Arroyo's alleged vote fixer concedes defeat

Mindanao: A former election official whom the opposition claimed had connived with President Gloria Arroyo to defeat the late Fernando Poe Jr in the 2004 presidential polls, conceded defeat in favour of his rival from the opposition in the southern Philippines.

"It is easy to see the trend, that I will not make it to the House of Representatives," admitted Virgilio Garcillano, former commissioner of the Commission on Elections (Comelec).

"I was not defeated fairly and squarely. I was defeated by black propaganda," argued Garcillano in a meeting with reporters in his hometown in Bukidnon.

Unofficial counting of ballots showed that Garcillano lost to Malou Acosta whose supporters said her victory was a "slap to cheaters".

When asked why he ran, Garcillano claimed, "I wanted to show my innocence," adding, "I believed the electoral process would give me a good chance to face my accusers in a fair and square discussion."

Hinting that he was also forced to run, Garcillano confessed, "I was not after this position."

But sources said he did not really campaign well. "He did not follow a clear strategy to clear his name," said a resident in Garcillano's hometown.

During the campaign period in Bukidnon, his opponents maligned him by calling him "Hello, Garci [his nickname]," a phrase used by Arroyo, in her conversation with him over the phone, which was reportedly recorded by the opposition.