Querubin: I'm not a first hand witness in 'Hello Garci'

MANILA, Philippines - Marine Col. Ariel Querubin, who has just been released from military detention, clarified Thursday that the Truth Commission cannot use him as witness if it decides to re-open investigations into the military's alleged election cheating in 2004.

"Hindi naman ako first hand witness dito. Ako ang binagsakan ng mga reklamo (I'm not a first hand witness. I only received the complaints)," Querubin told ABS-CBN's Umagang Kay Ganda when asked about news that he is willing to testify on the "Garci generals" probe.

The Marine colonel said what he is ready to commit is to share to the Truth Commission the complaints and information he received about the alleged election cheating in 2004.

He said the complaints came from junior military officers who were assigned in Tawi-Tawi and Marawi City during the 2004 elections.

Querubin said that according to the junior officers, a high-ranking Armed Forces official "grounded" them to allow election cheating operators to enter Tawi-Tawi and Marawi City.

He said that the junior officers were the same witnesses who were not allowed to testify in the fact-finding commission led by then Armed Forces inspector-general Vice Admiral Mateo Mayuga.

The Mayuga commission dismissed allegations against former Armed Forces chief Hermogenes Esperon, tagged as one of the "Garci generals" who allegedly aided in the massive election cheating in Mindanao.

Querubin said the junior military officers are still willing to testify against high-ranking military officials involved in election cheating in 2004.

"They are willing to come out," he said. "Noon pinipigilan sila. May mga junior officers na willing to present themselves as witnesses sa Mayuga committee, hindi naman sila tinawag."

Querubin was detained after joining a 7-hour standoff at Fort Bonifacio in February 2006.

The Medal of Valor awardee stormed Marine headquarters in Fort Bonifacio and openly protested the relief of then Marine commandant Maj. Gen. Renato Miranda.

Miranda had said that they were forcibly detained to prevent them from exposing the military's role in the election cheating in 2004.
http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/nation/07/29/10/querubin-im-not-first-hand-witness-hello-garci 

Subscribe to Biztalk and Jobs via Email
Become a fan Biztalk and Jobs in Facebook
Follow me on Twitter