Garci seen to run for Bukidnon congressman

[istoryador]

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Garci seen to run for Bukidnon congressman

http://gsd9000.tripod.com/

By Susan Palmes / August 1, 2006

IT’S becoming the talk of the town: controversial former elections commissioner Virgilio Garcillano would likely run for congressman in Bukidnon.

Cagayan de Oro’s lawyers and pundits of local politics are talking about it in the city’s coffee shops. It’s even spreading like wildfire on the Internet.

Philippine Daily Inquirer columnist Manuel Quezon III wrote about Garcillano’s alleged plan in his blog. He wrote: ‘‘Ran into Rep. Neric Acosta (LP). He says the administration candidate against him is going to (be) Virgilio Garcillano. Also, the First Gentleman’s sister is running for Congress, in Iloilo City, I believe. Like I said, ‘bastusan na’.’’

(Acosta is the representative of the 1st District of Bukidnon. The URL of Quezon’s online journal: http://www.quezon.ph/.)

But it’s not a laughing matter, said Sen. Aquilino Pimentel Jr., adding that the former commissioner should be in jail and not in Congress.

"Looy kaayo ang katawhan sa Bukidnon kung tinood kana. Angayan naman gali unta na mapreso (I pity the people of Bukidnon if that’s true. He should be imprisoned),’’ said Pimentel.

Garcillano’s whereabouts is unclear but the former commissioner and one time ex-director of the Commission on Elections (Comelec) for northern Mindanao maintains a farm in Baungon town, Bukidnon. Whether or not he plans on running for congressman next year could not be confirmed at presstime.

But many swear to have seen Garcillano frequenting Cagayan de Oro. Sources said Garcillano, who also owns a house in Cagayan de Oro, has been regularly meeting with political figures from the towns of Manolo Fortich, Talakag and Baungon. The three towns are all under Bukidnon’s 1st District.

Until now, no case has been filed against the former Comelec commissioner who was one of the main figures in the ‘‘Hello, Garci’’ scandal that nearly cost President Arroyo the presidency a year ago.

In the event that Garcillano runs, Pimentel said he hoped Bukidnon’s voters would ‘‘open their eyes.’’



By Susan Palmes / August 1, 2006

IT’S becoming the talk of the town: controversial former elections commissioner Virgilio Garcillano would likely run for congressman in Bukidnon.

Cagayan de Oro’s lawyers and pundits of local politics are talking about it in the city’s coffee shops. It’s even spreading like wildfire on the Internet.

Philippine Daily Inquirer columnist Manuel Quezon III wrote about Garcillano’s alleged plan in his blog. He wrote: ‘‘Ran into Rep. Neric Acosta (LP). He says the administration candidate against him is going to (be) Virgilio Garcillano. Also, the First Gentleman’s sister is running for Congress, in Iloilo City, I believe. Like I said, ‘bastusan na’.’’

(Acosta is the representative of the 1st District of Bukidnon. The URL of Quezon’s online journal: http://www.quezon.ph/.)

But it’s not a laughing matter, said Sen. Aquilino Pimentel Jr., adding that the former commissioner should be in jail and not in Congress.

"Looy kaayo ang katawhan sa Bukidnon kung tinood kana. Angayan naman gali unta na mapreso (I pity the people of Bukidnon if that’s true. He should be imprisoned),’’ said Pimentel.

Garcillano’s whereabouts is unclear but the former commissioner and one time ex-director of the Commission on Elections (Comelec) for northern Mindanao maintains a farm in Baungon town, Bukidnon. Whether or not he plans on running for congressman next year could not be confirmed at presstime.

But many swear to have seen Garcillano frequenting Cagayan de Oro. Sources said Garcillano, who also owns a house in Cagayan de Oro, has been regularly meeting with political figures from the towns of Manolo Fortich, Talakag and Baungon. The three towns are all under Bukidnon’s 1st District.

Until now, no case has been filed against the former Comelec commissioner who was one of the main figures in the ‘‘Hello, Garci’’ scandal that nearly cost President Arroyo the presidency a year ago.

In the event that Garcillano runs, Pimentel said he hoped Bukidnon’s voters would ‘‘open their eyes.’’

[istoryador]

Ledesma alarmed over Garci man's appointment as Comelec director for Region 10

By Susan Palmes / August 1, 2006

CAGAYAN de Oro Archbishop Antonio Ledesma has expressed alarm over the appointment of a close associate of controversial ex-commission Virgilio Garcillano as director of the Commission on Elections (Comelec) for northern Mindanao.

Ledesma’s concern was contained in a statement read by lawyer Rene Artemio Pacana during the launch of ‘‘One Voice’’ here late last week. The group, mostly composed of academics, priests and nuns, aims to stop the so-called ‘‘People’s Initiative’’ for Charter change and work for electoral reforms, among others.

In the statement, Ledesma said he was ‘‘deeply concerned’’ because one report has it that lawyer Renato Magbutay, one of the trusted people of Garcillano was promoted and assigned in Region 10.

Ledesma referred to the June 19 issue of Newsbreak magazine entitled ‘‘Garci’s boys reap rewards’’. Newsbreak reported that Magbutay was implicated in the "Hello, Garci’’ scandal.

Magbutay served Region 9 and then the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (Armm) as Comelec director before being appointed as head of the elections body in northern Mindanao.

A check with the Comelec regional office in Cagayan de Oro confirmed that Magbutay has already assumed as director.

Magbutay, according to Newsbreak, was allegedly among those whose voices can be heard in the infamous ‘‘Hello, Garci’’ audio recordings.

In one of the controversial CDs, it was Magbutay who allegedly informed then-commissioner Garcillano that an election officer who had disappeared, could be hiding in Manila.

The man who sounded like Magbutay also suggested in the recording that the election officer’s family be kidnapped.

As the wiretapped conversations showed, the report said Magbutay and Co. allegedly got orders from the then commissioner who "kept a web of elections operators in Mindanao.’’

Sen. Aquilino Pimentel Jr., who was in the city last Friday to grace the induction of officers and trustees of the Philippine Press Institute, said he would push for an investigation into the promotions and appointments of people involved in the ‘‘Hello, Garcia’’ scandal.

While no case has been filed against Magbutay and the others in connection with the controversy, Pimentel said ‘‘delicadeza dictates that issues on credibility should have been resolved first by Comelec as to the participation of these officials in rigging the results of the elections in 2004.’’

[istoryador]

Grabe mo naman Garci. Ang garapal mo naman!

[potterboy]

Oo nga naman Garci. (praktisin ko nga tagalog ko dito... )

[boxingfan529]

well... advantage na ni garci kung congressman sya. naa syay mga immunity na magamit. kwarta ug influence as a congressman.

di na sya madaugdaug ug at the same time dinaman sya ka work sa government pud (di na musogot c gma ana). pareho sya ni singzon. balik politika para naay power na pud in case nga naay modokdok nila sa ilang mga sala.

[iloveyou4ever]

What? Vote buying na pud ni sa Bukidnon.

[boxingfan529]

dili na vote buying kundi vote tally changing to his advantage.

[istoryador]

You can just imagine. Garci will win courtesy of dagdag bawas. He will go to Congress. And he will be addressed as "honorable!!!"

The best place for Garci is not Congress where he will be another lackey of Glue-ria. The best place for Garci is in jail for his crime against the Filipino people. Cheating in election constitutes grave misconduct and is punishable under Code of Conduct and Ethics of Government officials RA 3179? Not sure about the RA but its a penal law.

[FK]

If Thailand's headlines reads... "Election Commissioner jailed"
Philippine headlines will be... "Controversial ex-Election Commissioner elected"

[istoryador]

If no dagdag bawas will be employed, no way could Garci become an "honorable" in Congress. Bukidnon has become a fast rising opposition bailiwick. Of the three congressional districts, two are anti-GMA. District 1 under Rep Nereus Acosta of Liberal Party ( a very bright boy) and District 2 is under Rep Teofisto Guingona II of KNP. District 2 includes the capital Malaybalay City. Only District 3 is held by a Pro administration congressman, Juan Miguel Zubiri.