The Truth Commission has in its initial list 23 cases that they will investigate including the “Hello Garci” scandal that exposed the direct role of Gloria Arroyo and the military in tampering with the results of the 2004 elections in her favor.
The “Hello Garci” scandal put in doubt the legitimacy of the Arroyo presidency.
At least two major corruption scandals – the P728 million fertilizer scam and the$329 million NBN-ZTE deal – were linked to the 2004 elections anomaly.
The Truth Commission was created by President Aquino by Executive Order No. 1 to “primarily seek and find the truth on, and toward this end, investigate reports of graft and corruption of such scale and magnitude that shock and offend the moral and ethical sensibilities of the people.”
Here’s ABS-CBN’s report:
The 5-member Philippine Truth Commission (PTC) on Friday came out in full force declaring that it is now ready to receive complaints of graft and corruption against the Arroyo administration.
Members of the PTC, however, said the commission will not be able to immediately act on the complaints since there is a pending petition before the Supreme Court, filed by Albay 1st District Rep. Edcel Lagman, an ally of former President Gloria Arroyo, questioning the legality of the Executive Order No. 1 (EO 1) creating the PTC.
“If by the grace of God, the SC shall decide in favor of the constitutionality of the Executive Order No. 1, the commission would be ready for its substantive work. If, on the other hand, the Supreme Court will declare Executive Order No. 1 as unconstitutional, then it could not be said that the Truth Commission and the members had done nothing at all,” PTC Chairman, former Chief Justice Hilario Davide Jr., said during the commission’s first press briefing at the Philippine International Convention Center (PICC) in Pasay City.
Retired SC Justice Flerida Ruth Romero said the PTC has already set up a desk at the PICC, where complaints can be dropped by concerned citizens.
“Already, we are ready to receive complaints. There is a table here somewhere in PICC where anyone who wants to file a complaint can drop it somewhere here. It will reach us,” Romeo said.
She said that while the commission cannot immediately act on the complaints, it can still do “actions preparatory to our actual operation.”
She said the commission has started laying down the ground work for its main task. However, she said the commission ultimately needs the SC’s favorable decision for them to take “substantive action.”
The official creation of the commission is hampered by Lagman’s petition, and it still has no budget for its full operations.
Pending the SC’s final decision on the constitutionality of EO 1, Davide said it has already conducted 9 en banc meetings and promulgated 21 resolutions.
Documents forthcoming
In his opening remarks, Davide said the PTC has already asked the Office of the Senate President to provide them with documents on cases of “large-scale corruption committed during the previous administration.”
He said the documents they need are about the Senate’s investigations on the NBN-ZTE scandal, the fertilizer fund scam, and the C-5 Road Project controversy.
The NBN-ZTE scandal and the fertilizer fund scam both involved the former president and her husband, former First Gentleman Mike Arroyo, and high-ranking members of the previous administration. The C-5 controversy principally involves Sen. Manuel Villar Jr.
Davide said officials and former officials that will be investigated by the commission are at Level 3 positions in the bureaucracy.
He also announced that it has already asked all government agencies, including government-owned and -controlled corporations (GOCCs), to provide them with graft and corrupt cases involving the previous administration.
He said the commission has also asked for documents and information from the Office of the Ombudsman and the Commission on Audit about all cases on “irregular, unnecessary, excessive, extravagant and unconscionable” allowances and expenditures of high officials of the previous administration.
Aside from Davide, members of the Truth Commission are retired Supreme Court Associate Justice Romeo Callejo Sr., former executive director of the Ateneo Human Rights Center Atty. Carlos Medina Jr., former Ateneo de Manila faculty member Atty. Menardo Guevarra, and former Supreme Court Justice Flerida Ruth Romero.
Totohanin nila!
May pending petition pa pala sa Supreme Court ni Arroyo dito sa Tororot Kunsumisyon ….. e di tapos na naman ang laban. TRO na naman ang bagsak nito.
Kailangan na talaga ang kamay na bakal para masugpo ang mga galamay ni Glorya. Dapat talagang sugpuin ang mga kalaban …. ibartolina si Glorya!!!!!!!!!
Let the ball game begins,PNoy should declare war on all fronts kung nais niyang masugpo ang katiwalia,pag humarang harang ang SC ni pandak sagasaan na rin at hayaan na ang taong bayan na lumugar kung saan papanig.Hindi naman yata parehas kung laging due process ang sinasabi nila gayong kayang kaya naman nilang paikutan ang batas.
“Already, we are ready to receive complaints. There is a table here somewhere in PICC where anyone who wants to file a complaint can drop it somewhere here. It will reach us,” Romeo said.
here somewhere – somewhere here… a sign of the truth commissions findings.
Former Chief Justice Hilario Davide Jr. is Gloria Arroyo’s pet dog, right? This is yet another one of penoys bungling.
Penoy’s first 100 days tagged as BOKYA!!! Kapitan Bokya!!!
… a tell-tale sign of the truth commissions findings.
Davide who heads the Truth Commission ignored SC and has started to put the Commission to work. As a former SC Chief, that was a complete challenge to the SC which he once headed. I never like this Davide; but he might have already changed since joining the group of Pres. Noynoy. The two might have come to an agreement that Davide would include GMA and other cronies for the crimes they committed. At first, most like me were surprised that Pres. Noynoy appointed Davide knowing that this guy was GMA’s stooge. But then, we know Noynoy to be anti-GMA and he has reason or reasons to appoint Davide. It takes a crook to investigate other crooks. Let’s see…it remains to be seen.
Sayang lang ang oras nitong mga imbestigador sa mga scandals ni gloria arroyo… Walang talim ang truth commission. Mananalo ba naman ang administrayon aquino kung ang lawyer sa kabila ay si estelito mendoza!? Ang mahirap pa jan baka ang ilalaglag ni Davide ay c pareng noynoy kasi itong si abnoy, gloria @ estelito mendoza mga CABALEN yan. Alam naman natin ang mga CABALEN nagmamahalan yan. Samantalang itong si Davide bisaya. Ang mortal na magkalaban ang luzon at visaya…. pareng noynoy ingat ka kay davide bisaya yan… traydor yan!
Hindi naman kapag Bisaya ay traidor na. Let’s not stereotype. Ang mga VIP clients kadalasan kinukuha ang mga high profile lawyers tulad ni Estelito Mendoza. Pera lang ang kapalit niyan. Atty. Sigrid Fortun represents big time criminals like the Ampatuans. Former SC Justice Serafin Cuevas represents Merci Gutierrez and so on.
Hindi pwedeng magsama ang taga luzon at visaya… laging away yan kaya abnoy ingat ka kay davide anak ni taning yan wag kang mag trust sa kanya.
Maging sa trabaho at school hindi magkasundo kapag luzon at visaya.
If the military witnesses are still in active duty, medyo malabo. The cheating operations hapened in 2004, six years ago. Lahat na ng ebidensiya na-shred na o nasunog na o napalitan na ng mga tauhan ni garci at yung mga sumunod na mandarayang komisyoers niya. Na-neutralize na ni bansot yung kanyang mga opisyales na nandaya para sa kanya and yung iba nag-retire na. Mga henerales ba naman yung kanyang hatchet man, pipiyok ba naman yung mga sundalo kung inutusan silang mandaya? Sino ba naman ang magtetestigo ngayon kung nanganganib pa rin ang buhay ng mga magtetestigo. We have a very weak witness protection. I bet you all the documents on the cheating operations had already been long shredded and those who committed the crime compensated. Sino pa kaya ang mga naiwang may kaalaman ng pandarayang ito? Yun na lang sigurong super patriotic na mga kababayan natin ang maglalakas loob na tumestigo.
Ang truth commission – walang benipisyo sa atin yan kundi kalokohan lang yan at nagsasayang lang ng oras. Isa pa dagdag gastos lang itong itinatag ni abnoy.
I would rather know the truth even if we spend tons of money to do it. Even if the report may even be whitewashed (a perception by many). I would like bansot and her vulture cronies to be on pins and needles for at least two years.
I would also like this body to delay its findings until the crony Gutierrez leaves the Ombudsman. Otherwise, if anyone of their cronies would be referred to the Ombudsman to be investigated, this crony Ombudsman will just sit on the case or even trash the case. With a bansot appointed Ombudsman and a bansot Supreme Court, magiging toothless talaga ang fact finding body ni Davide.
But I hope Davide will deliver. Kung meron yang gusto kay Pnoy, Davide will turn against bansot kahit na namayagpag siya noon sa mga perks na ibinigay ni bansot sa kanya.
Hayaan na lang muna natin itong Tororot Konsumisyon na umusad … malay natin may mangyayari. Yan ang matagal ko o karamihan sa atin na gustong mangyari … yong managot ang mga suwapang, gahaman, manyak, magnanakaw na mga opisyales. Yang mga taong ginagamit ang kapangyarihan para lang yumaman at magpakasasa sa buhay sampu na ang kanyang mga anak, apo’t at pati na kaapo-apohan. Tamaan sana sila lahat ng kidlat!!!!!!!
Everyone is watching how Davide and his Commission shall handle the investigation. Lahat ay nakatuon sa kanyang pag-imbestiga kay Arroyo. Kung ang mga iba ay may kasalanan tapos di kasama si Gloria, failure ang Truth Commission. Kaya tama, hayaan na lang natin at tignan kung ano ang mangyayari bago tayo humusga.
Truth Commission could emulate the speed and competence of IIRC. They could finish investigation of HELLO GARCI in 2 months. Summon GMA and all concerned parties ASAP. And have all proceedings televised.
Pres Aquino is the most powerful person in the Phil. The SC , ombudsman, and congress are all toothless or powerless without police to enforce its decision, and police is absolutely under the control of P.Noy. P.Noy is the commander-in-chief of all the armed forces of the Phil . P.Noy should start wielding his awesome powers fully and begin kicking the butts of fake justice corona, ombadsgirl gutierrez, GMA, etc….
Ten years of rotten governance by Arroyo is very hard to solve. So far, I think Pres. Noynoy is on the right track. He’s faced with tremendous opposition from powerful groups that are used to corruption under Arroyo.
Sad to say but I don’t believe Noynoy will succeed with his programs unless he starts over. His promise to the people is a new government, a clean government, a progressive government. But look, he starts off with old farts like Davide, Versoza, Rumolo, Puno, and others who symbolize traditional ways of politics.
If Noynoy is judged by the company he keeps then there is only one conclusion to be made, and you know what that is.
His government may not last half its term, if he doesn’t shape up.
This I got to see. Just how tough and meticulous will Davide be without self-incrimination ? Before he profess rightheousness by seeking the guilty ones, he must bear in mind that the bubonic plague that killed all decency in the judiciary, legislative, and the executive branches of government (not to mention the ombudsman, the DoJ, the police, and the military) morphed into what it had become when he illegally swore gloria arroyo into office. For somebody who is as guilty hell like gloria, the truth commission with Davide at the helm is a big joke.
Davide can redeem himself by doing the right thing this time.
His government may not last half its term, if he doesn’t shape up.
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are you sure this is not a reflection of your own personal frustrations? perhaps you need to look at yourself and see if you need shaping up?
I would rather know the truth even if we spend tons of money to do it. Even if the report may even be whitewashed (a perception by many). I would like bansot and her vulture cronies to be on pins and needles for at least two years.
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psb,
i have the same sentiments…let us see her squirm, lets see her be taken off by policemen shamefully like what she did to erap…lets see her put in jail like what she did to the officers…she must be shown how it feels like…i wish someone would also betray her like what she did to the magdalo…
“His government may not last half its term, if he doesn’t shape up.”
Nah, I don’t think so. Bibihira lang yung katulad ni Erap na di man lang subukang lumaban at sumuko kaagad. 😛
re. #20
This article might shape you up:
http://antipinoy.com/noynoy-popularity-contest/
re. #22
Well, Mike, it is the hope of the nation that noynoy be true to his promises, but as we can see from his first 100 days it’s all been a smoke and mirror show. So many claims, so little substance.
Penoys admin will be bogged down by infighting from within his own chosen people, aggravated by his indecisiveness. Unless he corrects his bias and favoritism, he will be out. Even Kris Aquino and her fans will not be able to help him.
Watch groups have rated his performance ‘Bokya!’ Until such time this changes, he will known as kapitan bokya!
Buhay nga naman…ano ba nangyayari sa Pinas?
Ang tapang talaga ng apog nitong si Davide…imagine, inako pa na siya ang mamumuno ng Tooth Commission? E numero unong nagtraydor yan sa ating Saligang Batas…nagbigay ng daan upang angkinin ni Gloria ang poder ng kapangyarin last EDSA DOS eh.
Wala na talaga sa pagtino ang Pinas…ang daming matinong Pinoy na pwede naman siyang mamuno e ito pang mga hudas at sinungaling ang bibigyan ng kapangyarihan para ano?
Usigin muna nila ang kanilang mga sarili kasi nga e malaki ang kasalanan nila sa Sambayanang Pilipino.
RE: Davide can redeem himself by doing the right thing this time. ~2b1ask1
Yaks, kinilabutan ako sa winika mo Igan…kung marunong mag-isip itong si Davide e di tayo aabot ng 9-years sa hirap’t dusa?
Sino uululin niya…naturingan pa naman abugago e wala mabuting ginawa yan sa bayan kundi ibinaon tayo sa isang damakmak na problema.
Ngayon, magbabangong-puri siya…NO WAY! Enough na yong kagaguhan na ginawa niya sa ating lahat!
Dapat kasama yan na panagutin sa ginawa nila sa pagdusta sa ating Saligang Batas last EDSA DOS!
Maraming galit kay Davide lalo na sa kampo si President Estrada. But Pres. Noynoy might have a good reason for appointing him to lead the Truth Commission. Siguro nangako si Davide kay Presidente na babawi siya this time. I think we should just wait and see what happens.
May problema yang Truth Omission – yung petition laban diyan sa Kataas-Taasang Hukuman.
Even if you discount partisanship of the Glue appointed justices, talaga namang duplicative yan ng functions ng mga regular na department at opisyal ng gobyerno. In fact, the best argument against the Commission is the IIRC.
The IIRC is also a recommendatory fact-finding commission that put together officials from various government agencies for a limited purpose. So you can put together an IIRC type body for the purposes stated in the creation of the Throat Commission.
Now the Commission makes recommendations to the President, who reviews, and ostensibly decides. But the job of prosecuting corrupt officials is within the jurisdiction of the Office of the Ombudsman. So you will have the Office of the President recommending to the Ombudsman? And if the Ombudsman (even if it weren’t Merci) sees differently, what happens to the stature of the Office of the President? Ano, co-equal na ang Ombudsman at Presidente? Di ba’t Presidente, Congress at Supreme Court lang ang mga co-equals?
Watch groups have rated his performance ‘Bokya!’ Until such time this changes, he will known as kapitan bokya!
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anong watch groups? puro lang kasi dakdak ang nalalaman, magsumikap ka rin! 🙂
Fewer go hungry, feel poor
Affected families, however, still number in the millions
FEWER FILIPINO FAMILIES claim to have experienced hunger or feel poor but their numbers remain in the millions, a Social Weather Stations (SWS) survey showed
http://www.bworldonline.com/main/content.php?id=19646
Who is the chairman of the truth commission again? Davide?