News Release

MIRIAM CALLS DOBLE “IMPEACHED WITNESS”

“He fell apart, and his nerves are shot. He twisted himself into so many contradictions in just five minutes that under the Rules of Court, we can now consider that his general reputation for truth, honesty or integrity is bad,” Santiago said.

Santiago, using Doble’s military service record called “Summary of Information,” pointed out that from 2000 to 2002, a period of two years, Doble was always assigned to “wire” operations. She then asked Doble if the word “wire” meant that Doble was a wiretapping operative.

Doble denied that he was engaged in wiretapping, and claimed that the word “wire” referred only to the installation and repair of military telephones.

“For emphasis, are you now claiming that you have nothing to do with wiretapping operations, whether legal or not, of the ISAFP MIG-21?” Santiago pressed. She then pointed out that if Doble had no wiretap assignments, then he is not qualified to testify on the alleged wiretapping of former Comelec Commissioner Garcillano and President Arroyo.

As a result, Doble changed his testimony and said that he was involved in the Garci wiretapping.

Santiago noted with sarcasm that if his job was to install and repair telephones, then it was inexplicable why he had been suddenly assigned to a very sensitive wiretapping operation.

Doble at first said that he was merely following orders of superior authorities. But Santiago pointed out that the Nuremberg Tribunal already ruled that obedience to superior orders is not a valid defense in a criminal case, and followed it up with the statement that the same principle is now applied in human rights law.

At first Doble said he did not see any court order for the wiretap, because he was only following instructions of his superiors. But after a few more questions, he claimed that there was a court order, but he could not produce it.

Santiago asked Doble if he had ever been to two addresses which she gave as: Penthouse Solid Mills Building, Dela Rosa St., Legaspi Village, Makati City; and as Travellers Inn, along Makati Avenue. Doble said he had been there.

When Santiago asked if he went to those addresses because they were safehouses, Doble admitted that the addresses were safehouses.

This prompted Santiago to ask him why he was reporting to safehouses, if he merely installed and repaired telephones. Doble had no answer to that one.

Under Santiago’s questioning, Doble admitted that he met his two mistresses, who are both GROs (Guest Relations Officers) – Marietta Santos and Jocelyn Andaya – in KTV bars, even giving the addresses of the bars.

Santiago then went on to ask Doble how he could afford to support his legal family and two mistresses on his admitted monthly salary of less than P20,000, before taxes. Doble said he was not supporting his mistresses.

“So now are you implying that your mistresses support you?” Santiago asked, to general laughter.

Santiago said that when Doble was assigned to work at the PAOCTF (Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Task Force) under Senator Panfilo Lacson for some 10 months, Doble allegedly received a monthly allowance of P30,000. Doble replied that his PAOCTF allowance was merely P5,000 a month.

Santiago said she had received an anonymous envelope purportedly containing a signed statement from Arlene Doble and that she had requested Chair Rodolfo Biazon to invite her to testify, but Biazon’s staff said Arlene could not be found.

Santiago suggested that Arlene should either be invited again or subpoenaed, and then requested for a subpoena duces tecum to compel certain government agencies to produce or support documents that are mentioned or implied in Arlene’s alleged statement.

In her alleged statement, Arlene Doble said that she and her children were free and not imprisoned inside the military camp. She allegedly said that her children attended school there, and that she took her autistic child Dahrren for regular visits to the Philippine Children’s Hospital.

Arlene also allegedly claimed that she accused Doble of physical abuse in a blotter entry of the Pasay City police. Further, she allegedly claimed that she filed a complaint against her husband that was also recorded in the blotter of the Kidapawan City Police Department.

Arlene also alleged that while the family were staying in the military camp, they were paid official home visits by the DSWD.

To evaluate all these allegations, Santiago requested the committees to issue subpoena duces tecum to the agencies involved to produce the relevant documents.

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