MANILA -- Former Cabinet secretary Silvestre Bello III on Thursday expressed willingness to cooperate with the investigation of the Truth Commission tasked to investigate alleged anomalies in the previous administration.
Bello in a statement said officials who served former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo should not be afraid of the commission instead "welcome the opportunity to ascertain the veracity of alleged wrongdoings".
“We must not oppose government investigation if we are not hiding anything wrong. In fact, this is the proper venue where one can defend himself,” he stressed.
He added that he is willing to shed facts if summoned for investigation for the sake of transparency and accountability in governance.
Bello denied there was a Lakas party meeting that decided to oppose the creation of the commission.
President Benigno "Noynoy" Aquino III has issued Executive Order 1 formally creating an independent body to investigate and collate evidences regarding the alleged irregular transactions committed by the Arroyo administration.
“I support the President's call for a full investigation by the said commission,” Bello said, adding that he is confident in the ability of former Chief Justice Hilario Davide in heading the commission.
He pointed out that "just like the Melo and Mayuga independent investigations, the Truth Commission was created by the virtue of an executive order and does not need legislation."
Bello served as Cabinet secretary during the term of former President Arroyo.
He ran as senator under Lakas-Kampi-Christian Muslim Democrats during the last national elections. (Jill Beltran/Sunnex)