Former military intelligence group head tagged in Garcillano wiretap

MANILA, Philippines – The former head of the military’s operations and intelligence division (OID) has been tagged by a witness as the one behind the “Hello Garci” tape.

Testifying before the Senate on Tuesday, Colonel Pedro Sumayo alleged that it was the OID chief, Colonel Allen Capuyan, who ordered the wiretapping on former elections chairman Virgilio Garcillano although, he said, he did not have proof.

“I denied that I was the one who ordered it. But I have suspicion who ordered it but I don’t have any proof that indeed he was the one who ordered it,” Sumayo said.

“It was Colonel Capuyan because he was the one who I believed ordered it,” he said.

Asked why it was Garcillano, and not other election officials, who was wiretapped, the witness said “I’m not sure Sir but probably they don’t trust him? I’m not sure.”

Before this, Sumayo told the Senate blue ribbon committee and the committee on electoral reforms investigating the alleged massive cheating in 2004, that it was Capuyan who ordered him to destroy the audio recording purportedly between then President and now Pampanga Representative Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and Garcillano.

In the recording, Arroyo allegedly ordered Garcillano to ensure her victory in 2004.

The committees decided to invite Capuyan in its next hearing.