"Hello Garci?"

Charles Paul Freund | June 23, 2005

The hottest cell-phone ringtone in Manila these days features the alleged voice of the Philippine president apparently engaged in swaying the election that brought her to power last year. A 17-second snippet of a phone conversation supposedly between then-candidate Gloria Arroyo and a man believed by many Philippine citizens to be election official Virgilio Garcillano ("Garci") features Arroyo discussing the election returns: "Hello? Hello? Hello Garci? So, will I still lead by more than 1M (million)?"

Most users have downloaded the snippet, set to various musical backgrounds, from the Internet. Street vendors are also selling CDs containing the material.

The conversation is part of a mass of similar material obtained via illegal wiretaps allegedly placed by military officers hostile to Arroyo, according to the SF Chronicle. (Transcripts and audio posted here.) Arroyo says only that "I will not comment on the authenticity of the material that accusers admit were illegally derived." She says she will discuss the recordings further at an "appropriate time."

Comments

|6.23.05 @ 6:35PM|#

This is funny as hell!!! I really like how the Gov. says that people can't have the ringtone because it's a wiretap, but deny that it ever happened.

Xrlq|6.23.05 @ 6:58PM|#

I will not comment on the authenticity of the material that accusers admit were illegally derived.

Translation: I never said that stuff and besides, my rights were violated when they recorded me saying that stuff I never said.

|6.23.05 @ 10:07PM|#

So we have a a crooked politician caught cheating by unethical means which violated her privacy. So don't use the tapes to prosecute this gangster, but hopefully the Philippino people will take matters into their own hands and toss her out at the first opportunity. Or perhaps other evidence will be found with which to prosecute her.

This is yet another example of why government should be kept small.

|6.24.05 @ 3:33AM|#

The link doesn't work. The audio is here: http://pcij.org/blog/wp-files/ringtones.php

Chalicechick|6.24.05 @ 11:22AM|#

Too cool. I blogged it.

CC

|6.24.05 @ 11:52AM|#

The election fraud is undoubtably true. The people will not throw her out. Gloria initially assumed the presidency when the people threw out Joseph Estrada. Filipinos do not have the persistance to keep evicting crooked leaders. Plus, they no longer have the leadership of Cardinal Sin to provoke a popular uprising like that in 1986. The most likely scenario is a military takeover.

If they find enough evidence to take her to court it will not result in a conviction. Estrada is still in jail; his trial will never reach a conclusion. Imelda Marcos is currently a member of their congress, even though she was convicted on graft charges. Corruption at all levels of government is as bad as in the Marcos era.

Arroyo's husband Mike is believed to run the nation-wide Juetang operations (basically an illegal lottery). Mike will never be brought to justice.

The Phillipines is a crazy place for politics. The highly flawed US election process seems sane by comparison. Money is the source of all power in the archipeligo. Democracy does not guarantee freedom, prosperity, or the elimination of corruption as long as justice remains the puppet of the rich.

That said, it is important to keep in mind that it would have been much worse under Fernando Poe.

|6.26.05 @ 7:09AM|#

NBI chief Wycoco is looking for the original copy of the supposed to be "wiretapped" material. I suspect that he will not find one as the original was in the analog tape format. The CD copies were just the media where the tape was transferred. CD copies are as good as the others as they are recorded using digital binary language using the 0's and 1's. They will be always the same.

|6.26.05 @ 6:22PM|#

Don�t you get the feeling for a little nation-building here? Rummy? Feith? Anyone?

|6.28.05 @ 2:21AM|#

sus nman! what's new?!

|6.28.05 @ 7:23AM|#

FATHER PLEASE FIRE,OUR LABANDERA BECAUSE SHE CHEATED IN JUETENG!!!!!!!!!!

|6.28.05 @ 7:50AM|#

It is illegal to dL or manipulate the tape because it is -possible- evidence incase an impeachment case is filed.

|6.28.05 @ 7:55AM|#

Just want to make it clear that I'm not in favor of ANY present Filipino politician.

But please, STOP being so JUDGEMENTAL. A "tape-recording" is NOT enough evidence to prove that an accused is guilty.

|6.29.05 @ 12:20AM|#

everytime there's a scandal that includes a president, we always want him/her to be impeached..i do not believe anymore in people power, its because Filipinos abusively used it. it happens all the time, if we want something and the government refused, surely militants are on their way to malacanang...i think we need a different goverment,one that will discipline those bad tempered, hard headed filipinos...stop using People power movement, its no use anymore and it makes the economy even worst...think of better way aside from this....lets open our mind that we need a more hostile,tough government that will not tolerate any corruptions, any illegal doings.

|6.29.05 @ 12:24AM|#

I believe that it was GMA in the tape. But who will be next in line to be the president that people can trust. Wala na. Sawa na kami. GUSTO NAMIN PAGBABAGO, NOT THE LEADERSHIP BUT CHANGES IN THE LIVES OF THE FILIPINO PEOPLE. On how can the Philippines improve the economic situation, changes in our economy to boost, AND NOT THE LEADERSHIP. Wala ng matinong papalit.

|6.29.05 @ 12:48AM|#

Very true, the whole Philippines is totally corrupted, -not just the government. Us Filipinos should start making DRASTIC actions to improve our way of living. ACTIONS that will greatly change our lives for the better.

|6.30.05 @ 3:09AM|#

so some people are just used to saying "sawa na kami", huh? it's not a matter of what you want, but how you get what you want. have you asked yourselves "were the masses given a chance to have what or who they want?". it's annoying that some people think that they think better than the poor people and they should be the ones given the right to choose. have you ever thought why they'd prefer people like erap or fpj compared to gloria? it's no longer the brains! the masses no longer trust people like ramos or gloria and they wanted change! but who were those arrogant elitists who said gloria was a better choice than lacson or fpj? during gloria's first 2 years was the worst in philippine history. and some people still insisted she's a better choice. some people are plain stupid, not to mention arrogant. take note that i won't vote for somebody like fpj or erap, but i know how to respect other people's rights.

|6.30.05 @ 4:57AM|#

with the acceptance of guilt by pres.Arroyo it is but proper for her to step down. however, vice pres. De Castro has no capability to handle presidency of this country. This is a case of "damn if you do and damn if you don't".

|6.30.05 @ 7:25AM|#

Now na inamin na nya!!! For me let's forget about it kasi nanjan n yan y don't we forgive her!!!Y don't we support her instead doing this things!!! Kung hindi lumabas tong issue na to sana papaunlad na tau don't u see bumabawe na ung peso value natin nd now because of those person who r angry to PGMA doing Distabilization, all of u are all stupid wla n nga taung pera nd then u want a snap election,,, WHAT DUH HELL!!!!!!!!!!!
Pwede ba isipin nyo muna ang ginagawa nyo before doing violent reactions!!!!! And She doesn't meant to CHEAT, all she want was to protect her Vote!!!!Let us support her!!!for the better!!!!!
and pwede po ba na tigilan nyo ang paghihiganti nyo mga LOOSERS na politicians u all not doing for the better but for PAGHIHIGANTI for ur own !!!
u r all selfish!!!!
If u have a violent reactions about my comment just txt me 09106533459!!!!

|6.30.05 @ 11:35AM|#

I agree with peyup-er, PI is TOTALLY corrupt.

Pinoys lack the political will to evict the rapists and thugs that they call "polititions", and no doubt, even look up to many of the richest thieves as "folk heros".

Only in the Philippines do convicted theives and rapists run for office, buy votes then hide behind parlimentary immunity! There Polititions, govertment staff and military personnel are routinely caught with millions of dollars worth of illigitimate incomes, US properties and expensive vehicles... but are not convicted or jailed, but simply retired early so they can enjoy the fruits of their labor abroad!

Hello Garci! Can you get me a few votes too?

Filipinos seem to be happy to break every rule they can to get away with. When the police look the other way, they break all traffic laws. When they do business deals, they cheat at every turn. Falisfy records, under declare, double bill, they even work together to rip off their own companies... if it's wrong, against the law or takes advantage of someone else, many are likely to do it without even the slightest hesitation.

These "Hello Garci" tapes are really just a tip of the political iceberg... but worth a listen if you want to get a feel for just how low the Pinoy will go to cheat their fellow countryman.

|6.30.05 @ 11:39AM|#

the Philippines is the NO.2 spot of the "MOST CORRUPT" country. Its very very shameful and painful truth.Instead of blaming government lets start reckoning on how can we help regain our nation credibility. Lets do our part, we have an obligation too.

|6.30.05 @ 2:46PM|#

I agree with many of you. I always thought the Philippines was a very beautiful nation but I never ignored the environmental issues, criminal horrors, and government problems. I think it's time for a revolution, or at least just react to the trouble. :P
I especially agree with dc and peyup-er, we need to take drastic actions, we don't need to blame the government though.

|7.1.05 @ 2:03AM|#

to aravel

hay, grammar mo pa lang, wala nang point. tsk2

|7.1.05 @ 6:26AM|#

for the many manilenyos out there!!don't you think that you are the only Filipinos in the Philippines entitled to your opinions regarding the supposed ousting of GMA through your rallies here and there.we're not dumb enough not to know that most of you are paid just to attend those rallies. people in the provinces have their own voices and opinions too. and just for your information, for the past edsa revolutions you have held, we are not at all in favor. it's not because you're in edsa that you represent the whole voice of the philippines. you look so dumb out there. we honest taxpayers have our own opinions too, not just you in manila. all of the politicians are cheaters.no one is excempted. we still support GMA.. at least she's honest. unlike pimental who is sour graping until now. whoever presidents sits down, i bet you would still do the same. shame on you!!!

|7.1.05 @ 12:12PM|#

I don't get it. I don't get why well-educated people like some who commented here, or like those sitting in congress say we're being judgmental if we question the legitimacy of a president who apologized for her "lapses of judgment". Ano ba ang sabi ni gloria kay garci? Wag nang magpalusot! Para naman tayong di tinuruan ng values sa bahay at eskwela!
Kung may nagnakaw at nakunan ito ng video, ang dapat bang ikulong ay yung nagvideotape?
Hello???

|8.5.05 @ 7:01AM|#

kapoya sa philippines oi!cge talk about president's life and her family....
how about me? my family? my frends? my classmates? muadto nalng ko sa states oi! naa pa'y snow.... mkaskating pa ko! o... d ba?