Ateneo law professor agrees to be part of Truth Commission — De Lima

An Ateneo School of Law professor has agreed to be part of the Truth Commission, the body that will probe alleged high-profile corruption issues that occurred during the nine-year administration of former President and now Pampanga Rep. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo. On Tuesday, Justice Secretary Leila de Lima said Carlos Medina Jr., concurrent head of the Ateneo Human Rights Center, accepted the Executive Department's request to be part of the five-member team. Retired Supreme Court Chief Justice Hilario Davide Jr. will head the body, while retired SC Associate Justice Romeo Callejo Jr. has also agreed to be part of the body. "We, retired Chief Justice Davide and I, recommended him (Medina) and I understand that he already indicated his willingness to be part of the commission," De Lima said at a news briefing. Medina teaches Constitutional Law and Human Rights Law at the Ateneo law school, and International Relations at the Ateneo School of Government. During the impeachment trial of former President Joseph Estrada at the Senate, Medina hosted a television show, "Ang Paghahatol," to discuss and analyze issues raised during the trial. The program was aired on government-owned IBC 13. EO No. 1 At present, President Benigno Aquino III has yet to sign documents finalizing the members of the Truth Commission. So far, only Davide is the definite member of the body. The investigative body was created by virtue of Executive Order No. 1, which is curently being questioned by Mrs. Arroyo's allies in the House of Representatives. Last week, House Minority Leader and Albay Rep. Edcel Lagman asked the Supreme Court to nullify the executive order because the Truth Commission supposedly duplicated the tasks of the Department of Justice and the Office of the Ombudsman. (See: Arroyo allies ask SC to void EO on Truth Commission) Lagman also said only Congress has the power to form bodies such as the Truth Commission. — Sophia Dedace/RSJ, GMANews.TV