In favor of Truth Commission... Yes or No?

[websniper]

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it just wasting money, money and money.

[JoRed]

Malacañang dodges action on truth commission set-up

By Amita O. Legaspi and Gerry Baldo
Sunday, 07 17, 2005



Malacañang appears to be dodging the issue of a Palace-created Truth Commission, even as it said it is open to the proposal for the creation of such a body.

The proposed truth commission is envisioned by a group of businessmen and bishops to conduct an in-depth investigation into the “Gloriagate� scandal to determine if President Arroyo is guilty of cheating in the presidential elections last year.

The controversial wiretapped conversation tapes had her speaking to a poll official, where an enhanced version had her asking the poll official to pad her votes.

But the Palace does not appear keen on the idea of the President creating the commission.

Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita, during a radio interview, yesterday said the Palace does not object to the idea of forming a truth commission to once and for all get to the bottom of the most serious issue that has hit Mrs. Arroyo and her administration for the issue to be resolved, but preferred that another branch creates it.

Ermita merely said the Palace wants to meet with the Bishops-Businessmen's Conference (BBC) to discuss the procedure of organizing the investigating body.

“In my opinion, it is necessary that a meeting


should be held (to discuss the proposal) to determine who will compose it (commission), how it will be organized and who would really organize it,� he said in Pilipino.

He added if it is formed, the truth commission would be similar to the fact-finding bodies that have been organized by the government in the past such as the Agrava Commission, which was formed during the time of the late President Ferdinand Marcos to investigate the assassination of Sen. Benigno “Ninoy� Aquino Jr.; the Davide Commission, which then President Corazon Aquino created to probe the failed coup attempt in 1989; and Feliciano commission, which was created in late 2003 to hear the case of the Oakwood soldiers who staged a mutiny that year against the military leadership and the Arroyo government.

Last Friday, during a press briefing it held at the Manila Polo Club in Makati City, the BBC called on Mrs. Arroyo to form the truth commission before she delivers her State of the Nation Address on July 25.

The group, which expressed belief that the creation of a truth commission will help solve the political crisis the country is currently reeling from, proposed that the President personally pick the members of the investigating body so that she would show the Filipinos that she also wants the truth over the said issue to come out.

The BBC said the commission's composition should be made up of personalities from various sectors who have credibility and integrity.

“The BBC chooses for the moment to suspend judgment on her (Mrs. Arroyo) culpability and her ability to govern. We thus urge her to initiate the formation and operation of a truth commission with members to be selected by and from among a group of prominent persons held in high public esteem,� the BBC had said in a statement.

It then raised the name of former Commission on Elections (Comelec) Chairman Christian Monsod as head of the body and the following as members: Isagani Cruz, Michael Mastura, Fr. Joaquin Bernas, Ramon Farolan, Randy David and Romeo Capulong.

The BBC said the truth commission should specifically look into allegations that Mrs. Arroyo took advantage of her office to alter the results of the 2004 presidential elections, the alleged involvement of the Comelec in the irregularities, as well as to determine who authorized and executed the alleged wiretapping of the calls on the controversial tapes and the motives for exposing the taped conversations.

“The Truth Commission would need to be empowered by law or regulation to compel the delivery of information and the appearance of witnesses from both government and private sectors to its proceedings in order for it to effectively execute its mandate to get to the truth,� the BBC had said.

The group added that the commission should be given full access to data in possession of any and all government agencies involved in supervising, monitoring, tallying and preparing the Statements of Votes and Certificates of Canvass from the last elections.

The group had said it preferred the creation of the truth commission to the moves to impeach Mrs. Arroyo.

But the political opposition yesterday said the Arroyo administration is now in a frenzy over the problems it is facing for all sorts of dilatory tactics that would prolong the stay of Mrs. Arroyo in Malacañang.

Former Senator Francisco Tatad claimed that among these schemes are the proposal to create a truth commission and the proposal to tinker with the Constitution.

“These are dilatory tactics, the people knew what has happened,� Tatad said during the weekly Kapihan sa Sulo media forum in Quezon City.

Tatad said the opposition does not know the motive for the creation of such a body given the fact that the people already knew what had happened during the elections and what is happening now within the Arroyo government.

Tatad also pointed out that the current proposal change the constitution is also one of the schemes to prolong the stay of Mrs. Arroyo in Malacañang apparently to give the president a graceful exit.

“Constitutional change is not a substitute for the needed reforms,� he said.

While some may accept the idea of giving her a graceful exit, Tatad stressed that she does not deserve to stay longer in Malacañang.

“Some may accept the idea but for me, I would abide by the Constitution — she is a usurper, she does not deserve to stay a minute longer in Malacañang,� Tatad pointed out.

“She has no term to talk about. She is like a burglar who has been caught but is asking the homeowner to stay a bit longer,� he said.

Former priest Ed de la Torre, however, said the release of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines' position on the “Gloriagate� scandal, had thwarted the momentum of the “Oust Gloria� movement.

De la Torre and Tatad, while maintaining that the CBCP statement was “fully in accordance with the Church teachings� and did not favor Mrs. Arroyo, admitted that it benefited Mrs. Arroyo.

“Malacañang benefited tactically from the statement,� De La Torre said.

He said the CBCP does not want to venture into the realm of politics and the statement it issued was the most that the Church could do.

Tatad noted that the bishops were saying that people are free to ask Mrs. Arroyo to resign and are free to use non-violent means to oust her.

What was lacking in the statement. Tatad said, was the issue of her stealing the elections.

“What was not there was the principle that when you steal something, you should give it back,� Tatad said.

[clarkhkent]

YES....

but hopefully.....puro truth na ilang buhaton....wala untay politika nga sagol ba!

[Bolshoi]

My answer is no to Truth Commission.

[FK]

Nagpabuhat na jud tawn si GMA...

I hope dili ni para mawala ang attention sa impeachment. Ang impeachment lahi to.

para nako kani ang truth commission para ni sa tanan taw nga involve sa tape... especially si Garci.

[tempest]

First she refused calls for her to resign despite buking na buking.

She told the protesters that they should file an impeachment case against her in Congress as part of the Constitutional process of removing her.

Now she realize that there is a great possibility of her being impeached because of the snowballing support for her impeachment in Congress.Â* With a minority dominated Senate, the chances of her being impeached is great.

Sensing this danger, she is now proposing a truth commission whose power is so vague and whose composition is so suspect. Worse, truth commission is even unconstitutional.Â* From unconstitutional (rally) , to constitutional (impeachment) then to another unconstitutional measure (truth commission.)

The people are being given a run around by Gloria. Her suspicious moves all gives credence that she is not sincere in resolving the issue and that she will do everything to put everything in mockery just to stay in power immorally and against the will of the Filipino people.

[img width=500 height=345]http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b246/tempests97/impeach.jpg[/img]

[tempest]

This truth commission is another deception resorted to by the immoral Arroyo administration to stay in power.

Oh my. The Arroyo adminsitration is not short of surprises in store for us. Let us prepare for more from her BAG OF TRICKS!

[JoRed]

Gloria & her spin doctors are still in damage control mode. She was "pressured" to admit (after a long silence)that she was the voice on the infamous "Hello, Garci" tapes & conveniently blamed it on her momentarily "lapse of judgement" & now, in reaction to the CBCP's statement - she was again "pressured"(after stalling for sometime)) to form a "Truth Commission". The composition of which & the scope of it's function are still to be determine. I would safely assume that the soon-to-be members of this commission shall be "acceptable" to the Trapo opposition, as a sort of an appeasement. Davide Sr, Yorac, & R. David might be likely named. R. Capulong might be thrown in to appease the Left. She's smart enough to throw in a deodorant.Now, let the zarzuela begin!.But all this is just a ploy to buy time & forment more devious strategies. Gloria, in her capacity as a lap dog of the powers that be, still proves to be a reliable & loyal servant of their interest. Proof of that is the 1995 Mining Act, the National ID, EVat, VF, & many more anti people, anti nation , anti sovereignty, Â*pro landlord, pro big comprador, & pro monopoly capitalism moves of her administration. The final decision of Gloria's demiseÂ* would likely come from the Master puppeteer- American Imperialism. Gloria is expendable, like Marcos & Erap before her.Â* Â* Â*Â* Â* Â* Â* Â* Â*

[riko diko]

Is this truth commission her team's idea?! She's the one in question here!!! How can they plan to form such "TRUTH commission"?! I think this so-called truth commission will still be doubted as a mere distraction to the main issue, same with future reforms of GMA, it's just hard to trust her. I say let the impeachment process start, anyway a long list of impeachable offenses has been prepared that even her dogs in congress will find it hard to reject.

[JoRed]

[img width=350 height=335]http://195.35.83.123/angbayan/images/050621/takbogma.gif[/img]

pahabol! ngisi sad mo uy!