Legarda: Truth commission unnecessary

CEBU, Philippines – Senator Loren Legarda does not see the need for the creation of a Truth Commission that will investigate the alleged graft and corruption done by the previous administration.

Legarda, who was in Cebu the other day, said that it is enough that there is the Department of Justice who will do the task.

"The Truth Commission has no legal personality. It does not even have the power to prosecute. It is just a recommendatory body. It has no teeth," the opposition senator said.

The Truth Commission was created by President Benigno "Noynoy" Aquino III through his Executive Order number two.

However, the legality of the creation of such commission is being questioned. The legal issue is still pending before the Supreme Court, whose justices were appointees of former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, the subject of the Truth Commission's investigation.

Legarda said corruption must be stopped at all cost and it is the job of the DOJ to go after those who corrupt money from the government and to ensure that these people will be prosecuted.

"Dapat talaga na e-prosecute yong may kasalanan. Hindi lang puro lip service," Legarda said, who said that even if she did not win in Cebu when she run for vice president, Cebu will always have a special place in her heart.

The Truth Commission will be headed by Cebuano and former Supreme Court Chief Justice Hilario Davide, Jr., whose integrity and credibility is strongly questioned by former President Joseph "Erap" Estrada.

Davide was then chief justice and presided over the impeachment proceedings against Estrada, who was ousted from the presidency in 2003 by a popular Edsa Revolution II or People Power II.

Davide strongly campaigned for Aquino in the last May 10 local and national elections considering that his son, Hilario III, run for governor in Cebu under the president's Liberal Party.

Legarda was the runningmate of Senator and presidential aspirant Manuel Villar, Jr. She was strongly endorsed by the One Cebu Party that is headed by Cebu Governor Gwendolyn Garcia.

In terms of projects for Cebu, Legarda said that legislators have not yet submitted their priority projects but she assured she will have projects and programs that would be beneficial for Cebu.

"For me, I don't look at where provinces I won or lost. Now is the time to work and forgive everybody. Majority of my staff are even from Cebu," she added. (THE FREEMAN)