How Do You Solve A Mystery Like Garci?

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Originally uploaded by josephthaddeus.

The hunt is on for former COMELEC Commissioner Virgilio Garcillano. The opposition led by Rep. Allan Peter Cayetano has launched a "Find Garci" campaign to locate Garcillano. They are offering half a million pesos for anybody who can provide leads to Garcillano's location. Administration congressman, Rep. Prospero Pichay is non-plussed. "I'd like to contribute (to the reward money)," Pichay said.

Justice Secretary Raul Gonzalez said the government is not hiding Garcillano. "If you ask me, I want to see what Garcillano has to say. Who knows he might spill a few beans on the opposition."

In that June 7 interview with Garcillano, he said that if push comes to shove, he wouldn't have any choice but to reveal damning secrets about the opposition. "I will tell you at the proper time," he told us.

But he has since disappeared. Some reports are saying he's in London or Singapore. The Immigration Bureau said there was no recorded exit of the former commissioner. The National Bureau of Investigation meanwhile is facing a dilemma of sorts. If he is indeed outside of the country, the NBI cannot run after him since it is outside their jurisdiction already. It can tap its network via the Interpol but even if he shows up there, it cannot arrest him. "He is not a fugitive," Gonzalez explained. The situation can be made worse if the country where Garcillano may be hiding does not have an extradition treaty with the Philippines.

Garcillano, in that same interview, related that he flew to the United States in 1986 (or was it '89?) when he clashed with Sen. Aquilino Pimentel. Is flight Garcillano's behavioral response to a crisis? Could he be "hiding" in the same place where he had sought solace before?

As a local comedy show in the Philippines was once titled, "Abangan ang Susunod na Kabanata."