Former Commission on Elections (Comelec) Commissioner Virgilio Garcillano, who became a central figure in the controversial 2005 “Hello Garci” scandal, passed away on the evening of March 29 at his home in Baungon, Bukidnon. He was 87.
Garcillano gained national notoriety when wiretapped conversations allegedly between him and then-President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo surfaced, raising widespread concerns over election fraud during the 2004 presidential elections.
The recordings, which were widely circulated, suggested that discussions took place about influencing the election results. Both Arroyo and Garcillano, however, denied any wrongdoing. Garcillano maintained that the conversations happened only after the votes were counted, and no instructions were given to tamper with the outcome.
Arroyo, who had previously stated she would not seek the presidency, was declared the winner of the 2004 elections with 12.9 million votes, defeating actor Fernando Poe Jr. and Senator Panfilo Lacson. Her presidency followed her controversial rise to power in 2001, after the ouster of former President Joseph Estrada in the second EDSA People Power Revolution.
Although the scandal rocked the political landscape and tainted Arroyo’s administration, Garcillano gradually faded from the spotlight. In 2007, he attempted a political comeback by running for a congressional seat in Bukidnon, but the bid was unsuccessful.
In his later years, Garcillano lived a quieter life, focusing on farming and community work. Despite the scandal that would forever be tied to his name, he kept largely out of the public eye until his passing.