UPDATE: More here. Can you say buking? Read it all.
Malacañang executive Datu Ahmad Bayam, who was set loose by Palace aides two days ago to destroy the credibility of former Palace functionary Michaelangelo Zuce, the latest whistleblower on the presidential jueteng payoffs and poll rigging, has been exposed as a liar by the persons whom he had claimed tried to buy him off to corroborate Zuce's testimony.
Lawyer Liwayway Vinzons-Chato yesterday showed the Tribune the text messages sent to her by Bayam, from his cell phone number 639277402687, the first one of which was sent on Aug. 2, 2005, at 13:55/13:56 p.m., and stated: “Atty gud pm, ds Ahmad Bayam d one rfrd as Asec Ahmad Bayam who endorsd Garci apptment (2X).”
Chato replied on the same day at 14:14 p.m.: “Nice 2 hir from u. Wat can I do 4 u? or vice-versa.”
At 14:11 p.m .of the same day, Bayam sent another text message: “Ma'm cud we possibly meet at ur plsure n convenience? (2X)”
Chato replied: “S my ofis 8th Flr Strata 2000 ok dis 4pm?”
Bayam answered: “can't catch up wat about 2moro mrng?” to which Chato said: “OK wat time?”
Bayam, in his text message, said Chato could set the time and place of the meeting and he would be there.
A time was set, then rescheduled by Chato, saying she will have to attend a Senate hearing with Zuce.
Bayam texted: “Can I procid der now? Or when do u think possible?”
Chato replied: “Sori so occupied wil c u after Senate hearing f ok w/ u.”
Bayam answered: “f not ok, rgds 2 Louie Zuce.”
On Aug. 3, Bayam at 16:33 p.m. sent Chato another text message: “gud pm, Ma'm, Palace plans 2 weaken Zuce's testimony.”
Chato said she did not reply to this message.
Bayam two days ago appeared before the media escorted by police officers who were reportedly with him earlier in a hotel, denying he had endorsed to Malacañang the appointment of now fugitive former poll commissioner Virgilio Garcillano to the Commission on Elections as commissioner.
He had been working as assistant secretary in the office of presidential adviser on political affairs Jose “Joey” Rufino.
“Michaelangelo Zuce alleged that I issued a memorandum to Secretary Jose Rufino endorsing the appointment of Atty. Virgilio Garcillano. I categorically deny that I ever wrote any such memorandum,” Bayam said in a statement.
He also denied that the signature on the document was his.
Bayam claimed that both Chato and Makati City Mayor Jejomar Binay had tried to buy him off with P750, 000 to corroborate Zuce's testimony before the Senate.
But the text messages from Chato, emanating from Bayam's cellphone, showed it was he who had asked for this amount, and even warned Chato that the Palace was out to weaken Zuce's testimony.
On Aug. 5, at 15:14 p.m., Chato received another text message from a Sol Bayam, Ahmad's son.
The message read: “Mam dis Sol Bayam, my father would like to talk to you at dis number.”
Chato told the Tribune that she immediately made a call to that number and “Ahmad Bayam talked to me, saying he needed financial assistance for himself and his family. I asked him to text the amount to me through his cellphone.”
To this, Chato said, Ahmad texted her: “700k now, my family must be here on Sunday.”
Chato replied: “Don't hav dis but m koling pipol f dis s possible. Didn't JJ anser 4 dis? Wil tex u bak f ok.”
Contrary to what Bayam said before the press of Chato and Binay having tried to buy him off, pointing to the text messages, it clearly shows that it was Bayam who asked for the P700,000 (P750,000 as reported earlier), and earlier text messages also showed that he was ready to own up to the letter as his, as well as corroborate Zuce's testimony.
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