NOY'S TRUTH COMMISSION TO ACCEPT COMPLAINTS VS PREVIOUS ADMIN
MANILA, OCTOBER 16, 2010 (STAR) (Xinhua) - The Philippine Truth Commission (PTC), organized by President Benigno Aquino III to look into the alleged anomalies of the previous administration, said today it is now ready to receive complaints of graft and corruption, local media reported.
The five-member commission has already set up a desk at the Philippine International Convention Center in Pasay City, Metro Manila, Philippines' capital, where complaints can be dropped by concerned citizens. The Truth Commission, however, clarified that it will not be able to immediately act on the complaints pending a petition filed before the Supreme Court questioning the legality of the body.
"If...the SC shall decide in favor of the constitutionality of the Executive Order No. 1, the commission would be ready for its substantive work. If, on the other hand, the Supreme Court will declare Executive Order No. 1 as unconstitutional, then it could not be said that the Truth Commission and the members had done nothing at all," PTC Chairman, former Chief Justice Hilario Davide Jr., said during the commission's first press briefing.
Nonetheless, Davide was quoted as saying that the group has already sought the help of the Senate to provide them with documents on cases of "large-scale corruption committed during the previous administration."
Davide has likewise already asked all government agencies, including government-owned and -controlled corporations, to provide them with graft and corrupt cases involving the previous administration.
[THE 'TRUTH COMMISSION' OF NOYNOY AQUINO IS ON FACEBOOK ' at The Truth Commission of Noynoy Aquino]
Truth Commission starts reviewing cases By Pia Lee-Brago (The Philippine Star) Updated October 16, 2010 12:00 AM Comments (0)
TRUTH COMMISSION CONVENES: Former chief justice Hilario Davide, chairman of the Truth Commission, answers questions from reporters during a press conference at the PICC yesterday. Members of the body, which was created to probe allegations of corruption during the previous administration, are law professor Carlos Medina Jr., retired Supreme Court justices Flerida Ruth Romero and Romeo Callejo Jr., and law professor Menardo Guevarra. MANNY MARCELO | Zoom MANILA, Philippines - The Truth Commission has started laying down the groundwork and reviewing at least 23 cases including alleged irregularities involving former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo while awaiting the Supreme Court (SC) ruling on the constitutionality of Executive Order 1, the commission's head said yesterday.
Speaking to reporters at the Philippine International Convention Center in Pasay City, Truth Commission chairman Hilario Davide Jr. said they are ready for substantive work if the SC declares as constitutional the executive order creating the fact-finding body.
"If, on the other hand, the Supreme Court will declare EO No. 1 as unconstitutional, then it could not be said that the Truth Commission and its members had done nothing at all," he said.
Davide said the Truth Commission has asked different government agencies, including about 27 government-owned and controlled corporations, to provide them with enough information on large-scale graft and corruption until Oct. 30.
"It is very difficult to gather what we have requested for because it will cover the entire period of nine years from 2001," he said. Davide said the Truth Commission has reviewed the NBN-ZTE deal, the "Hello, Garci" scandal and other alleged irregularities during the Arroyo administration from 2001 to 2010.
"Definitely everybody will be treated with utmost objectivity and impartiality. We only look into the facts," he said.
Truth Commission member Carlos Medina Jr. said they will consider carefully that Arroyo is a member of the House of Representatives. "Since she is a congresswoman and out of respect to the constitutional body we will have to consider it carefully," he said.
"But we hope that she will avail of her right and the opportunity to be heard."
Medina said their recommendation will depend on the prosecution process, not just the accountability of specific individuals, but also institutional responsibilities, systems and procedures.
"It may take forever for the prosecution to prosper but the accountability we are taking here can also be the process of truth telling, getting testimony from victims of corruption, and acknowledging that it happened and coming up with appropriate recommendation," he said.
Truth Commission member Flerida Ruth Romero said they are ready to receive complaints at the PICC that can be dropped in a box.
"We will be setting up criteria in each case brought before us," she said.
Truth Commission member Romeo Callejo said they can follow the lead to be provided by affidavits which could be used to build up a case even if they cannot identify the informant. "We will be proactive," he said. - With Christina Mendez, Paolo Romero
The fifth member of the Truth Commission is Ateneo law professor Menardo Guevarra. - With Christina Mendez, Paolo Romero
GMA: No comment
Rep. Arroyo refused to comment on the activation of the Truth Commission.
"At this point in time, we can take it (start of Truth Commission's work) as an announcement to proceed, and we will not make any comment until such time that the Truth Commission finally implements Executive Order No. 1," Arroyo's spokesman Elena Bautista-Horn said.
Ang Galing Pinoy Rep. Juan Miguel Arroyo also refused to comment.
"There is still a legal issue surrounding the Truth Commission, let's wait for the Supreme Court's decision on the matter," he said.
Joker: Palace might intervene in Truth Commission's decision
At the Senate, Sen. Joker Arroyo said yesterday Malacañang might intervene in the Truth Commission's final report.
"That Truth Commission, will that be subject to a review too?" he asked.
"What seems to be happening (in the Aquino administration) is that, the review process will not stop until the recommendation or the review will satisfy Malacañang," he said.
"They will not stop until the wordings would satisfy them. Look at what happened in the IIRC report. It went through a review twice. That's inconceivable," he added, referring to the incident investigative and review committee (IIRC) report on the Aug. 23 hostage-taking incident. President Aquino ordered his legal team to review the recommendations of the IIRC.
Arroyo said it's inevitable that some panel members sitting in the Truth Commission might feel disappointed if and when Malacañang alters their decision.
"It's just normal to feel that way," he said. "How would you feel if the work you've done, a product of your hard work, will be subjected to a review by just anyone?" he asked.
"That's unacceptable sometimes. One cannot help but feel slighted. Unless of course the review will uphold the findings and recommendations, that's a different matter, but altering or tampering with your work? That's another matter."
Arroyo said if such would be the case, it would be "cheapening" the Truth Commission.
"If everything that the Truth Commission does will be reviewed until such time as Malacañang is satisfied with the review, then what's the use of the Truth Commission?
"That is the one that troubles me. You know the Truth Commission is composed of very respectable people chaired by no less than a former chief justice of the Supreme Court.
"Then are we to say now that we are going to be reviewed by lesser legal minds? Because if that is the case, that cheapens the Truth Commission.
"And there is no finality with whatever the Truth Commission says. This is the impact of that review (of the IIRC report)." - With Christina Mendez, Paolo Romero
GMA linked to corruption (philstar.com) Updated October 15, 2010 08:00 PM Comments (2)
MANILA, Philippines (AP) - Former President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo has been implicated in at least two corruption and vote-rigging scandals being investigated as part of her successor's bid to clean government, officials said today.
Law professor Carlos Medina, a member of the five-member commission set up by President Benigno Aquino III to probe the issue, said the body has an initial list of 23 cases of massive graft and corruption linked to government officials in Arroyo's administration.
Two of the cases are directly linked to Arroyo, who faced down four coup plots and several attempts to remove her from office through impeachment during her Jan. 2001-June 2010 term as president.
Medina said Arroyo would be investigated over allegations she was linked in a bribery scandal involving a $330 million deal with a Chinese telecommunications company that she later aborted after it was decried as overpriced, as well as allegations that she conspired with an election official to commit voter fraud in the 2004 presidential elections.
While Arroyo has been implicated in the cases, the commission has yet to officially start its investigation. Arroyo has denied any wrongdoing.
Another member of the commission, former Supreme Court Justice Flerida Ruth Romero, said corruption in the Philippines "has reached very alarming levels, and undermined the people's trust and confidence in the government and its institutions."
She said the commission's work will "restore the trust and confidence of the people in the government."
The commission, however, faces legal obstacles before it can formally open hearings.
Arroyo's allies have filed a petition with the Supreme Court arguing that only Congress can form such a body and that its functions overlap with those of the ombudsman, which investigates and prosecutes complaints against state officials and employees.
Romero said the commission for now can only receive complaints but cannot perform other functions. The commission is still awaiting approval of its budget, she said.
Aquino won a landslide election victory in May on a platform of fighting corruption and poverty.
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