Bishops back Aquino on Truth Commission issue

While they oppose him on the reproductive health (RH) issue, Catholic bishops expressed their support for President Benigno Simeon Aquino III on the issue about the Truth Commission. The Supreme Court (SC) on December 7 declared as unconstitutional Aquino's Executive Order (EO) No. 1 creating the Philippine Truth Commission. The SC said E.O. No. 1 "violates the equal protection clause of the Constitution" for focusing on the administration of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo. On Thursday, some bishops urged Aquino to find other means to ensure that those behind alleged anomalies in the past administration will be held accountable. "Don't surrender," Marbel Bishop Dinualdo Gutierrez said in an article posted on the Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) news site. Gutierrez said Aquino must find other ways to investigate alleged corruption cases committed during the administration of his predecessor, former President Gloria Arroyo. “Aquino should not surrender using other means to pursue the truth because he pledged for it that he would go after the alleged corruptions of the past administration," said Gutierrez. Jaro (Iloilo) Archbishop Angel Lagdameo said probing abuses under Arroyo is a “matter of justice" and must be pursued through all possible and legal means. “The government must also find other means to find the truth especially if it has connection to the common good," he said. Meanwhile, Sorsogon Bishop Arturo Bastes said the Truth Commission might be a good step in bringing necessary closure to the allegations of official wrongdoing and impunity. “I would have liked it because the idea was good. But then again I’m disappointed with what happened," said Bastes. – VVP/HS, GMANews.TV