Malacañang circles
the wagons on ‘Garci’
Says Ping seeking inquiry ‘in aid of
destabilization’
BY REGINA BENGCO
MALACAÑANG yesterday said the revival of the
investigation on the "Hello Garci" scandal that Sen. Panfilo
Lacson is calling is "in aid of destabilization" and in aid of
Lacson’s presidential ambition in 2010.
Apostol said he does not believe that the
Senate probe is meant to improve the electoral process, saying
it is "just a front so Senator Lacson could have a good
publicity."
"That’s in aid of destabilization, because he
will run for president in 2010. (It is) as simple as that," said
chief presidential legal counsel Sergio Antonio Apostol.
SENATORS Francis Escudero and Miriam Defensor
Santiago yesterday said Malacañang cannot invoke Executive Order
464 to block the planned Senate investigation on "Hello Garci"
wiretapping controversy.
Santiago said the constitutionality of the
presidential order has already "been placed under a cloud of
doubt." She added: "I hope that (Malacañang officials) will not
invoke (EO 464)… it always indicates that there is something
that the person is trying to hide," Santiago said.
Escudero warned of a constitutional crisis
should the executive insist on invoking EO 464 or its
"resurrected form," Memorandum Circular 108.
THE former Marine commander in Basilan
yesterday confirmed that "someone" recalled the aircraft which
were supposed to provide support for the Marines who clashed
with members of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front in Al-Barka,
Basilan last July 10.
Fourteen Marines died, with 10 of them found
beheaded and mutilated the following day.
The confirmation by Col. Ramiro Alivio, who
was relieved as commander of the 1st Marine Brigade Wednesday,
is contained in his After Battle Report.
