February 21, 2006 · Posted in: Arroyo Impeachment, Congress Watch, In the News
Revised draft of House report on ‘Hello, Garci’ inquiry
WE just got hold of an advance copy of the revised draft of the House committee report on the wiretapping inquiry. What we posted over the weekend were only the committee’s recommendations. This 86-page draft supposedly already had the benefit of comments from the members of the joint committees of public information, public order and safety, national defense security, information communications technology, and suffrage and electoral reforms. (But our House source is not too sure if the concerned congressmen have gone out of their way to read it yet). This more complete draft contains the following:
A. Introduction
B. Chronology of events
C. Highlights of testimonies of witnesses:
- Press Secretary Ignacio Bunye
- Reynaldo Wycoco, National Bureau of Investigation director (now deceased)
- Atty. Alan Paguia
- T/Sgt. Vidal Doble, Intelligence Service of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (ISAFP) agent
- Former senator Francisco Tatad
- Brig. Gen. Marlu Quevedo, erstwhile ISAFP chief
- Marietta Santos, Doble’s common-law wife
- Former elections commissioner Virgilio Garcillano
- Commmission on Elections (Comelec) commissioner Florentino Tuason Jr.
D. Highlights of information provided by resource persons:
- Prof. Pacifico Agabin
- Justice Amado Valdez
- Atty. Ronald Solis, chairman of the National Telecommunications Commission
- Atty. Rodolfo Salalima, senior vice president for legal affairs, Globe Telecommunications
- Atty. Enrico Español, head of legal department, Smart Communications
Also contained in the report are lists of documents issued by the House committees, documents and materials pertaining to the search for Garcillano and Atty. Samuel Ong, documents presented and submitted during the inquiry, including legal opinions, letters, audio-visual materials, reference materials and other documents, and the privilege speech of Rep. Francis Escudero on "The Tale of the Two Tapes."
Download the draft report here.
1 Response to Revised draft of House report on ‘Hello, Garci’ inquiry
spellvexit
March 6th, 2006 at 1:40 pm
Perhaps more than the number of people calling for the ouster of Arroyo is the number people appealing to the opposition to forget and forgive this president’s “lapses in judgment”.
These Christians and forgiving people say that we have to move on to get ahead with our economic programs. And perhaps, economic progress will gain steam.
They say that we are back on EDSA 20 years after EDSA. That our people’s juvenile angst keeps us glued to the same sore spot in our history.
They say we have always been a people of sore losers. That we do not concede electoral contests without calling the opponents cheaters.
Then i think it is high time we capitalize on the GARCI tapes. For years we have always heard of poll protests after each election. Well, prior to 2005, we have never had the occasion to witness something as explosive and as detailed as the GARCI tapes. Let’s use these tapes and once and for all throw out the skeletons in our political closets.
While it is painful and damaging to our present state of affairs, I believe it is better than reliving this nightmare over and over in perpetuity. We must put a stop to this vicious cycle.
On the other hand, if we allow Arroyo to go scot-free, we shall be guilty of nonfeisance and worse, setting a bad precedent to those who come after her. If we can’t prosecute a president as guilty as sin, how can we expect to tell our children that cheating in school is bad? How will we explain to them that Arroyo’s cheating is not a good thing when it has apparently put her in office and kept her in power?
I sit on a school board as one of its directors. Last year, we had an incident worth mentioning here. A child of 14 was caught while cheating during a long exam. The accosted student protested during the suspension proceeding and the school board was called to mediate the affair.
His parents contended that since their child only copied 4 items when he was caught, ideally, only the corresponding points to the 4 items in question should be deducted from the exam and their child should be allowed back in class. This, the father explained, was how Mike Defensor argued for the President of the Philippines. Ergo, he expounded, if it was good enough for the President, it must also be a good enough defense for his child.
This palpable example set by the leader of our land is causing havoc in our life.
Of course, we suspended that student.
We told the erring parent that if wishes to be treated like Arroyo, he should enrol his child to be matriculated in Malacanan. We do not tolerate an Arroyo act in our institution. Thus, he cannot be another Defensor.