Palace: Truth Commission to complement judicial agencies

The still-to-be-formed Truth Commission that will look into alleged abuses of the Arroyo administration will have enough teeth to complement, and not to interfere, with the judiciary. A Malacañang official made this clear Thursday even as he hinted that President Benigno Aquino III may have already signed the executive order creating the body. "Ito [ay] bahagi ng buong sistema ng hustisya. Di naman nawawala ang iba nating judicial agencies na maaaring tumulong o mag-complement sa gagawing Truth Commission (This is part of the justice system. It will complement our judicial agencies)," Presidential Communications Group official Herminio Coloma said in an interview on dzXL radio. Coloma hinted that President Aquino may have already signed the executive order defining the powers of the Truth Commission. Aquino had envisioned the commission — to be headed by former Chief Justice Hilario Davide Jr. — as a powerful body that will grant closure to alleged abuses of the past administration. During his State of the Nation Address (SONA) last Monday, Aquino said the EO creating the commission will be signed this week. (See: Aquino to sign EO creating Truth Commission this week) "Ang EO di lang binabalangkas. (Maaaring) nakasalang na o nalagdaan na ito (The EO is not just being drafted. It is already submitted for the president's signature or may have already have been signed)," Coloma said. He added they expect the contents of the EO to be made public before the week ends. Coloma said the Truth Commission may look into irregularities, and go beyond congressional investigations "in aid of legislation." "Hindi pupuwedeng investigation in aid of legislation lang. Kailangan ituwid ang mali, yan ang layunin ng Truth Commission (We cannot have investigations in aid of legislation only. We have to make sure the wrongs committed in the past are set right)," he said. Not toothless At the same time, Coloma contested reported claims by Sen. Joker Arroyo that the Truth Commission will be virtually toothless, saying it will have enough powers granted by the President. While he did not elaborate, he drew comparisons between the Truth Commission and an investigating body created by then President Ferdinand Marcos to look into the assassination of Aquino's father former Sen. Benigno Aquino Jr. in 1983. "Noong iniimbestigahan ang assassination ni Sen. Aquino, nag-create ng special investigating body. Meron ding kapangyarihan ang pangulo kasama sa kanyang executive power maggawad niyan (When the assassination of Ninoy Aquino was being investigated, Marcos created a special investigating body. The president can do so using his executive powers)," Coloma said. Coloma also said the commission will have sufficient budget and support. "Wala pang exact figure pero makakaasa tayo it will be sufficient to allow it to do its work (We have no exact figures on its funding but we can be sure it will be sufficient to allow it to do its work)," he said. — RSJ/LBG, GMANews.TV