FINAL REPORT - Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism

effecting Philippine constitutional amendments, including a change to a
federal and parliamentary system of government
-- the political opposition filed the Amended Impeachment Complaint in
the House of Representatives
-- the three impeachment complaints were simultaneously referred by the
House Speaker to the House Committee on Justice 46
August 3, 2005 – Michaelangelo “Louie” Zuce testified in the Senate about
electoral fraud directed by Garcillano and benefiting President Arroyo in
the 2004 elections, submitting his Affidavit dated August 1, 2005 detailing,
among others, electoral fraud special operations under the direction of
Garcillano, which included recruitment and bribery of election officials,
attaching thereto copies of official documents supporting his allegations
August 4, 2005 – jueteng witness Richard Garcia tearfully apologized to President
Arroyo on national television, but did not retract his sworn statement on
jueteng against the Arroyos
August 8, 2005 – Abraham Demosthenes Riva retracted his sworn statement on
jueteng against the Arroyos
-- Corazon “Dinky” Soliman wrote “Why I Resigned From Government, And
Asked My Boss To Resign As Well, a personal piece by Dinky Soliman
(August 8, 2005),” wherein she attested that after her apology for a “lapse
in judgment,” it became abundantly clear that President Arroyo’s real goal
was “survival at all cost”
August 10, 2005 – at a televised press conference, Atty. Pedro Ferrer, lawyer of
President Arroyo, admitted that President Arroyo was speaking with
Garcillano in the tapes “to protect her votes,” saying that was okay and not
a problem; however, when asked why the President called up Garcillano even as
it was Congress that was canvassing the votes for presidential candidates, Atty.
Ferrer had no answer; 47
46
The House Journal of July 25, 2004 reads: “Upon direction of the Chair, the Secretary General read on First
Reading the Impeachment Complaints and the Amended Complaint against President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo,
which were referred to the Committee on Justice:
Impeachment complaint against President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo filed on June 28, 2005 at 11:15 a.m. by Atty.
Oliver O. Lozano and endorsed by Hon. Rodante D. Marcoleta and Hon. Rolex T. Suplico and attachments
Impeachment complaint against President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo filed on July 4, 2005 at 4:30 p.m. by Atty. Jose P.
Lopez and endorsed by Representative Antonio C. Alvarez.
Amended Complaint against President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo filed on July 25, 2005 at 9:30 a.m. by Roque and
Butuyan Law Offices, Atty. Oliver O. Lozano, Hon. Escudero, Zamora, Suplico, et. al. and endorsed by Hon. Ocampo,
Hon. Mariano, Hon. Beltran, Hon. Virador, Hon. Casiño, Hon. Maza, Hon. Rosales, Hon. Aguja, and Hontiveros-
Baraquel, et. al.”
47
See also The Philippine Star, Aug. 11, 2005, p.11
125