NBI analysis: One female voice, two male voices in audio CDs

The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) has released the initial technical analysis of the voices in the two compact discs that allegedly carried a tapped telephone conversation between President Arroyo and a purported official of the Commission on Elections (Comelec).

The voice analysis conducted by the NBI Electronics and Communications Division (ECD) showed that there was only one female voice but that the male voices contained in the two discs were different. Wave formation readings showed two different men apparently made separate recordings for the original and altered CDs.

Actually, there were four different recorded voices — one female voice, two different males, and another male voice that delivered the voiceover, according to the NBI.

NBI Director Reynaldo Wycoco said they immediately conducted tests on the original and altered discs sent by Press Secretary Ignacio Bunye yesterday morning.

ECD chief Roy Cartagena, an electronics communications engineer, said they conducted the examination from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Cartagena explained to reporters that the wave formation of the male voice in the original disc had gaps or pauses while in the second disc the person spoke more continuously.

They also gathered that the voice on the first disc belonged to a younger man, compared with the more mature voice heard on the second disc. The recordings were timed at 13 and 15 minutes, respectively, but the two-minute difference could be due to the voiceovers.

Cartagena explained that they only selected similar portions from both conversations as the basis for their initial comparison. "We chose a portion that was clear and had no background interruption," he said.

Wycoco said there is a possibility that both CDs were manipulated because it is obvious that both were edited as shown by the voiceover between conversations.

"The only way to make a definite conclusion is to get hold of the original copy," he said.

Since Bunye already admitted that the female voice on both discs belonged to President Arroyo, the NBI will now request Malacañang to submit an official letter confirming it was, in fact, the Chief Executive’s voice.

Wycoco gave assurances that further examinations of the two discs will still be conducted, perhaps with the help of US electronic sound experts.

"To enhance its technical capabilities, the NBI will be soliciting the help of experts to determine the authenticity of both copies. If necessary, they will be brought to the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the NBI’s counterpart in the US, for expert analysis and opinion," Wycoco said.

He admitted, though, that he had not listened to the full, recorded conversations on both discs and could not assess how damaging it would be to the Arroyo administration.

The NBI is also considering asking Comelec Commissioner Virgilio Garcillano to submit a voice sample since it had been suggested that he was the male voice, referred to as "Gary," on the disc.

Wycoco hinted that the release of the disc and the jueteng exposé could be a part of a grand scheme to destabilize the present administration.

"Reports from the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the Philippine National Police (say all these) are part of the destabilization attempts. This is their coup de grace," he said.

Meanwhile, the NBI said those responsible for illegally tapping the telephone lines of the President could face a six-month to six-year imprisonment if they are found guilty of violating Republic Act 4200, which covers the anti-wiretapping law.

If the accused is a government official, he could face absolute and perpetual disqualification from holding public office. If he is a foreigner, he could be made to serve a prison term here before being deported.