FINAL REPORT - Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism

MR. BALUTAN. Yes.
THE CHAIRMAN. Yes. And the brigade commander was General
Francisco Gudani.
MR. BALUTAN. That’s why there was…
THE CHAIRMAN. Were you informed of the reason why he was
absent at the critical time in the area of responsibility? Were
you informed why he was absent there?
MR. BALUTAN. We were surprised, Mr. Chairman. I was not
informed.
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SEN. OSMEÑA. Colonel, would you just run through that again? I did
not quite catch something that you said earlier na mayroon
daw in a meeting a certain government official said that
members of the military should help Gloria Arroyo?
MR. BALUTAN. Sir, Your Honors, that was the statement of Colonel
Pirino who was the designated OIC of Joint Task Force during
the formal conference.
SEN. OSMEÑA. So he used the word “help?”
MR. BALUTAN. Yes, Your Honor.
SEN. OSMEÑA. Did he expound on it what they meant by “help?”
MR. BALUTAN. He did not expound on it.
SEN. OSMEÑA. What did you infer that he meant by the word
“help?” Does it mean campaign for? Does it mean assist?
Does it mean make things hard for FPJ? What did it mean?
MR. GUDANI. In my capacity as the battalion commander in the
area, that means to me to slacken security because we are in
charge of security.
SEN. OSMEÑA. Slacken security from whom?
MR. BALUTAN. The canvassing area, the transporting and the
escorting of the…
SEN. OSMEÑA. So, therefore, you are telling the Committee that
General Gudani was recalled to Manila and his replacement or
temporary
replacement which was Colonel Pirino gave the instructions
that you were to slacken the security of the canvassing areas?
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