Aquino adviser stands by claim of ‘feelers’ from Garcillano

MANILA, Philippines—Presidential adviser on the peace process Ronald Llamas said former Election Commissioner Virgilio Garcillano has turned back on his feelers to tell all on alleged fraud in the 2004 presidential election after meeting with his handlers in Subic a week ago.

Llamas said Garcillano’s handlers are “probably” Zambales Governor Hermogenes Ebdane and Bong Pineda.

“Probably to buy him off,” Llamas said of Garcillano’s meeting with the two.

Llamas said he was standing by his story that Garcillano had sent him feelers.

He said the feelers were sent through Major Jason Aquino, whom Garcillano named in his news conference as one of Malacañang’s emissaries. Garcillano held a news conference at his home in Bukidnon Saturday to deny he had sent feelers to Malacañang and that he was involved in any election cheating in 2004.

Llamas said he did not know Jasper Zuñiga, another alleged Palace emissary Garcillano said had gone to see him.