In another blow to President Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III’s administration, the Supreme Court has declared unconstitutional the much trumpeted Truth Commission.
Voting 10-5, the Supreme Court ruling effectively bars the prosecution of former President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo and other officials and parties involved in alleged scandals under the previous administration.
The 5 who dissented were: Associate Justices Antonio Nachura, Antonio Carpio, Conchita Carpio Morales, Maria Lourdes Sereno, and Roberto Abad dissented.
The high court apparently gave credence to the petition of minority lawmakers led by Rep. Edcel Lagman, who sought to have the executive fiat that created the Truth Commission quashed.
House Minority Leader Edcel Lagman praised the Supreme Court for junking the Truth Commission, a move that, he said, signals the triumph of the rule of law. Negros Rep.Ignacio Iggy Arroyo also approves of SC decision.http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/nation/12/07/10/lagman-sc-decision-triumph-rule-law
The commission, tasked to investigate the anomalies during the 9-year term of Mrs. Arroyo, was created with too much power that it has already stepped on the rights of constitutionally-created bodies, they had said.
The commission, headed by former Chief Justice Hilario Davide, Jr., has already actually convened. It has not started investigations, however, absent a ruling from the high court.
This decision comes in a string of setbacks for the Aquino administration.
