Garci's Pal

Posted by Avigail Olarte 
PCIJ

COMMISSION on Elections official Ray Sumalipao has confirmed that the conversation between him and ex-Commissioner Virgilio Garcillano on the wiretapped tapes is true.

Sumalipao was the Lanao del Sur provincial election supervisor in May 2004 and is now the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao assistant regional director.

In an interview with Marawi City reporters, Sumalipao said he spoke with Garcillano on May 30, 2004 about the ongoing canvassing in Lumba-Bayabao in Lanao del Sur.

Before Sumalipao, former presidential staff officer Michaelangelo Zuce had  confirmed the authenticity of the recorded conversation between him and his uncle, Garcillano. 

Alioden Dalaig, Comelec law department director, had also told Newsbreak that he was the one on the tape discussing with Garcillano about President Arroyo's Statement of Election Contributions and Expenditures.

This was the conversation between Sumalipao and Garcillano: 

Conversation between Gary (V. Garcillano) and Ray (believed to be Ray Sumalipao) on 30 13:30  hotel May '04

Ray: Hello?
Garcillano: Hello, Ray.
Ray: Sir.
Garcillano: O kumusta na kayo dyan?
Ray: Ah, ok lang, dito sa NBC ng ano, ng lugar ng (garbled)
Garcillano: Lumba-Bayabao?
Ray: Oo, sir.
Garcillano: Anong kwan dyan sa Lumba-Bayabao?
Ray: Nagka-canvassing. In-order to continue the canvassing pero wala namang proclamation. Yun ang order sa en banc, sir, di ba?
Garcillano: Meron ba?
Ray: Meron na, sir.
Garcillano: Ha?
Ray: Meron, sir. To continue with the canvassing but suspend the proclamation.

Sumalipao said the conversation "had nothing to do with defrauding somebody during the elections."

Read Sun Star's article on Sumalipao's interview here .  See also PCIJ's post, "The Lanao del Sur vote."