MANILA, Philippines—Former Election Commissioner Virgilio Garcillano is not yet off the hook for allegedly conspiring with former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo to rig the results of the 2004 presidential polls, Commission on Elections Chairman Sixto Brillantes Jr. said Thursday.
Speaking to reporters, Brillantes said the Comelec has confirmed that Alan Paguia, the disbarrred lawyer of former President Joseph Estrada, filed an election offense case against Garcillano and Arroyo in March 2007 and this has remained unresolved.
“We have seen that complaint. That supports our position that the election offense [committed in 2004] has not yet prescribed,” Brillantes said.
Under the Omnibus Election Code, election offenses prescribe in five years if no case is filed against a suspected violator.