Solon urges creation of truth commission

MANILA, Philippines–A lawmaker on Monday proposed the creation of a truth commission that would investigate how funds released through the pork barrel system were used.

Citizens Battle Against Corruption (Cibac) Rep. Sherwin Tugna supported the proposal of Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV who has said that an independent commission should look into the controversy that has been hitting the headlines for nearly a year.

But Bayan Muna Rep. Carlos Zarate expressed reservations about a truth commission to be created by the President, who would likely pick persons associated with his administration, and would be highly susceptible to a cover-up.

The administration itself should be liable for the confusion over the issue, Zarate said.

In a text message, Zarate said the Aquino administration should take the blame for the confusion on the issue because of its “selective investigation since it got hold of the damning evidence provided by (Benhur) Luy et al. last year.”

He said the Department of Justice should immediately file charges against all those involved in the scam, regardless of political affiliations.

According to Tugna, the truth commission should not overstep the powers of the Ombudsman, the Sandiganbayan and the lower courts since its findings would be recommendatory.

“In creating the truth commission, the President would be true to the powers that he swore to when he won the election,” he said in a statement.

Tugna said a truth commission for the pork barrel scam should not suffer the same legal infirmities as the panel the Aquino administration created to probe the administration of President Gloria Arroyo.