Constitutionality of Truth Commission
Malacanang: Only SC can invoke PTC
Amid petitions regarding the legality of the Philippines’ Truth Commission (PTC), the executive office said that it will still push through with its task to investigate graft and corruption involving past officials unless the Supreme Court issues a restraining order.
Deputy spokesperson Abigail Valte, reiterating the stance of the former Chief Justice and chair of the PTC Hilario Davide Jr., said the said commission must start its probing now due to time constraints. In its mandate, the PTC was only given two years to accomplish its mission.
“We all know that there is a pending challenge on the constitutionality of the executive order creating the Philippine Truth Commission. But that, in itself, we should (consider) the statement made by one of our commissioners (in the PTC) and I think former Chief Justice Davide mentioned it also that we cannot let this issue to bog their work down,” Valte said.
Joker: PTC might suffer the same fate as the IIRC
“That Truth Commission, will that be subject to a review too?,” Senator Joker Arroyo said in reaction to the creation of the Philippine Truth Commission (PTC).
Senator Arroyo was referring to the Incident Investigation and Review Committee (IIRC) report which probed into the August 23 hostage fiasco. The report’s recommendations calling for criminal investigation was downgraded by the presidential legal team which ultimately absolved Aquino allies from any liability.
The senator said that such action by the executive branch will be improper especially in the case of the PTC whose members are known legal experts. He also observed, based on the fate of the IIRC, the Aquino government will not stop altering and studying cases to suit its agenda.
Amnesty grant
Exec office will not meddle in Magdalo case
The executive office refuses to interfere with the scheduled court decision by Makati Regional Trial Court Judge Oscar Pimentel on the coup d’etat charges against Navy Lieutenant now Senator Antonio Trillanes IV and the other military participants even if legal experts suggest that the ruling should be issued despite President Benigno S. Aquino III's issuance of Proclamation 50 granting amnesty to the mutineers.
Deputy presidential spokesman Abigail Valte said Proclamation 50 will not stop the judiciary from exercising its jurisdiction ever the more than 300 rebel soldiers’ cases. She added that the executive branch is still waiting for the concurrence of Congress regarding the presidential proclamation which will take separate path from the ongoing case in the regional trial court.
However, the presidential amnesty grant was seen as a form of intervention to the jurisdiction of the judiciary and as a political move by President Aquino III.
Despite Typhoon Juan, Lakbayan pushed through
Amid Typhoon Juan (international name: Megi), thousands of farmers were determined to push through with their four-day march to Mendiola, Manila. The protest was called “Lakbayan ng Magsasaka Laban sa Hacienderong Rehimen ni Noynoy Aquino” (March of the Farmers Against the Landlord Regime of Noyoy Aquino).
Nestor Villanueva, spokesperson of Katipunan ng Samahan ng Magbubukid sa Timog Katagalugan (KASAMA-TK), said that the calamity they will face under Aquino III regime is worse than typhoon Juan. As they marched all the way from south and north of Manila, the farmers called genuine agrarian reform, housing rights, the release of political prisoners, and stop to militarization in the provinces.
* Lakbayan refers to a form of protest where farmers, from Southern Tagalog ad sometimes nationwide, march to Mendiola to voice out their grievances.
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