major Aquino ang primerong pumunta rito sa amin sa Bukidnon. Ako, hindi ako lumalapit kaninuman sa kanila. And then second one was Zuñiga. That was lately. Nagpunta rito. Napakaganda ang pasok nila. Very friendly sila. Akala mo kung ano. Pero 'yun pala gusto lang nila akong... enticing na pupunta sa Malacañang at makipag-usap daw sa tatlong cabinet members. JS: So hindi po totoo na kayo ang nagpadala ng feelers, Commissioner Garcillano? Garci: Well, I am going to repeat again na wala akong pinapadalang feelers. Sila ang nagpadala rito ng dalawang tao: si Jason Aquino at saka si Jasper Zuñiga. JS: Quickly, reaction po muna ninyo. Kayo po’y inilagay sa immigration watch list at iimbestigahan na rin daw po kayo for graft and plunder dahil may mga bahay daw po kayo sa Bukidnon, sa Cotabato, sa Quezon City at kung saan-saan pa. Ano ho ang reaksyon niyo diyan, Commissioner? Garci: Sa watch list, okay lang 'yan that I can still leave. Ang ating law, pwede kang i-watch list pero hindi ka mapipigil na lumabas sa Pilipinas. Unless there is enough justification na hindi ka nila palalabasin. Ngayon, sa pag-iimbestiga nila ng mga assets namin, napakagaling nga kung mayroong aangkop sa Cotabato at mayroon ako sa Quezon City bahay. Wala akong ganyan karaming bahay so makikita naman nila eh. They can go to all those places where they can secure the necessary information in order for them to find out. Papano ko magiging plunderer, hindi naman ako ganyan kayaman? Let us define plunder. Aalamin sana nila na ang plunder is not just owning two houses na hindi naman gaano kamahal at saka it was acquired legally. JS: Opo. Eh dun po sa charge na mayroon po kayong ill-gotten wealth? Garci: Ill-gotten wealth? Saan nga? I do not know bakit. Akala ko ba ang presidente natin eh may --- sa kanyang mga tao that we should not resort anymore to wang-wang culture, which is an abuse of government authority and power? 'Wag natin gagamitin ang ating power ngayon to run after people whom they claimed to be on the other side during those early days. Ako, hindi ako kumakalaban sa gobyerno including this administration. Kung maaring makatulong tayo, tutulong ako. But I do not know because they do not feel that I can do something for the good of this government. JS: Commissioner Garcillano, si Sgt. Vidal Doble yung isa po sa mga nag-wiretap di-umano sa inyo. Eh, nagsabi po na iisa lang daw ho ang sinabi niyong totoo doon po sa press conference niyo nung Sabado na si dating pangulong Arroyo ang tumawag sa inyo at hindi kayo ang tumawag sa kanya pero lahat na daw po ng sinabi niyo, eh parang wala daw hong totoo. Ano hong reaksyon niyo diyan? Garci: Totoo namang walang totoo. Atsaka yang si Doble, ano bang papel niyan? If he will accept that he was the one who tapped our conversation, I will run after him. I will file a case against him. Wala pa namang lumalabas na author ng wiretapping at wala tayong nakikita pang original copy of the wiretapped conversation. 'Yan ang mahirap dito eh and they cannot make that as a basis for filing cases. JS: Pero for the record po, Commissioner, once and for all, pakilinaw niyo nga ho kasi hindi malinaw doon sa press conference niyo nung Sabado, kung inamin niyo ba o hindi na kayo yung na-wiretap po doon? Garci: Hindi ko rin masisiguro na ako nga yung na-wiretap. But on that particular subject na sinabi kong tumawag si former president GMA na tinanong lang niya 10 days after election, after the start of the canvass sa Lanao Del Sur, kung bakit ang kanyang abante has been reduced from over 1 million to 892 thousand. Yun ang tinanong niya kung bakit. Ang sagot ko naman, “Ganoon po ba Ma’am." Sabi niya, “Oo." Eh di, ang sagot ko, final, “Titingnan ko po pero tingnan ninyo sa record." Ang lumalabas na ang sinabi ko daw, “Pipilitin ko." Kaya yang Dobleng yan, dapat pakiharap nga sa akin, titingnan natin. JS: I have here nga po the transcript of the alleged Hello Garci tapes at ang sabi ho ni Pangulong Arroyo, kung siya nga ho ito, “It cannot be less than 1 million." Tapos supposedly ang sagot niyo po, “Pipilitin ho natin yan pero as of the other day, 982." Garci: Hindi ko sinabing pipilitin ko. That is not true. In fact we have an analysis made by expert who came from America. Mayroon akong kopya, which I cannot show that at present. Mayroon din si Atty. Tamondong and this is expert opinion that who studied the wiretapping conversation between me and supposedly with the former president. JS: Ito pa ho, isa hong conversation dun sa supposed Hello Garci, ano, supposedly between you and the First Gentleman. Medyo sabi ho ni, if I can quote from the transcript, commissioner, sabi ho niya, “Si Mike ito. Kung pwede ho tulungan si Bobby Barbers." Sabi niyo raw kung kayo nga ho ito, “Oo nga pero mahihirapan na tayo. Medyo nabuko tayo sa Lanao Del Sur at hindi na makakahabol dito sa Cotabato." Garci: Hindi ko tinatanggap 'yan. Hindi ko man nakakausap si First Gentleman, in fact until now hindi ko nakakausap ang First Gentleman. JS: Opo. Mayroon din pong mga supposedly conversations niyo ni, kung si former Sen. Barbers nga ito, the late Sen. Barbers ano, na supposedly he was asking for your help. 'Yun din po, anong masasagot niyo doon? Garci: Hindi ko nga tinatanggap na kami nag-usap din kasi nung mga panahong iyan, I do not know kung nasaan sila at anong gusto nilang gagawin ko. But I tell you, mula noong nagtrabaho ako sa Commission on Elections, I have never been involved in any anomaly. Maraming nagpaparatang na ako nag-rig ng election but I will, it might sound ridiculous but I will tell you, I have never done anything against my sworn oath to protect the ballot. JS: Oho. You’re offering your services now for future elections, Commissioner? Pero sigurado ho ang sasabihin sa inyo, eh, anong kredibilidad ang mayroon kayo? Garci: 'Yun nga ang hindi ko maintindihan. I am not offering my services. But if I could do something to improve the electoral process, okay lang. Pero hindi ako nag-ooffer ng serbisyo ko kasi unang una, since the beginning of this supposed Garci tape, wala naman naniniwala na ako’y hindi cheater kasi na-condition na ang isipan ng mga tao na ako nga yung kausap ni former presidente. It was really true that she talked to someone else except that particular conversation which I have mentioned. JS: If I remembered correctly, Commissioner, mayroon hong balita noon na kaya daw ho kayo pina-wiretap. Supposedly it’s a project of Malacañang mismo, dahil natatakot ho yata 'yung Malacañang daw noon na i-double cross niyo sila. That’s why they themselves had you wiretapped. Narinig niyo rin ho ba yun? Garci: Kung totoo 'yan, maganda nga siguro kasi either side or both sides eh talagang wala palang pagtitiwala sa panenerbisyo ko sa gobeyrno, ay sa Commission on Election. Because if the administration then did not believe that I will not turn my back against them, saan ako lulugar? Pagkatapos, ang oposisyon naman, ang sinabi nag-cheat ako in favor if the administration candidate. JS: Commissioner Garcillano, once and for all, ano ho bang version niyo ng nangyari noong 2004 elections? Nagkaroon ho ba ng version niyo of the truth? Garci: Wala akong alam na cheating especially that was authored by me. Kahit na magtanong kayo sa lahat ng matagal na sa Commission on Elections in any province in the country, kung ako ba nagsalita na, ako tutulong at i-che-cheat natin in favor of the GMA, 'yung 2004 elections. Kaya kung maari I have no control overall to these people: provincial supervisors, directors of the Commission on Elections who were in the field at the time, kung mayroon ba silang narinig na ako may utos na mag-cheat para kay Ginang Arroyo. JS: Nagsasabi po ba kayo ng totoo? Pasensya na ho kayo but I need to ask that question, nagsasabi ho ba kayo ng totoo, Commissioner Garcillano? Garci: Oo. Ang sabi ko nga nung Sabado, kung pwede lang kunin ng Diyos ang nagsisinungaling, eh ako mismo I will pray na ganoon ang gagawin niya para mawala ang lahat ng mga sinungaling. JS: Bakit dapat ho kayong paniwalaan? Garci: Ang hirap naman sa inyo kung tatanungin niyo kung bakit ako paniniwalaan. I am telling you that I have never committed any anomaly in the past. Kahit na anong trabahong hinawakan ko, I never have any act that is in violation in the oath that I have sworn to. JS: Ito hong pinagdaanan niyo because of these allegations, paano niyo ho nakayanan? Garci: Ito nga nahihirapan kami lalo na ang asawa ko. Parating hindi na nga-- she is always under stress because of the situation we face. Hindi na dapat kami ganituhin. Marami kasing sumisira na hindi naman nila alam. You know, in this country we should learn the different aspects of election. Kasi kung minsan sasabihin nila so-and-so cheated. Bakit? Ako ba ay Superman para maka-cheat na ako lang mag-isa? Remember that in an election, there are stages (which) are participated in by different agencies of government na katulad niyang sa presinto, dun sa munisipyo, sa probinsya and then sa national Commission on Elections and Congress. Tapos 'yung sinasabi nilang ako nagplano ng cheating with the president, ito nangyari sa post-conversation, for the past conversation 10 days after the election na ang lahat ng records ng Commission on Elections, practically were already in congress beyond the reach of anyone. Papano tayo mag-chi-cheat, mag-plano ng cheating, kung hindi natin nagawa before the elections? Ang planning should be before the elections, not after the elections! JS: Opo. After your press conference nung Sabado and after this interview, Commissioner Garcillano, pihado marami pa rin hong hindi mako-convince given the enormity and the lengthy transcript of the so-called Hello Garci conversations. Would you even try to redeem your self, Commissioner? Garci: Yes. 'Wag na natin pag-uusapan yung tape kasi yung tape na 'yun wala pa namang nagpapakita kung sinong may hawak ng mother of tapes na sinasabi or yung original or authentic tape. Ngayon, bakit natin pag-uusapan 'yan? Hindi nga natin malaman kung sino nga, kung totoo ngang mayroon niyan o mayroon bang gumawa o ano. JS: Ano pong balak niyo ngayon, Commissioner? Garci: I just want to retire. I have retired and I want to stay here in this municipality and you can come around. You go to the province or anywhere even in my place in Luzon kung tatanungin niyo kung ano ba kong klaseng tao. Kaya sabi ko nga siguro kung masama akong tao, walang magsusuporta sa aking mga sinasabing ganito. JS: Kung ipapa-subpoena po uli kayo, alam ko nag-testify na kayo sa kongreso dati dahil naungkat nga na naman itong dayaan nung ’04 at ’07 elections, e baka daw ho magkaroon uli ng imbestigasyon and they may subpoena you or summon you again. Ano hong magiging tugon niyo diyan? Garci: Let me clarify this. Subpoena could only be sent to one who has the case. Kung walang kaso, bakit nila ko subpoena-han? If there is an invitation, it’s voluntary on my part. Pwede akong pumunta, pwedeng hindi. As long as the purpose of the investigation is something that will improve the climate in the country, well probably I will be convinced to join them. JS: Kung Department of Justice po ang mag-imbita sa inyo o Senado kung sakali hong imbestigahan po uli ito? Garci: Itong Senado kasi, ganito. You know, I have already discussed this before. Itong sinasabi ni Sen. Teofisto Guingona III was reported to have said that the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee, that the chairs, would conduct an investigation of the 2004 elections and should invite me to testify purportedly in aid of legislation. I will remind Sen. Guingona, I am not telling Sen. Guingona what to do, but may I just remind him one of the 16 congressmen who filed criminal cases against me in DOJ that were all thrown out, that no case has prospered. The Supreme Court has already decided in GR # 179 275 for prohibition filed by former justice of the Court of Appeals, Santiago Ranada and Oswaldo Agcoaili against the Senate. Bring their judgment in the said case which I read in joining the Senate of the Republic of the Philippines and or any of its committees from that conducting any inquiry in aide of legislation on the Hello Garci tape. I hope they will understand na tumigil na nga sila para hindi tayo lalong tatanda. I’m only 74 years old. Napakahirap na 'rin yung kalagayan naming mag-asawa. Palagi na lang kaming ginagawang parang butt of jokes practically in the whole country. JS: Commissioner, baka mayroon pa ho kayong gustong ibigay na mensahe sa gobyerno, kay Pangulong Aquino, kay Sec. De Lima o kahit po sa publiko? We will give you the chance now, commissioner? Garci: Thank you very much. In all my years in public service, I have always conducted myself in such manner that I can readily be accessible to all, which I did in the last 2004 elections. Wherever I was, I have to work for whatever problems that they asked me to solve. I do not, of course, ask the others to do the same but remember sa lahat ng panahon na ako’y nagtrabaho sa gobiyerno, wala akong dinaya, wala akong ginawang kalokohan. Ang problema lang kung maniniwala pa ang public because of the so many allegations that were thrown against me in the past. That’s one of the primary reasons why I did not come out early before because the people will not believe, will not be convinced, accept whatever reasons I would have advance anytime. JS: Maraming salamat po, Commissioner Garcillano at magandang gabi po sa inyong lahat diyan sa Bukidnon. Garci: Maraming salamat din and I would like to express my gratitude to my two friends, si Chairman Brillantes and Leila: they are not my enemies, they are my friends including the administration. Sinasabi ko na nga kung mayroon akong maitutulong na ikabubuti ng bayan, well I will not deny them of the help if ever they want my help. Kaya lang sabi nga ninyo baka hindi naman sila maniniwala na makakatulong ako because I do not have that credibility anymore. Thank you. JS: Maraming salamat po, Commissioner Garcillano. END