FINAL REPORT - Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism

For the Secretary’s consideration and/or further instruction, please.” 1
(Annex A-1, Affidavit of Michaelangelo Zuce dated August 1, 2005;
emphasis supplied)
This advice-request was favorably indorsed by Presidential Adviser Rufino on
October 14, 2002 for action by President Arroyo, with copy furnished then Executive
Secretary (now Secretary of Foreign Affairs) Alberto Romulo and then Chief
Presidential Legal Counsel (now Secretary of National Defense) Avelino Cruz, Jr.
(Annex A, Affidavit of Michaelangelo Zuce dated August 1, 2005)
But even before the above advice-request was acted on, Presidential Adviser
Rufino had already submitted a memorandum to President Arroyo, dated October 10,
2002, explicitly requesting public funds (from the Office of the President) for
implementation of activities in furtherance and promotion of her 2004 election project
plan and machinery, as she had instructed. The memorandum reads:
“As per instructions of Her Excellency during her visit in Iligan City
last September 26, 2002 and the need to precisely approximate the
electoral pulse and secure a workable game-plan for the 2004 elections,
our office shall undertake the aforementioned consultation.
Enclosed is the estimated budgetary requirement and upon release
thereafter, the activity will commence immediately.
For Her Excellency’s consideration and/or further instructions,
please.” (Annex B, Affidavit of Michaelangelo Zuce dated August 1, 2005;
emphasis supplied)
Apparently, the Arroyo 2004 election plan and machinery had even then already
started grinding because Garcillano was then appointed head of the special
consultation project (funded through the office of Presidential Adviser Rufino) – titled
“Nationwide Consultation of Election Officers Under The Stewardship Of Atty.
Garcillano” – under which project Garcillano had begun recruiting regional directors
and election supervisors of the Comelec in critical provinces of Mindanao to support
the 2004 election of President Arroyo, as well as investigating possible allies and the
opposition.
This was revealed to the House of Representatives under oath by Michaelangelo
Zuce –acknowledged nephew-in-law of Garcillano himself and staff member of
Presidential Adviser Jose Ma. A. Rufino – in the statement dated August 1, 2005 that
he submitted to the House of Representatives Impeachment Team, to which he had
attached copy of Bayam and Rufino’s memorandum and Garcillano’s reports to
President Arroyo.
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At the top right-hand corner of this memorandum of Assistant Secretary Bayam is the hand-written note of
Presidential Adviser Rufino which states: “Noted. Prepare letter to ES. CPLA” [Note: “ES” is standard
abbreviation in Malacañang for “Executive Secretary.”]
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