Search for truth continues

President vows to punish crooks

President Benigno Aquino 3rd on Wednesday vowed to continue seeking the truth and hold accountable those who took part in alleged misdeeds during the past administration.

“Nananawagan ako, sa mga nagbubulag-bulagan at nagbibingi-bingihan sa malinaw na panawagan ng taumbayan: Huwag po sanang harangan ang aking tungkulin [I call on those who play blind and deaf to the clamor of the people: Please let me do my job],” President Aquino said.

“Habang nandito ako, hindi ako papayag na patuloy na apihin ang Pilipino [As long as I am here, I will not allow the enslavement of the Filipino]” the President added.

According to him, they are studying the Supreme Court decision and the options available to Malacañang.

Mr. Aquino made the statements a day after the High Court issued a decision that declared unconstitutional the administration’s Executive Order (EO) 1 creating the Truth Commission.

The commission’s mandate was to investigate corruption scandals that rocked the government during the watch of then President Gloria Arroyo.

President Aquino said that the Truth Commission’s main task is to put closure to all the unresolved controversies that hounded the Arroyo administration, among them the aborted $330-million broadband contract, the fertilizer-fund controversy and the “Hello, Garci” scandal.

Darkest chapters

“Ang hinahabol po natin dito ay katotohanan. Itinatag natin ang Truth Commission upang isara ang sinasabing isa sa mga pinakamadilim na kabanata sa ating kasaysayan—at malinaw na makakamtan lamang natin ito kung patuloy nating tutuklasin at kakapitan ang katotohan [What we are after is the truth. We put up the Truth Commission to put closure to the darkest chapters in our country’s history—and it is clear that we can only realize that closure if we continue searching for the truth and clinging to the truth],” he added.

“Ang pinakamahalagang layunin nito: Bigyang-liwanag ang anumang sadyang hinarang ang pagsisiwalat, at patuloy pang itinatago ng mga nakinabang sa lumang sistema [The most important objective of the commission is this: Shed light on the intentional blocking of investigations of the scandals, which still are being feasted on by those who had gained from them, in the first place],” Mr. Aquino said.

He also clarified that the Truth Commission is not singling out one person—former President Gloria Arroyo, now sitting as a Pampanga lawmaker.

“Lilinawin ko po: Hindi nakatutok ang Truth Commission sa iisang tao lamang, kundi sa maraming iba’t ibang mga insidente.

Kailangan po nating malaman—hiwa-hiwalay bang kaso ito, o ito ang sistemang umiral sa loob ng siyam at kalahating taon? May mga kakuntsaba pa bang nasa puwesto ngayon, at may pagkakataon pang ipagpatuloy nila ang kanilang pamiminsala? [I will make it clear: The Truth Commission is not aiming at just one person, but at others. We have to know—are we talking of different cases, or is this the system that prevailed in the last nine and a half years? Are those who gained still in the government, and do they still have the chance to continue destroying the government?]” the President said.

Possible options

Apparently reproaching the people, he said, “Kapag napinsala ang mga Pilipino, hindi po ba kayo nababahala? Hindi po ba kasama ang inyong mga anak, apo, at mga mahal sa buhay na makikinabang sa paglalatag natin ng maayos na sistema, kung saan mananagot ang mga nagkasala? [Are you not bothered if you suffer? Isn’t it that your children, grandchildren, your loved ones will
be the ones to gain from an orderly system, where those who do wrong will be punished?]” he added.

Mr. Aquino said that he received a copy of the decision of the Supreme Court at 5:47 p.m. of Wednesday.

He added that among the possible options available to Malacañang are filing a motion for reconsideration and amending EO 1. –Cris G. Odronia, Reporter, Manila Times