House refuses to punish Garci for ‘fake’ passport

The House of Representatives last night refused to immediately punish former election commissioner Virgilio Garcillano and his lawyer for allegedly insulting the chamber.

Cavite Rep. Gilbert Remulla called for an immediate punishment and asked that Garcillano and his lawyer Eddie Tamondong be cited and detained in the House, but members of the majority rejected his call.

In an impassioned privilege speech, Remulla said the former commissioner and Tamondong accused the House of tampering with or switching Garcillano’s passport, which the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) had found not to be conforming to standards.

"He lied to us repeatedly when he testified in this chamber. He submitted a fake passport to prove his false claim that he did not travel to Singapore. And after the BSP has found his passport to be spurious, he tells us we switched his passport. That is an insult that is too much to bear as far as this representation is concerned," he said.

He said Garcillano and Tamondong should be immediately cited for contempt and detained.

Remulla, as former chairman of the public information committee, presided for the most part over the House’s "Hello, Garci" inquiry. He was replaced in November for supporting the failed opposition move to impeach President Arroyo over allegations she cheated in the May 2004 elections. The President has denied the accusation.

In the course of questioning Remulla, Rep. Joel Villanueva of the party-list group Citizens Battle Against Corruption said Tamondong exceeded his duties as Garcillano’s lawyer.

"Tamondong conspired with his client to insult and mock this House," he said.

At one point during the discussion of Remulla’s proposal to punish Garcillano and his lawyer for contempt, Deputy Majority Leader Harlin Habayon urged his colleagues to give the two their day in court.

He said the proposal should be referred to the proper committee which could then summon the former commissioner and his lawyer to explain themselves.

"They are entitled to due process," he said.

Remulla said he was appalled by the timidity of his colleagues from the majority.

"Is this how we defend our institution from insults? Can’t we do something stronger?" he said.

To cut the discussions short and preempt any plenary action on Remulla’s call, Camarines Sur Rep. Felix Alfelor Jr., a member of the majority, questioned the quorum, prompting the presiding officer, Cebu Rep. Raul del Mar, to adjourn the session.