Arroyo assured of non-revival of “Hello Garcia” scandal by incoming AFP chief

By Ronron
March 27, 2008

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo can continue sleeping soundly even after her perceived most loyal officer, Gen. Hermogenes Esperon, Jr. finally bows down from the service on May 9.

This as Esperon’s successor as Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) chief of staff, Lt. Gen. Alexander Yano, vowed not to release to the public the controversial Mayuga Report on the alleged involvement of some officers, including Esperon, in the alleged electoral fraud in 2004.

“If it’s not released now, then what’s the reason for me to do it,” Yano told Camp Aguinaldo reporters in a recent interview.

Only portions of the Mayuga Report were revealed in public, which mainly stated that there was lack in evidence to prove that any of the four senior military officers implicated in the alleged electoral fraud are liable.

The investigation was led by former AFP Inspector General Vice Admiral Mateo Mayuga, starting July 2005, on orders of then AFP chief of staff Gen. Efren Abu.

Those accused of taking part in the alleged electoral fraud to ensure the victory of Arroyo over her closest rival, the late Fernando Poe, Jr., are Esperon, retired Lt. Gen. Roy Kyamko, retired Brig. Gen. Francisco Gudani, and retired Maj. Gen. Gabriel Habacon.

Their names cropped up after those were heard in the so-called “Hello Garci tapes,” which bore alleged wiretapped conversations of Arroyo and former Comelec Commissioner Virgilio Garcillano.

The Mayuga Report was submitted to then Defense Secretary Avelino Cruz, Jr. Cruz has resigned from the Arroyo cabinet in November 2006.

Yano said the alleged illegitimacy of Arroyo as President due to the “Hello Garci” scandal is just a perception, and not a matter of fact.

“When you say legitimacy of the President, there are processes. She was declared (as President by Congress), so what other process do you think would strengthen or reinforce that legitimacy?” he said.

He said the matter of even releasing or not in public the Mayuga Report is “irrelevant” because “there are processes” to determine the legitimacy of the Arroyo leadership.

“That (releasing the Mayuga Report) is not part of the process,” said Yano.

Yano will have about 13 months to serve as AFP chief of staff, starting May 9 this year until he reaches the mandatory retirement age of 56 in June next year.

The alleged 2004 electoral fraud issue has been one of the many causes of attempted coups against the Arroyo government in the last few years./DMS