June 27, 2005
It is my voice on poll tape (and ringtone), admits embattled Arroyo
The Sydney Morning Herald reports that the President of the Philippines, Gloria Arroyo, has admitted it is her voice on the controversial election tape - which has been turned into a ringtone and a car horn -, but insisted she did not sway the result of last year's presidential election.
"In a televised address to the nation last night, Dr Arroyo apologised for a "lapse in judgement".
"I was anxious to protect my votes and during that time had conversations with many people, including a Comelec [Commission on Elections] official. My intent was not to influence the outcome of the election and it did not."
Her comments broke a silence she had maintained on the scandal for three weeks and signal a belated recognition that the accusations will not go away.
The country is transfixed by the scandal. In parliament, in the press, at street markets and in coffee houses people are following the case closely".
A mobile phone ringtone featuring the words “Hello Garci” taken from a recording at the centre of allegations Arroyo tried to fix the result of last year's election has been downloaded by thousands.
Previous related posts:
-- From ring tones to car horns? Only in the Philippines
-- Filipinos clamour for scandalous mobile ringtone
-- Ringtones express widespread disgust over (Ms Arroyo's) obvious poll fraud
-- Wiretapped Voice Latest Ringtone Craze
Read also Politics and the new media -- The Philippines was the first country in the world to use text messaging to topple a former president. (And now they may soon be the first country to overturn a government with a ringtone (and car horn!)
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