PCGG bats for creation of ‘truth commission’

The Presidential Commission on Good Government (PCGG) has proposed to Congress the creation of a "truth commission" to prevent the revival of dictatorship in the country.

PCGG Commissioner Ruben Carranza Jr. said such a commission has been proven effective in stopping tyranny in countries like Argentina and Chile.

"A ‘truth commission’ has helped Argentina and Chile to overthrow dictatorship. This might also help us prevent a revival of tyranny in the country," he said.

The PCGG recently filed a draft bill on the proposal with the House committee on civil, political and human rights.

Carranza said the "truth commission" will be tasked to document human rights abuses during the Marcos dictatorship to somehow serve as lesson for the next leaders of the country.

"This commission will document in detail what happened during the period of tyranny. It will be like saying ‘Never again’… We are eyeing Senators Joker Arroyo or Francis Pangilinan to sponsor our bill," he said.

The PCGG proposes that the commission be supervised jointly by the agency and the Commission on Human Rights with the assistance of the National Historical Institute and the University of the Philippines.

With such a commission, Carranza said other martial law victims may be encouraged "to come out in the open so that their stories will be heard."

Close to 10,000 human rights victims during the Marcos regime have surfaced to file a class suit against the Marcos family with the Hawaii court. They eventually won the case and are now awaiting compensation from the Marcoses.