AFP ‘Garci’ officers submit to probe

Most of the senior military officers mentioned in the so-called "Hello Garci" wiretapped recordings have submitted themselves to the military’s fact-finding board for investigation into possible involvement in alleged cheating in the May 2004 elections.

Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) deputy spokesman Lt. Cmdr. Ivan Earl Pabalan said the ranking officials implicated in the controversy have all submitted signed statements denying any participation in the alleged cheating committed in last year’s vote in Mindanao.

Pabalan said among those who had already submitted their affidavits before the fact-finding board were Marines chief Brig. Gen. Francisco Gudani, Maj. Gen. Gabriel Habacon and incoming Army chief Maj. Gen. Hermogenes Esperon.

The generals are also expected to appear on Saturday for a hearing scheduled by the fact-finding body led by Vice Adm. Mateo Mayuga, the AFP Inspector General.

Also expected to appear at the hearing is former Southern Command chief Roy Kyamko and former chief of AFP Task Force HOPE (Honest, Orderly and Peaceful Elections) retired general Rodolfo Garcia.

Pabalan said the two retired generals will appear as resource persons for the hearing.

"The two former senior military officials are slated to appear on Saturday to shed light on the allegations and help the board accomplish its assigned task," Pabalan said.

The names of Gudani and the other military generals have been mentioned in the controversial wiretap audiotapes detailing supposed phone conversations between President Arroyo and an election official widely believed to be former Commission on Elections (Comelec) commissioner Virgilio Garcillano.

Aside from the military generals, among the personalities mentioned in the recordings is Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Director General Arturo Lomibao.

Esperon, for his part, denied allegations he was among the generals who participated in massive vote fraud in Mindanao.

"I went there (before the fact-finding board and voluntarily) submitted my affidavit without being invited," said Esperon, the current chief of the elite Special Operations Command of the AFP.

"I categorically denied (in the affidavit) talking to that man, whoever he is," Esperon said, in apparent reference to Garcillano.

Habacon, on the other hand, testified before the fact-finding board over the weekend denying the allegations that he was among those that rigged the results of the May 10, 2004 elections in Basilan and Sulu.

"Wala naman talaga (There’s really nothing)," Habacon stressed.

Gudani also denied involvement in any election anomalies in his area of command. But despite his denials, the fact-finding board is set to call him to elaborate on his affidavit.

The Mayuga fact-finding board has already questioned four colonels and three enlisted personnel during its probe into claims of massive election fraud committed by military men in Mindanao.

The alleged involvement of senior military officials in the electoral fraud is presently hounding the military leadership, with several middle and junior-grade officers calling for stiffer sanctions against those found guilty.

The issue is also being raised by several sectors in the military to question the sincerity of the AFP leadership, which claims neutrality in every political exercise.

A shadowy military group, the Young Officers Union-New Generation (YOUng), has called for immediate sanctions for those officers mentioned in the wiretap tapes, including their immediate relief from their respective posts.