Cruz's Column

As I See It : Easy to check Zuce's revelations

Neal Cruz opinion@inquirer.com.ph
Inquirer News Service

IT would be easy to check the veracity of the testimony of Michaelangelo S. Zuce that President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo held a dinner for officials of the Commission on Elections (Comelec) at her La Vista, Quezon City, home in January last year, four months before the elections. (President Arroyo reportedly asked for the help of the Comelec regional directors after which her kumare Lilia Pineda, wife of alleged "jueteng" illegal lottery lord Bong Pineda, allegedly distributed white envelopes containing money.) The security guards at the La Vista gates are supposed to keep a logbook, as do security guards in other exclusive subdivisions, listing the visitors of residents inside the subdivision. That logbook would show if an unusual number of people went to the Arroyo residence that night.

Zuce also said he had arranged for the accommodation of 27 election officials at the Rothman Hotel in Malate, Manila. The hotel's logbook should also show if 27 guests from Mindanao were booked on the date mentioned by Zuce.

Whether or not money was distributed at Ms Arroyo's home depends on the witnesses and their evidence. Whether or nor Ms Arroyo's camp actually cheated in the elections after the conversation between her and Election Commissioner Virgilio Garcillano caught on the tapes is already beside the point. Her own admission and circumstantial evidence show that Ms Arroyo committed unethical acts before, during and after the elections, which make her unfit to be president.

She was a candidate in the elections and it was highly unethical for her to even talk to Comelec officials or to entertain Comelec regional directors and election supervisors in her home. She has admitted that she had talked on the phone to Garcillano. The tapes caught them talking about ensuring a one-million-vote margin for her over Fernando Poe Jr. Some Comelec regional directors have said they had been invited to dinner at Ms Arroyo's residence that fateful day in January last year, though they said they did not go. Though the others denied that they received any envelopes or that there was any such dinner, the others had no reason to lie by saying they were invited to dinner. The fact alone that a candidate entertained Comelec officials at her home before an election is already a violation of our laws and rules of ethical conduct.

No amount of media blitz or evasive answers can change those facts. She willfully violated our laws and that makes her unfit to be the leader of our nation.

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Malacañang released a statement purportedly coming from former presidential liaison officer for political affairs Joey Ma. Rufino branding Zuce's revelations as "totally false."

"I am shocked and very much saddened by the wild accusations made today by Michaelangelo Zuce, who had been a technical assistant in my office," the statement said. Rufino appealed to Zuce to "retract his falsehoods" saying he (Zuce) was "condemning by publicity not only the President but hardworking regional and provincial officers of the Comelec."

"I and my office have never been involved in influencing, much less bribing, Comelec officials to support Lakas-NUCD candidates, including President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo," Rufino added.

Rufino, who is reportedly seriously ill with liver cancer, is confined at the intensive care unit of the Medical City in Pasig and "could hardly talk," according to friends who had visited him. How did he manage to write or dictate such a well-written statement so quickly?

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One more piece of circumstantial evidence linking Ms Arroyo and Garcillano is a document that fell into my hands. It is marked "Confidential" and was received by the Office of the President at 10:15 a.m. on Nov. 28, 2003. It is a letter from Garcillano to Ms Arroyo, through Rufino, and it shows they knew each other since 2001. In the letter written from his home in Kauswagan, Cagayan de Oro City, Garci pleaded for his appointment as commissioner as a reward for his past services to her. The letter said:

"I hope I am not taxing your patience for repeatedly reminding you of my application for the position of Commissioner of the Commission on Elections. Although you have given me the hope of being appointed to that exalted position in case of vacancy, I still feel the need to remind you of my desire.

"On February 2, 2004, two of the incumbent Commissioners are retiring, namely Honorable Commissioners Ralph C. Lantion and Luzviminda G. Tancangco. Since February is only two months away, I am taking the liberty of appealing to Your Excellency to consider me for the said position. You are very busy and my name might escape your memory. Please allow me to refresh your memory about me.

"I am Atty. Virgilio O. Garcillano, the former Regional Election Director of Region 10, based in Cagayan de Oro City. I was one of those whom the First Gentleman approached when Your Excellency ran for Senator. I also had the pleasure of serving your party when Your Excellency requested me to monitor and/or protect the votes of the Lakas-NUCD Senatorial Candidates in Mindanao during the 2001 Election. After that election, Your Excellency generously shared your time and honored us with a dinner in the Palace. It was then that Your Excellency mentioned for the first time Your Honor's intention to make me one of the Commissioners.

"Appointment to that exalted position is literally like passing through the eye of the needle. I had been waiting for this opportunity. It is Your Excellency's imprimatur -- Your final decision -- that would relieve me of the agony of waiting for the appointment, Madam President.

"If given the opportunity, I will not put Your Excellency down.... "