Truth commission on ZTE to be set up

MANILA, Philippines - Incoming president Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III will set up a truth commission that will investigate the wide range of controversies that occurred during the nine-year Arroyo administration.

“I want an independent commission that will be beyond criticism so their findings won’t be manufactured results for political purposes, but based on solid evidence and facts,” Aquino said during the announcement of members of his Cabinet yesterday.

The commission will investigate the alleged vote rigging during the 2004 presidential elections, the cancelled $329-million national broadband deal with Chinese firm ZTE Corp., and the supposed misuse of the P728-million fertilizer fund, among others.

Arroyo, who formally steps down from office today, has consistently denied any wrongdoing and survived three impeachment attempts because of her party’s dominance in Congress. Aquino said the commission should come up with a resolution that “will stand up to the scrutiny of a court trial.”

Former chief justice Hilario Davide Jr., who has a close relationship with President Arroyo, will head the commission.

After retiring as head magistrate, Davide was appointed as Senior Presidential Adviser on Electoral Reforms and eventually, Philippine Permanent Representative to the United Nations in New York. Aquino, however, is confident that Davide’s affiliation with Arroyo will not affect his function in the new commission because of his past performance in the judiciary.

Davide had also served the administration of Aquino’s mother, former President Corazon Aquino, who named him to the Constitutional Commission created in February 1986 to revise the Charter.

In the same year, Mrs. Aquino appointed him chairman of the Commission on Elections. He also served as chairman of the Presidential Fact-finding Commission to investigate the military’s involvement in the bloody coup attempt to remove her from power in 1989.

Aquino met up with Davide in his house on Times Street in Quezon City last Sunday.

Aquino had also offered the position to vice president-elect Jejomar Binay, but he declined.

He said he chose Davide for the position because of his competence and objectivity.

“He (Davide) will not prejudge until the evidence is present. So I am looking for somebody who has established competency, not presumed competency. (He has) proven and demonstrated competency in his ability to ferret out the truth,” he said. Sen. Miriam Defensor-Santiago said despite being an appointee of Arroyo, Davide is expected to remain impartial as head of the commission. “I am delighted with that choice because I always hold Justice Davide in high regard as a jury and a fellow lawyer, not only because of his qualifications or competence, but also because of the facility (by) which he becomes objective with regards a case,” she said. “(If he has accepted the post) then he is confident that he has risen above his relationship with President Arroyo and still be able to render her justice,” Santiago said.

Prosecute Arroyo for corruption

A group of doctors yesterday encouraged the prosecution of President Arroyo on allegations of corruption.

“We will watch and will continue to challenge the incoming chief executive to keep his word that he will go after Arroyo’s accountabilities,” said Health Alliance for Democracy (HEAD) president Dr. Geneve Rivera in a statement.

“Bidding Arroyo goodbye is not only a matter of good riddance but to push for the urgent call to bring her and her minions to justice,” she added.

An alliance of farmer organizations, meanwhile, urged Aquino to investigate agriculture investments and agreements under the Arroyo administration, which they said have been sources of corruption.

Arze Glipo, lead convener of Task Force Food Sovereignty (TFFS), which comprises 100 farmer and labor groups, said agricultural lands have been leased and sold to foreign corporations under the food and agriculture programs of the Arroyo administration, threatening the livelihood of the poor. The group was referring to the fertilizer fund scam, the overpriced purchase of ice-making machines by the Department of Agriculture, the alleged smuggling of farm products, and the palay support of the government that “barely reached the farmers.”

The group also urged Aquino to install agriculture officials sympathetic to the needs of farmers.

The group also said the incoming administration should review the current agricultural model that satisfies the needs of the export market but relies heavily on imports to fill domestic supply requirements. It said the Aquino administration should prioritize food production for domestic consumption and implement agrarian reform that will provide land and agriculture support to farmers. - Aurea Calica, Christina Mendez, Sheila Crisostomo, Mayen Jaymalin, Rhodina Villanueva, AP