Persons who ordered Garcillano wiretap known in executive session

MANILA, Philippines—The former head of the military’s operations and intelligence division had identified two to three persons who allegedly ordered the wiretapping of former elections chairman Virgilio Garcillano, a senator said on Thursday.

But since the testimony was done in an executive session, Senator Francis “Chiz” Escudero could not reveal the names pointed to by Colonel Allen Capuyan.

“Again, executive session yun. Nagbigay sya (Capuyan) ng mga pangalan ngunit nais pang beripikahin ng komite kaya iimbitahin namin ang iba pang officer particular si Sumayo para magkaharapan sila. Kasi mahirap ‘yong hindi nagkakahapan, nagtuturuan lamang (He gave several names but the committee still wants to verify it that’s why we will invite other officers particularly Sumayo so they could face each other),” Escudero told reporters.

Sumayo is Colonel Pedro Sumayo, who testified in the least hearing of the Senate that Capuyan had ordered him to burn the Hello Garci tapes or the audio recording where former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo was allegedly caught ordering Garcillano to ensure her victory in the 2004 presidential election.

“Siguro dalawa, tatlong tao ang nabangit niya pero ako hindi kumbinsido doon sa ilang pangalang binanggit niya (He mentioned two to three persons but I’m not convinced with some of the names he mentioned),” Escudero said.

The senator said he was not satisfied by the testimonies of Capuyan and Lieutenant Colonel Emil Zosa, who requested the executive session, because he felt that the two were still holding some information.

Sumayo said during the last hearing that it was Zosa, who gave him P900,000, which supposedly came from Capuyan. Sumayo insinuated that the money was given to him to discourage him from facing the Senate investigation on the matter.

“Tila nagpipigil pa sila. Sabi nga ng ibang kasamahan ko, bakit pa sila nagpipigil e hindi na naman nakaupo ‘yong mga kung saka-sakaling nag-utos o pagmulan nila ng takot sa gobyerno o pamahalaan?” he said.

Escudero said other information as to who were also wiretapped by the military and who funded it were also revealed during the executive session.