Truth Commission can't summon Arroyo, says Drilon

The Truth Commission cannot summon former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo even if the panel was created to investigate alleged anomalies during her administration, Senator Franklin Drilon said. "The Truth Commission cannot compel the attendance of former President Arroyo (for their investigation)," Drilon told reporters in an interview on Thursday. He issued the statement after the the minority bloc in the House of Representatives said it will challenge the constitutionality of the Truth Commission. Drilon said he cannot "comprehend" the criticisms made against the creation of the truth body by Arroyo's allies because she herself created four commissions during her term. However, Drilon admitted that the Truth Commission, as it is, cannot compel the attendance of private persons because they have no "contempt powers." He said they can only invite them to appear before them. "They have to go to court to force somebody to appear before them... if you have no authority to cite for contempt you cannot do anything," he said. –VVP, GMANews.TV