While the nation was busy observing Christmas, the Department of Justice released its Nov. 14, 2006 decision clearing former Comelec Virgilio Garcillano of charges of perjury and falsification of passport.
Cavite Rep. Gilbert Remulla, who spearheaded the investigation of Garcillano at the House of Representatives, said the the media release of the decision was timed for “minimal impact on the public.It must be the administration’s Christmas gift for Garci,”
Sen. Panfilo Lacson, who filed the case along with a number of opposition congressmes, is not at all suprised. “Malacañang and the DOJ have no choice but to drop the case. If the case were filed in court, Garci will go all over town pointing his fingers at them. They can’t afford Garci telling on them.”
Shades of the Ombudsman’s clearing of Comelec Chairman Benjamin Abalos in the anomalous Mega-Pacific deal.