Defensor: Mayuga report clears 'Garci' generals

Presidential Chief of Staff Michael Defensor said Wednesday generals implicated in the "Hello, Garci!" wiretap recordings have been cleared by the military Inspector General of any wrongdoing in the 2004 national elections. Defensor's announcement preempted the official public disclosure of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) on the contents of the so-called Mayuga report. Army chief Lt. Gen. Hermogenes Esperon, former Southern Command chief Lt. Gen. Roy Kyamko, current Southcom chief Maj. Gen. Gabriel Habacon and former 1st Marine Brigade chief Brig. Gen. Francisco Gudani were reportedly mentioned in the wiretapped conversations. Rear Admiral Mateo Mayuga, current Navy Flag-Officer-in-Command, was tasked to lead the investigation during his stint as the APF Inspector General. President Arroyo named Mayuga to the top Navy post late last year. The investigating panel found evidence of "partisan participation" among the three high-ranking AFP officials, including one with the rank of colonel, Defensor said. He said these findings could serve as basis for a preliminary investigation which he hoped would take place very soon. Despite the early declaration, Defensor told GMA 7's DZBB that the military would still have to push through with the formal announcement of the report findings and its details. Now that the findings have been released, Defensor said all men in the military service should leave the controversy surrounding the AFP leadership behind. All distracted AFP personnel, Defensor said, should buckle down and get back to work. Probers reportedly interviewed close 80 resource persons in coming up with their conclusions. DIMINISHED POWERS Mayuga's investigation centered on the military officials mentioned in the "Hello, Garci!" wiretap recordings. Among the most controversial contents of the recordings were the purported discussions between former elections commissioner Virgilio Garcillano and the President about manipulating the 2004 election results. The five joint committees in the House of Representatives have already completed their final draft report into the "Hello, Garci!" wiretap controversy, and recommended punishments against Garcillano and his coddlers. Presidential Spokesman Ignacio Bunye allayed fears that the Palace covered up the involvement of the four generals in election fraud. He said President Arroyo ordered the AFP to immediately release the report with the hopes that the potentially deepening rifts in the Armed Forces would be mended now that the four generals have been cleared. In a related development, Defensor said among the recommendations included in the Mayuga report is to strip the Commission on Elections (Comelec) of its authority to deputize the military forces during elections. The report also proposed that military personnel be barred from serving as body guards to politicians. Meanwhile, the Armed Forces refused to comment on the Palace's comments. Brigadier Gen. Jose Angel Honrado, AFP spokesman, said they would speak up only after Mayuga issues an official statement. Honrado added that they also need to secure a copy of the report before making any comments.-GMANews.TV