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Sept 12, 2010
SANGLEY POINT, Cavite City — The Truth Commission will start working this week after the completion of its members.
The Truth Commission members led by retired Chief Justice Hilario Davide will take their oath of office then immediately get to work.
Other members of the commission are retired Supreme Court Associate Justices Flerida Ruth Romero, Romeo Callejo Jr., Atty. Carlos Medina Jr., executive director of the Ateneo Human Rights Center and Ateneo Law professor Atty. Menardo Guevarra.
The commission is mandated to investigate the corruption and scandals during the administration of former President and now Pampanga Representative Gloria Macapagal Arroyo.
President Aquino who created the commission said the commission will do its job immediately.
The President did not specify what would be the first corruption case that the commission will tackle.
Several corruption scandals have hounded the previous administration, among which is the ZTE-NBN deal, also known as the “National Broadband Network (NBN) controversy.”
The Truth Commission was created by President Aquino through Executive Order no. 1 but this was questioned before the Supreme Court by the allies of Rep. Arroyo led by House Minority leader Edcel Lagman.
In a 55-page petition, Lagman and Reps. Rodolfo Albano Jr., Simeon Datumanong and Orlando Fua Jr. called the Truth Commission an “exercise in futility.”
The lawmakers also asked the SC to issue a temporary restraining order on the enforcement of EO No. 1.
Malacañang, however, maintained that the Truth Commission stands on solid legal ground.
Presidential Spokesman Edwin Lacierda said that in the absence of a TRO issued by the court, the Truth Commission will do its job.