Former Comelec commissioner Virgilio Garcillano dies

Virgilio Garcillano, a former commissioner of the Commission on Elections, has died, Comelec Chairman George Garcia said.

Garcillano passed away in his home in Bukidnon on the night of March 29, according to a report by Manny Vargas on Dobol B TV.

Garcia said the poll body has conveyed its condolences to the family.

FLASH REPORT: Former Commission on Elections (Comelec) commissioner Virgilio Garcillano na naglingkod sa ilalim ng Arroyo administration, pumanaw na. | via @VargasMannysen pic.twitter.com/KOp2rNTZhI

— DZBB Super Radyo (@dzbb) March 30, 2025

“Nagpaparating kami ng pakikiramay sa mga naiwan na pamilya ng dating Commissioner Virgilio Garcillano,” said Garcia.

(We convey our deepest condolences to the bereaved family of former Commissioner Virgilio Garcillano.)

Hindi naman maitatanggi ng bawat isa na nakapaglingkod siya sa amin hindi lang bilang commissioner kundi bilang regional director, provincial election supervisor at election officer din ng Comelec. Sa napakahabang panahon napaglingkuran niya ang sambayanan. Ganun na lamang din ang binibigay namin na pagkilala sa kaniya at kaniyang pagyao,” he said.

(We cannot deny his great contributions to the Comelec. He served as a regional director, provincial election supervisor, and election officer in the poll body. We honor his years-long service to the Comelec.)

Garcillano served as Comelec commissioner during the Arroyo administration.

He was linked to the "Hello Garci" scandal, the alleged wiretapped conversations where vote rigging in the 2004 elections was discussed by a woman presumed to be then President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and a man presumed to be Garcillano.

Arroyo later admitted talking to a Comelec official during the canvassing period and apologized for her lapse in judgment in making the call.

Garcillano later on admitted he talked with Arroyo during the canvassing period after the votes had been counted, and denied that Arroyo instructed him to cheat in the elections.

In 2007, Garcillano filed his candidacy to run for congressman of Bukidnon but was unsuccessful. —KG/RSJ, GMA Integrated News