Former Commission on Elections (Comelec) Commissioner Virgilio Garcillano

The year was 2005. 

President Gloria Macapagal – Arroyo went on national television and mouthed the words “I am sorry” line addressing the Filipino nation over the controversy that scarred the presidential elections of 2004. 

It was known as the “Hello Garci” scandal. 

Over 21 years ago, Arroyo was at the center of what would be the biggest controversy of her political career, the leaked recordings of alleged wiretapped conversations with former Commission on Elections (Comelec) Commissioner Virgilio Garcillano, a discussion about manipulating the results of the 2004 presidential election. 

She later on admitted having called a Comelec official during the canvassing period Garcillano who also confessed to talking to Arroyo. 

While admitting making poor judgment in making the call, both she and Garcillano denied any wrongdoing or election rigging. 

Also known as the Gloriagate, the controversy created widespread political unrest and calls for impeachment of the former president-turned-lawmaker. 

Garci life and death 

On March 31, news of Garcillano’s death at 87 years old made the news. The former Comelec commissioner died on March 29 at his home in Baungon, Bukidnon. 

Born on July 5, 1937, Garcillano made a career  as a civil servant, rising through the ranks of Comelec.

In 2007, he filed for candidacy as congressman of Bukidnon but was unsuccessful. 

Despite investigations, Garcillano maintained a low profile and continued to insist his innocence whenever asked of the issue.