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Thursday, July 21, 2005
Arroyo to submit to probe by truth body: aide
MANILA -- Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita said Wednesday he sees no reason why President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo would reject being subjected to an investigation by the truth commission considering that she agreed to its creation.
Ermita said while he does not want to preempt the President's options or her decision, there was a good reason for Arroyo to agree to the creation of the commission in the first place.
"The fact that the President is open to creating the truth commission suggested that nothing will prevent the President from considering the possibility of her participation to it. I would not wish to state categorically that such is the case because the President is the President. I don't want to preempt the President's options," he said.
Ermita, whose office is spearheading the crafting of the administrative order (AO) for the creation of the truth commission, said it was not necessary to specify who would be subjected to an investigation.
The Palace is hoping that Congress would pass a joint resolution that would help empower the truth commission being created by the administration to look into allegations that stemmed from the so-called "Hello Garci" tapes, similar to what happened when the Davide Fact-Finding Commission was created in 1989.
Ermita said in creating the Davide Fact-Finding Commission, Congress made a joint resolution reinforcing the AO 146 issued by then President Corazon Aquino. The commission was created to look into the coup attempts against Aquino's administration.
He said the joint resolution enabled the commission to subpoena witnesses, who were at the same time given immunity.
Ermita expressed belief that the present Congress would see merit in making such a resolution since it would ensure that witnesses who are hesitant to come out or opt to ignore any invitation from the commission would surface and testify.
He said a joint resolution would also make the proceedings more credible.
"(But) it is not a precondition for the conduct of the truth commission," he added.
Justice Secretary Raul Gonzalez Sr. said it would be up to commission members to decide whom they would invite, especially if it would be given powers similar to that provided to the Davide Fact-Finding Commission in 1989. The commission was able to summon then Vice President Salvador "Doy" Laurel.
But Ermita believes that those invited may still invoke certain legalities to escape any summons like in the case of the Commission on Election (Comelec), which is a separate constitutional body and Vice President Noli de Castro, who could cite that he is involved in a pending case before the Presidential Electoral Tribunal (PET).
Ermita assured that only persons with known probity, competence, integrity and stature would be appointed to the commission to allay fears of whitewash or partiality to the President.
He said the commission could be comprised of a retired justice of the Court of Appeals (CA), of the Supreme Court, either a retired or active bishop or archbishop, some learned people from the business community, and from the academe. He said it may even include members of the opposition or representatives of the President's detractors.
On claims that the commission is violating the clause of separation of state and church after Arroyo agreed to forming the body following the advice of the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP), he said it is a normal reaction from those against the government.
He said if they think that the Catholic Church would support them, they would go for it but because the stand is against them they invoke the separation of church and state.
"What is important is we want to come out with the truth. Akala ko iyun din ang gusto nilang mangyari (I thought that is what they wanted to happen)?" Ermita asked.
Press Secretary Ignacio Bunye, also the presidential spokesman, said they have expected the opposition and detractors of the President to either oppose or criticize the creation of the truth commission.
Bunye said it is already part of our culture. "Whatever the President does, she would continue to be criticized," he said.
Gonzalez added that the problem is that the opposition would never be satisfied no matter what the President does, just like when First Gentleman Jose Miguel Arroyo agreed to go on self-exile as suggested by the President's detractors. He said after the President's husband left, there were still suspicions that it's just a ploy.
"The minority don't want the impeachment before and even questioned it as a ploy of the administration, and everybody talked about the truth commission. Now that the President acceded to it, they are not satisfied and are now saying the truth commission is simply a cover-up for the impeachment or to derail the impeachment process. Where do you want the President to go or to be?" he said.
He said he sees nothing wrong with the conduct of the investigation by the truth commission at the same time that the impeachment case is heard in Congress "as long as they do not overlap."
Ermita said they see no inconsistency in the parallel inquiry of the commission and the ongoing impeachment, adding that it may even "enhance the impeachment".
Presidential adviser for political affairs Gabriel Claudio said the creation of the commission does not mean that the impeachment would not push through.
He said the administration is for the truth and it would even agree to a recount of the votes if needed.
Taguig Representative Alan Peter Cayetano said the commission is not designed to ferret out the truth but to appease some groups while Ilocos Norte Representative Ma. Imelda "Imee" Marcos said the commission would only duplicate the impeachment process. (JMR/Sunnex)
(July 21, 2005 issue)
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