Former elections commissioner Virgilio Garcillano
MANILA, Philippines 鈥� Former elections commissioner Virgilio Garcillano, who was caught in the infamous 鈥淗ello Garci鈥� poll fraud scandal involving former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, died on Saturday, his family and authorities confirmed. He was 87.
His wake at St. Peter鈥檚 Chapel in uptown Cagayan de Oro City started on Sunday.
Witnesses said Garcillano was heading to the bathroom around 8 p.m. on Saturday at his farmhouse in Barangay Imbatug (Poblacion) in Baungon town, Bukidnon, when he suddenly lost consciousness.
He was rushed to the nearest hospital in Cagayan de Oro but was pronounced dead.
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According to Imbatug Barangay Councilor Marlo Ligan, Garcillano went on a solitary life in Baungon following the Hello Garci controversy and after losing as a candidate for the first district representative of Bukidnon in 2007.
鈥淪ir Garci,鈥� as the people fondly called him, preoccupied himself with farming with the help of relatives.
鈥淗e was known here in Poblacion as a philanthropist, and he was well-loved by our people. He used to sponsor birthday celebrations [for] his neighbors. Sometimes he said he already forgot their names, but as long as he can help, he will be there,鈥� Ligan said in a phone interview with the Inquirer.
鈥淗e was also active in social work by the barangay, like when we needed help for our feeding programs. He will be there. Sir Garci will also be available whenever people need advice [on] all kinds of legal problems,鈥� he added.
Garcillano graduated from law studies at the University of the East in 1960.
He previously served as a career official of the Commission on Elections (Comelec), where he rose from special attorney in 1961 to regional director in Northern Mindanao.
In 2004, Garcillano was appointed election commissioner by Arroyo.
Garcillano was later embroiled in the 鈥淗ello Garci鈥� scandal exposed in 2005, when Arroyo called him so he could allegedly help influence the outcome of the previous year鈥檚 presidential election in which she ran against popular movie actor Fernando Poe Jr.
By June of 2005, amid calls for her resignation, Arroyo admitted in a televised address that she had called an election officer, whom she did not name, as she was anxious to protect her votes.
Garcillano largely disappeared from public view following the allegations after ignoring a summons to appear before a congressional hearing. 鈥攚ith Inquirer Research