MANILA – A former Commission on Elections (Comelec) commissioner who was involved in the “Hello Garci” scandal during the administration of former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo has died.
Virgilio Garcillano has passed away at the age of 87 over the weekend, current poll body chairman George Garcia said in a statement on Monday.
According to reports, Garcillano was heading to the bathroom around 8 p.m. on Saturday at his farmhouse in Barangay Imbatug in Baungon, Bukidnon, when he suddenly lost consciousness.
Garcillano was rushed to the nearest hospital in Cagayan de Oro but was pronounced dead on arrival.
Garcillano, a graduate of law studies from the University of the East, was appointed Comelec commissioner by Arroyo in 2004.
The “Hello Garci” controversy involved purportedly wiretapped conversations discussing electoral fraud in the 2004 elections between a woman believed to be then-President Arroyo and a man thought to be Garcillano.
Arroyo subsequently acknowledged that she had spoken with a Comelec official during the canvassing phase and expressed regret for her poor judgment in making that call.
Garcillano later confirmed that he had conversed with Arroyo during the canvassing period after the votes were tallied, but he refuted any claims that the former President had directed him to engage in electoral cheating.
In 2007, Garcillano attempted to run for the position of congressman in Bukidnon but was not successful./PN
