‘It was Cardeño’s voice on tape’

The voice of the "operative" talking to former President Joseph Estrada in the latest wiretap audio tape controversy was none other than former senior superintendent Rafael Cardeño, principal suspect in the December 2001 killing of Young Officers Union (YOU) spokesman Baron Cervantes, the slain man’s younger brother said yesterday.

According to Lloyd Cervantes, he recognized the voice of Cardeño during a news report when Ilocos Sur Gov. Luis "Chavit" Singson played the audio CD detailing the supposed conversation that took place between Estrada and an unknown operative.

"I overheard a news report on television, a replay of the press conference... playing the CD and heard the (voice) which struck deep inside my memory," Cervantes said.

"The voice, which I clearly recall is the voice of former (police) colonel Rafael Cardeño, the murderer of my brother...," Cervantes told a news conference at the National Press Club.

Cervantes said he immediately called up Dante Jimenez, the founding chairman of the Volunteers Against Crime and Corruption (VACC) to follow up the murder case of his brother, spokesman for the YOU, who was gunned down on Dec. 31, 2001.

He said that for the past four years after his brother was killed, the alleged mastermind Cardeño and cohort Sonny Camacho remained fugitives.

"Our family believes that both are still roaming around Metro Manila protected by some powerful personalities," Cervantes said.

He claimed some documents recovered from his slain brother also showed Cardeño and his group had been planning to stage a coup against President Arroyo since 2001.

Cervantes expressed his belief that Cardeño might be the mysterious operative conversing with Estrada on the supposed plans to assassinate Mrs. Arroyo and former President Fidel Ramos, and set up a junta government as alleged by Singson.

"Today I challenge ex-colonel Cardeño to come out in the open to deny that you are not the would-be assassin of President Arroyo, hence, to stabilize this government," Cervantes said. — Jose Rodel Clapano