AFP has recovered from 'Hello, Garci' scandal —military official

The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) is confident that there will no longer be a repeat of the "Hello, Garci" scandal.

“We are very optimistic and we are looking forward that there will no repeat of that,” said AFP public affairs chief col. Noel Detoyato, referring to the election scan involving top military officials and former election commissioner Virgilio Garcillano.

The title "Hello, Garci" came from an alleged recorded phone conversation between former president Gloria Macapagal Arroyo and Garcillano on the rigging of the 2004 national elections.

Garcillano's alleged phone conversations implied that several military generals were involved in the rigging of the national elections.

Detoyato said the AFP has recovered from the negative perception brought about by the scandal.

“We have no similar case during the past elections. Also,  a 2013 survey showed a 75 percent approval rating of the AFP,” Detoyato said.

He added: “I am sure that speaks for itself that the AFP has already recovered.”

Detoyato added that the military leadership has implemented measures to make sure its officials will not be involved in similar scandals.

An AFP fact-finding board cleared the military officers mentioned in the Garcillano recordings.

“We have our scorecards, the commanders have scorecards, the individual soldiers have scorecards,” Detoyato said. “If you will follow these scorecards, you will not go wrong and consequently follow the non-partisan stance of the AFP." —ALG, GMA News