An audio file circulating on the Internet, featuring a voice that sounds like Bong Revilla's, has dragged the senator into issues of election fraud in Cavite.

The reelectionist Revilla, in an interview with PEP (Philippine Entertainment Portal), has denied that the tape is authentic and suggested that it may have been engineered. 

He told PEP associate editor Rommel Llanes, at a dinner for the Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF) last night, February 26, that sound bites from old recordings of his voice may have been spliced together to make him sound like he was talking about plans to cheat in the coming May 10, 2010 elections.

The controversial audio file hit the Internet on Friday, February 19, when a certain MrGalingko posted a YouTube video containing a recording of a voice that sounds like Revilla's voice.

Titled "Bong Revilla ang Galing Galing Mo," MrGalingko's video featured Revilla's face beside the recording captions. 

Only a phrase saying "Galing Mong Senador, Saludo ako syo!" was posted along with the video, which has been viewed at least 23,800 times (as of February 27, 11:41 a.m.).

According to his user details, MrGalingko joined YouTube on February 19 (the day the video was uploaded), resides in the Philippines, and is 46 years old.

THE AUDIO FILE. MrGalingko's Youtube video accuses Sen. Revilla of masterminding election fraud in Bacoor, Cavite, to ensure victory in the May national elections.

PEP tried to confirm the recording by sending an e-mail to MrGalingko through YouTube on February 25, the day we received information about the Internet audio. But as of press time, we have yet to receive a reply. As of this writing, YouTube records show that MrGalingko's last log-in date was at five in the morning, today, February 27. 

Still, MrGalingko's replies to comments on his video upload imply that he is, in fact, the person who recorded the audio and that the recording is genuine.

"secret, pero ang gulo ng tanong mo?????? pano wala ako dun kung ako nagrecord??????" MrGalingko told a YouTube user who was asking about who recorded the audio.

To questions on the recording's authenticity, MrGalingko replied: "hoy di ito peke kahit isumbong mo pa sa idol mo, ng magkaalaman na. Idol mo baka no.1 sa mga kulelat!"

The majority of the 151 existing comments (as of February 27, 11:26 a.m.) on MrGalingko's video say that they believe the recording is authentic. Only a few say that the video is a demolition job against Revilla.

A survey conducted in January by an independent group ranked Revilla as the leading senatorial candidate in the 2010 elections. The January 21 to 24 survey conducted by the Social Weather Stations showed Revilla garnering a 58 percent rating, beating 57 other candidates.

NOTE: Republic Act No. 4200, also known as the Anti-Wiretapping Law, forbids any person—which includes persons from media institutions, like PEP—from publishing the transcription of the 45-second recording. The law also restricts PEP from providing a link to the audio file in this article.

THE CONTEXT. In summary, the recording implies that the senator is involved in election fraud, is using police forces for electoral gain, and is enjoying Malacañang protection.