Escudero says 'Hello Garci' now admissible in court

Two years after the 'Hello Garci' tape scandal broke out, opposition Senator Francis "Chiz" Escudero said Wednesday the tape is now admissible as evidence in court with the resurfacing and admittance of former ISAFP agent Vidal Doble about Project Lighthouse.

Project Lighthouse, admitted Doble through a taped interview and which form part of Sen. Panfilo Lacson's privilege speech yesterday, was set up in 2005 to wiretap anti-administration personalities including the late presidential candidate Fernando Poe, Jr. (FPJ).

The former agent was part of the said operation that recorded the "Hello Garci" controversy that has hounded the Arroyo administration since.

Escudero said with Doble emerging as witness to the said operation, the legal mill could now start grinding against those who were involved in the alleged election cheating in 2004.

He said, "When the Hello Garci was investigated shortly after the scandal broke out, it was deemed hearsay by the courts for the lack of witness thereof. But now that Doble has owned up as among the wiretappers, we now have a witness to support the substance of the infamous tape."

The senator said the revelation of Doble would now hold water to prosecute those who have participated in the poll cheating in 2004.

He went on to say that this is a vindication for the late FPJ who he had always believed was cheated in the 2004 elections.

"The disclosure came at the most opportune time when the late FPJ would have celebrated his 68 th birthday last Monday. This could be a gift not only for FPJ but for all the Filipino people as well who were robbed of a rightfully elected president," the lawmaker noted.

Escudero made a motion at the Senate floor last night to tackle the matter as a committee of the whole to give each senator the opportunity to ask and speak out about this matter, which he said, is of national importance and significance.

He is confident that this development will see through its purpose to finally make those who are responsible not only for the reprehensible wiretapping act but also for the Hello Garci farce to face the legal and moral consequences.