Noynoy wants commission to resolve Arroyo controversies formed

If he gets elected president, Senator Benigno "Noynoy" Aquino III will form a commission that will create the "mechanisms" to resolve the corruption scandals that hounded the administration of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo. Aquino, standard bearer of the Liberal Party, said the formation of the commission will be his priority in his first 100 days as president if he wins the presidency in the upcoming May polls. "Gusto nating magtayo ng isang tanggapan or commission na gagawa ng mekanismo para magkaron ng closure [ang] lahat ng issues na bumabalot sa kasalukuyang administrasyon (We want to create a center or a commission that will craft the mechanisms that will ensure closure for all the issues surrounding the current administration)," Aquino said during Unang Hirit's Hiritan 2010.

As an example, Aquino pointed out that there was no Senate committee report on the investigation into the alleged involvement of several government officials in a jueteng payola scandal in 2005 where a witness — Wilfredo “Boy" Mayor, who was recently shot dead — testified that First Gentleman Jose Miguel Arroyo and several government officials received money from jueteng, a popular but illegal numbers game. The First Gentleman has since denied the allegation. "Wala hong report tungkol sa lahat ng hearing na yan, wala ng magamit ngayon na base para mag-file ng mga kaso (There was no report on all those hearings, now there's no basis for filing a case)," Aquino said. Aquino said he expects the commission to draw up within a few months the mechanics to resolve and charge those that should be held responsible for alleged corruption during the Arroyo administration, although he acceded that the actual trials may take longer. The LP standard bearer said the commission will be composed of "people who have proven competence, who have integrity." "You will convene them, get them to meet, and draw out their own rules as to how to proceed," he said. The commission will not have prosecutorial powers as agencies such as the Office of the Ombudsman are already instituted, he added.
President Arroyo, who has been embroiled in — or has relatives who were allegedly involved in — controversies such as the Hello Garci scandal, the so-called P728-million fertilizer fund scam, and the botched ZTE Corp. - national broadband network deal, is currently immune from legal suits. For instance, Mrs. Arroyo was dropped as a respondent in the complaint filed by members of the Concerned Citizens Movement regarding the ZTE-NBN scandal before the Office of the Ombudsman due to presidential immunity from legal suits. [See: Abalos, Neri face corruption charges over ZTE-NBN mess] Aside from the formation of the commission, Aquino said he will also push for the immediate convening of the Joint Judiciary Executive Legislative Advisory and Consultative Council (JELAC) within the first 100 days of his presidency if he wins in the May 10 elections. Formed on May 13, 2008, the JELAC was created to strengthen the consultation and coordination among the executive, legislative, and judicial branches of government in upholding the rule of law. Aquino said he wants the JELAC to talk to the judiciary "to find ways and means to expedite the delivery of justice." Aquino has earlier said in previous fora that he wants Mrs. Arroyo, who is seeking a congressional seat as the representative of Pampanga's second district, to be prosecuted if he wins in the upcoming elections. Malacañang has said in response that politicians running for the presidency should avoid influencing the judiciary by promising to pursue charges against Mrs. Arroyo once her term ends on June 30 this year. - RSJ, GMANews.TV