Truth commission to look into alleged conspiracy

The truth commission sought by Malacañang would not only look into allegations hurled against President Arroyo by the opposition, but will also examine reports of a conspiracy to topple the government, the President announced yesterday.

At her first press conference in nearly two months, the President said the language of the administrative order creating the truth commission is still being finalized.

Palace officials earlier said the details of the fact-finding body would be announced before Mrs. Arroyo’s State of the Nation Address (SONA) on Monday.

"That’s where we are now," she said. "I’d like to stress that when I said that I would organize a fact-finding commission, it’s not only on the allegations against me, but also on the conspiracy behind the allegations. That is very clear."

In her letter to the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) dated July 19, Mrs. Arroyo said she would heed the bishops’ admonition to form a truth commission to look into the allegations hurled against her as well as reports of a conspiracy to destabilize her administration.

She said she would be consulting closely with various sectors to determine the composition of the truth commission.

National Security Adviser Norberto Gonzales said the CBCP also raised concerns in its pastoral statement over reports of extra-constitutional efforts to topple the Arroyo administration.

The CBCP, in a declaration following a special conference to define its stand on the political crisis, declined to endorse mounting calls for Mrs. Arroyo’s resignation, but cited the need for moral accountability and to restore trust in her leadership.

In a separate declaration, the Bishop-Business Conference (BBC) called for the creation of an independent fact-finding body to investigate allegations of wrongdoing against Mrs. Arroyo.

The President said her consultations were still ongoing "considering the many opinions that have arisen since I made the announcement."

Press Secretary Ignacio Bunye said the draft AO and proposed legislation to strengthen the commission are ready but added that government lawyers are going over it again.

Meanwhile, Senate President Franklin Drilon welcomed the President’s move to form a consultative constitutional commission for Charter change, but said the issue of amending the Constitution should not divert the people from the impeachment process filed against the chief executive.

Opposition Sen. Edgardo Angara, a Charter change advocate, said instituting constitutional reforms was necessary for accelerating the country’s development and economic growth.

Angara also debunked speculations that the proposal was a diversionary tactic by the President: "Charter change will help usher in a new level of economic development for the country. It will certainly improve the lives of our people." — Paolo Romero and Christina Mendez