Probe past administrations too, Cardinal urges Aquino

Investigate the former president, but include the previous administrations as well. Manila Archbishop Gaudencio Cardinal Rosales thus chided President Benigno Simeon “Noynoy" Aquino III for having his Truth Commission focus on the alleged crimes of his predecessor, now Pampanga Rep. Gloria Arroyo, saying he should at least be consistent and probe other past administrations. “We should be consistent. Even former presidents who allegedly committed similar mistakes during their administration should be submitted for investigation," Rosales said in an article posted on the news site of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines. The bishop nevertheless said he favored subjecting Arroyo to an investigation. “It’s just right to bring (before justice) all those who violated the law, not just one person, so that it would (appear) as a lesson to all," he added. While Arroyo could be liable for some wrongdoings, she is not the only one who should be charged, according to the Archbishop of Manila. Aquino formed the Truth Commission, an independent body headed by a former Arroyo ally and retired Supreme Court Chief Justice Hilario Davide Jr., to investigate allegations of corruption, human rights violation and other excesses of the previous administration. Not the man In a statement Sunday, Sen. Jinggoy Estrada asked Aquino to “reconsider" Davide’s appointment, saying the former chief justice is not the “man for the job". Estrada, the son of ousted President Joseph Estrada, accused Davide of “blatant disregard of the rule of law" when he administered the presidential oath to then Vice President Arroyo, following massive street protests calling on the older Estrada’s resignation. The senator added that Davide was himself the subject of allegations of corruption, which formed the basis of an impeachment complaint filed against the former chief justice but never transmitted to the Senate because of his alleged “high-handed manipulation." “Mr. Davide is clearly linked to Mrs. Arroyo’s arrogant disregard of established procedures, illegal and immoral actions and wanton violation of the rule of law," Estrada said in the statement. "I’m afraid, like many others are, that having Mr. Davide in the Truth Commission will taint the integrity of the body and thus adversely affect the new administration’s thrust toward utmost adherence to law and overall good governance," his statement read. Presidential spokesperson Edwin Lacierda earlier said the commission would not “harass" Arroyo, and that the commission would gather evidence not only against Arroyo but also against other government officials of the previous administration to bring “closure" to unresolved scandals. An unlikely ally Davide, however, found an unlikely ally in Arroyo’s eldest son, former Pampanga Rep. Juan Miguel “Mikey" Arroyo, who described Davide as a man of “renowned objectivity". “With his impeccable background and given his renowned objectivity in handling issues however controversial they are, I am highly optimistic that the Truth Commission, under CJ Davide's helm, would come out with the most objective conclusion to the NBN-ZTE saga, clearing all those wrongfully accused by those who used the GMA Administration as their jumping board for their political objectives," the younger Arroyo said. Arroyo’s executive secretary, Leandro Mendoza, also gave the Truth Commission under Davide his vote of confidence, saying it would be fair to Arroyo. "I personally know Chief Justice Davide and I believe in his fairness. He is good and very professional," Mendoza said. Davide was appointed chair of the Commission on Elections by Aquino’s mother, the late President Corazon Aquino. In 1991, Mrs. Aquino appointed him as justice of the Supreme Court. He was subsequently named chief justice by former president Estrada in 1998. Justice Secretary Leila de Lima said she would coordinate with the commission in prosecuting those that would be found responsible for irregularities in government. Militant party-list group Bayan Muna was the first to file a criminal complaint against Arroyo over the botched $329-million national broadband network project in 2007. Mrs. Arroyo appointed Davide as permanent representative to the United Nations, but the latter resigned in 2010 and supported Aquino’s candidacy. —VS, GMANews.TV