The Philippine House of Representatives Thursday threatened to order the arrest of former election official Virgilio Garcillano involved in a wiretapped conversation of President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, if he refuses to show up again at a House hearing.

The local television network TV Patrol reported that Representative Gilbert Remulla, chairman of the House public information committee, said that the resumption of the audiotape investigation will be held on Wednesday and lawmakers expect Garcillano to appear at the hearing or face arrest.

Garcillano was recognized by the opposition as the one talking to President Arroyo on the wiretapped tapes made public by the opposition in June. Arroyo admitted talking to the election official during last year's presidential election, but denied opposition accusation of trying to influence the outcome of vote counting.

The House joint panel on the tape hearing has already issued three subpoenas to Garcilano and it was agreed that the House will issue a warrant of arrest once he snubs a third subpoena next week.

The lawmaker said the House can coordinate with the Philippine National Police and the National Bureau of Investigation to serve the warrant of arrest.

Remulla also said that lawmakers will work with the Department of Foreign Affairs to help them look for Garcillano's whereabouts and a warrant of arrest can be used for Garcillano's extradition if he has fled the country as has been suggested by some news reports.

The local television network ABS-CBN News reported that Garcillano flew to Singapore on July 14 and to London the following day.

The presidential spokesman Ignacio Bunye said on Thursday that Garcillano is still in the country, but he knew nothing about his exact whereabouts.

Source: Xinhua