SC declares ‘truth’ executive order unconstitutional

[Xilcher]

---

The Truth Commission in October revealed a shortlist of 20 corruption and cheating scandals being considered for investigation.

These include:

1. The NBN-ZTE deal, which involved allegations of corruption in the awarding of a $329-million contract to the Chinese telecommunications firm ZTE for the government's proposed National Broadband Network (NBN) project.
   
   The ZTE contract was signed on April 20, 2007 in Hainan, China. Six months later, after news of alleged irregularities came out, then President Arroyo canceled the NBN project in October 2007. On July 14, 2008, the SC dismissed three petitions questioning the constitutionality of the deal, saying these became moot when the project was canceled.
2. The fertilizer fund scam, which involved accusations that former Agriculture Undersecretary Jocelyn "Jocjoc" Bolante diverted P728 million in fertilizer funds to Arroyo's 2004 election campaign.
3. The C-5 road controversy, which involved accusations that Senator Manuel Villar — real state developer, Forbes Magazine’s ninth richest Filipino in 2009 with a net worth of $530 million, and who was once Senate President — used his powers to realign the C-5 road project for the benefit of his companies. Villar denied any wrongdoing connected to the road project.
4. The "Hello Garci" election scandal, which was triggered by the release of recorded conversations between a woman perceived to be Arroyo and a man said to be former Elections Commissioner Virgilio Garcillano Jr. In the conversations, the two discussed the alleged padding of 2004 election returns in favor of Arroyo. The wiretapped conversations were later made public as digital files and tagged as "Hello Garci" tapes.

SOURCE

--The palace will continue on their investigations, ayaw sa ug happy-happy GMA.

To all the people saying this commission was only made to investigate the previous administration, I say wake up people. Even Senator Manny Villar will be investigated and this is just the shortlist. Dapat panagutin ang mga naka sala, if wala then let them explained their side. Dili ng mag-asa ra kay they know naa sila kakampi...

unta ilaha gi apil ang Hacienda Luisita Tragedy and Controversy.. + Manila Hostage Taking

kay basin..mauto pako..

[masakiton]

unta ilaha gi apil ang Hacienda Luisita Tragedy and Controversy.. + Manila Hostage Taking

kay basin..mauto pako..

hahaha
panahon ra lagi ni gloria hahaha
noy2x = gloria hater

[AnInO]

hahaha
panahon ra lagi ni gloria hahaha
noy2x = gloria hater

kita nasad mo ingon...

haters will be haters...

wahaha

[Xilcher]

kita nasad mo ingon...

haters will be haters...

wahaha

tumpak!

kanu-a kaha maka move on ning mga sourgrapers..
bitter kaayu...
kagutnit lng ug power hawud hawud na!

wuiiiii get over na maNoynoy!

[hulagway]

hahaha..tanawa daan pako..ila jud dayon ingnon nga ang SC is dapig ni gma...so ng pasabot ni nga kung ang SC appointed ni noynoy maski unconstitutional i approved gihapon? hehehe dalang matuwid ni NOYNOY....ang NOTNOTyans pud too dayon aw..condemn sayon ang SC...mao ni ang ila tactics karon..

[bearish]

I think we need to be serious with our views on this. In fairness, the commission is intended to dig the truth. That's not bad for the people. It is for the benefit of the people. It is for the benefit of us all.

Dili na lang nato na tan-awon as revenge ngadto sa previous administration. Tan-awon lang nato ang intention ani. Makadaot ba ni para nato or makaayo ni nato, practical view lang gud. ngano sawayon man nato ni, tinarong man kaha ni. pwede ra man sad dili truth commission itawag ani. as long as atong susihon ang anomaliya nga nahitabo.


naunsa naman ta ani oi.

[masakiton]

I think we need to be serious with our views on this. In fairness, the commission is intended to dig the truth. That's not bad for the people. It is for the benefit of the people. It is for the benefit of us all.

Dili na lang nato na tan-awon as revenge ngadto sa previous administration. Tan-awon lang nato ang intention ani. Makadaot ba ni para nato or makaayo ni nato, practical view lang gud. ngano sawayon man nato ni, tinarong man kaha ni. pwede ra man sad dili truth commission itawag ani. as long as atong susihon ang anomaliya nga nahitabo.


naunsa naman ta ani oi.

sakto
kung iya intention kai ipa gawas ang kamato oran ug silotan ang angay silotan... ngano sa panahon raman ni gloria
kining truth commission parihas raman tingali ni sa panel sa nag investigate sa hostage crisis .. kung naa suod ma apil .. i edit dayon

[colby]

De Lima: GMA’s investment in SC paying off

Spokesman: SC merely upheld Constitution

MANILA, Philippines - Justice Secretary Leila de Lima has echoed the view that former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo packed the Supreme Court with appointees who will help get her off the hook for alleged misdeeds during her 9-year administration.

In a press release, de Lima could not hide her disappointment over the decision of the Supreme Court (SC) nullifying the much heralded Truth Commission. She said it “shows characteristics of a political decision.”
The high court, voting 10-5, announced on Tuesday the decision nullifying Executive Order 1 (EO 1) that created the Truth Commission.

She said there is basis for the speculations “that the investment of the past administration in the Office of the Ombudsman and the High Court are now paying off, as present executive actions to correct injustices and abuses of the past regime and to punish the perpetrators are frustrated at every turn.” She called it a “wise institutional investment of the past regime.”

De Lima specifically noted Arroyo's appointment of Chief Justice Renato Corona “despite the ban on appointments.”

The SC has already decided on the matter, saying in March that appointments to the court are not included in the so-called midnight appointment ban during an election year. This subsequently allowed Arroyo to appoint the current chief magistrate.

De Lima said SC voting has become predictable.

She noted it is the Constitution itself that provided to prevent a single president from packing the high court with only his or her appointees.
Of the 15 magistrates, only Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno was appointed by President Aquino. She is one of the 5 who dissented in the decision.

De Lima admitted, however, “unfortunately, the loophole in the Constitution prevailed when former President Arroyo appointed the majority of the present court…”

Equal protection for whom?

On the high court’s argument that the Truth Commission violated equal protection rights, De Lima said: “Equal protection applies within a class, not between a few who stole and abused, and the many from whom they stole and whom they abused.”

She noted the violation in this clause of the Constitution is, in fact, when “the privileged few are effectively exempted from investigation, prosecution and punishment, while the great majority of the people continue to wallow in the murk of their crimes.”

Despite her criticisms, De Lima stressed “we still fervently hope…that this was not the primary consideration in this decision of the court, and that the considerations were always legal and constitutional, as they should be.”
The decision comes in a string of setbacks for the Aquino administration. Since President Aquino took over on June 30 this year, the SC has released decisions that have been unfavorable to his government.

‘Constitution should come first’

In a text message, SC spokesman Jose Midas Marquez said: “The public must understand that in holding EO 1 as unconstitutional, the court is not ruling in favor or against any party, but is merely applying the provisions and principles of the Constitution, which is in accordance with the Court’s
mandate and responsibility and the rule of law.”

Full copies of the decision and separate opinions have yet to be released.

SOURCE

[colby]

unta ilaha gi apil ang Hacienda Luisita Tragedy and Controversy.. + Manila Hostage Taking

kay basin..mauto pako..

Sige padayon lang pauto kay GMA.. I voted for her last '04 and I can say dugay lang ko natauhan..hahhaha
_____________________

[Romeojin]

if nadayon ni. this will be the only truth commission in the world (40+) that doesnt investigate human right abuses another shame na pud

kung di ipaagi sa Ombudsman or DoJ. maypa ipatrabaho ni sa inutil na PCGG total mama man pud ni penoy ang nag mandate ani