Erap Grieves For "Hello Garci!" Whistle Blower Samuel Ong

Manila – “I admired his courage and love for the truth. Had it not been for him, the people will never know the cheatings in the 2004 presidential elections.”

Thus said former President Joseph EstradaJoseph Estrada in an interview with the Philippine Star upon the death of Samuel Ong, the former deputy director of the National Bureau of Investigation who exposed the tapes of the phone negotiations between President Gloria ArroyoPresident Gloria Arroyo and Virgilio Garcillano, then a Commission of Elections official, during the canvassing of votes for the 2004 presidential elections.

“He was a brave and courageous man whom we should consider a hero because he fought for the truth and for justice for the Filipino people who were deprived of their chosen President,” said Estrada.

Ong died of cardiac arrest while in the Intensive Care Unit of the Chinese General Hospital for terminal lung cancer. Estrada had visited him 15 minutes before death.

“There is one thing clear in the present administration,” said Estrada. “If you tell the truth, you will be jailed.”