House panel: Fund for Truth Commission will remain in 2011 budget

Even though the Supreme Court (SC) issued a decision last week nullifying the Truth Commission, a House panel said the P83-million proposed budget for the Truth body will not be removed from the P1.645-trillion national budget for 2011. Cavite Rep. Joseph Emilio Abaya, House appropriations committee chairman, said the bicameral conference committee has not discussed the matter yet. “Based on the bicameral discussion with the Senate, actually it was not discussed thus it stays there," said Abaya. The SC on December 7 declared as unconstitutional President Benigno Simeon Aquino’s Executive Order 1, issued on July 30, 2010, creating the Philippine Truth Commission. [See: High court declares Truth Commission unconstitutional ] Abaya believed that the SC ruling is a temporary setback as Malacañang can still file a motion for reconsideration asking the High Tribunal to reverse its decision. “The SC decision is not final and executory, if the government files motion for reconsideration. No reason to take the budget out. May paggagamitan iyan upang papanagutin ang mga nagkasala noong nakaraan," the lawmaker said. The bicameral committee discussing the national budget is set to meet on Monday afternoon to reconcile the differences between the respective versions of the House of Representatives and the Senate. The P83 million budget of the Truth Commission covers the following: