Press Release
July 21, 2011

CHIZ SHOWS VIDEO REMINISCENT OF THE 'HELLO GARCI' TAPE

A video documentary showing how the 2004 presidential election was rigged to favor ex-president Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo was presented to the Senate media and staff by Senator Chiz Escudero.

The 50-minute presentation contains documentary evidence like election returns from Mindanao, a thorough revisit of the "Hello Garci" conversations which directly affected the poll results, and antecedents to cheat then presidential candidate Fernando Poe Jr. (FPJ).

Escudero, who stood as FPJ's official spokesperson then, said the video was produced by fellow supporter, Marichu Maceda, along with other friends some four years ago in their bid to prove there was massive election cheating as well as gather support for the actor, the rightful winner in the 2004 presidential race.

"We are showing this video again in different fora for people to be refreshed and reminded about the real circumstances of the 2004 polls. We want people to remember what should be remembered on how fraud was committed to rob FPJ of his rightful place in history and on how people who voted for him were robbed of their political rights to install the president of their choice were also cheated," Escudero said.

He explained that with people coming forward like former Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) governor Zaldy Ampatuan and former Maguindanao election supervisor Lintang Bedol claiming knowledge of poll rigging in 2004 to favor Mrs. Arroyo, the showing of the video is a most opportune time.

"We tried to go around after 2004 to show the documentary, but reception was unwelcoming. Since it was under the Arroyo administration, windows and doors we tried to knock on in search for truth were closing on us. Nobody wanted to listen," the senator said.

Escudero has filed a joint resolution asking both chambers of Congress to create a fact-finding commission to determine the real winner in 2004 presidential elections.

Escudero said that once Congress convenes and a fact-finding body is established, he will push for the presentation of the documentary to the commission if only to give a perspective and overview of the whole incident in 2004.

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