‘Chavit tape confirms slay plot vs. GMA’

Malacañang said yesterday the so-called "X-tapes" revealed by Ilocos Sur Gov. Luis "Chavit" Singson seem to confirm earlier intelligence reports of an assassination plot against President Arroyo that was to be staged by enemies of the administration.

Press Secretary Ignacio Bunye reiterated that the Palace had nothing to do with Singson’s airing of alleged taped conversations between former President Joseph Estrada and an unidentified man believed to be opposition Sen. Panfilo Lacson plotting to kill Mrs. Arroyo and former President Fidel Ramos.

Singson said the tapes were given to him by two men, though he declined to identify them.

"Those who will attack her should have clean hands," Bunye said. "It appears in the tapes exposed by Gov. Singson that there were really some (groups) plotting some bad things against the President, but this would have to be validated."

If the tapes are found to be authentic, then this would confirm earlier reports of "deeper plans by some groups against the administration," Bunye said.

The people and groups who have been attacking Mrs. Arroyo using the "Gloriagate" tapes as a basis are not so innocent after all in their intentions to oust the President, he said.

In the tape that was broadcast on radio and TV late Thursday Estrada is allegedly heard agreeing to a plan to topple "the midget," possibly a reference to Mrs. Arroyo and to "sacrifice the old man," an unnamed Arroyo supporter.

The recording, dismissed as a fake by Estrada’s supporters, has provided fresh fodder for a political scandal that has threatened to engulf the Arroyo presidency.

On the latest tape released by Singson — a key Arroyo ally who testified against Estrada during his impeachment trial — an unidentified man is heard saying: "If we overthrow the midget and there is a transition government, the old man will create trouble."

"So we will carry out the plan and sacrifice the old man. Anyway, he has served his purpose." A man said to be Estrada is then heard answering: "Okay, sure."

Spokesmen for Estrada, who is under house arrest while facing trial for plunder, confirmed that the voice heard on the tape was the former president’s, but said it had been edited to incriminate him.

Turnabout’s Fair Play

The House of Representative may also want to include the latest set of tapes in its ongoing investigation into the "Gloriagate" recordings.

Five House committees are conducting a joint inquiry into the wiretapping controversy involving the President and a man believed to be former elections commissioner Virgilio Garcillano.

House Majority Leader Prospero Nograles has underscored the need for a probe into the "Chavit tapes," also called the "X-tapes."

"An investigation is now in order because they are talking about assassinating the highest official of the land. It’s a national security threat," Nograles said.

Antique Rep. Exequiel Javier sought a separate investigation into the Singson tapes to determine Estrada’s culpability and to confirm the veracity of the reported plot to kill the President.

Javier said the current "battle of the tapes" clearly shows several people blatantly violated the provisions of the Anti-Wiretapping Law.

He also demanded that Estrada make a full explanation of his conversations heard on the "X-tapes," especially those allegedly detailing the jailed former leader’s involvement in destabilization attempts.

"It looks like he got his karma," Javier said. "(Estrada) admitted that it was his voice on the wiretapped conversation but claimed that it was spliced to make it appear they (were) talking about fraud and a destabilization plot.

"If the opposition did not take President Arroyo’s word on the matter (of the Gloriagate tapes), then how can they expect to be believed? Actually, they are already confirming what the President said about the ‘Hello, Garci’ tapes and are now eating their own words," he said.

No Surprise

National Security Adviser Norberto Gonzales said he heard of the tapes 10 months ago, but did not say what action his office had taken on the matter.

Presidential Management Staff chief Rigoberto Tiglao said it is not surprising that such tapes have surfaced, since Estrada also has enemies who would want to harm him and would imitate the dirty tactics used by the opposition against Mrs. Arroyo to achieve this end.

"Malacañang is not involved in this, that’s the reason why the President has not spoken about it," Tiglao said.

He also said he is not aware of whether Singson informed the President of the plot outlined in the tapes he aired.

Gonzales also warned that Singson could be held liable for violating Republic Act 4200 or the Anti-Wiretapping Law for possessing illegally-obtained recordings.

Bunye said the Presidential Security Group (PSG) continues to monitor any reports of assassination plots and would continue to secure the President.

Philippine National Police Deputy Director General Avelino Razon Jr. said the PNP is not surprised by reports of an assassination plot against the President because there have always been such plots. — With Cecille Suerte Felipe and AFP