Aquino using other fronts to resolve alleged scandals during Arroyo administration

Former President Gloria Arroyo.

MANILA, Philippines (Mindanao Examiner / July 2, 2011) - The Aquino administration admitted using other fronts to resolve high-profile scandals reportedly committed during the time of former President Gloria Arroyo despite the initial adverse ruling of the Supreme Court (SC), stopping the Truth Commission to handle such cases.

In a news briefing at the Presidential Palace in Manila, Presidential Communications Operations Office Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr. said the SC’s ruling on the Truth Commission did not hinder the Aquino administration’s efforts to finally put closure on the said cases.

“Iyong mga high-profile scandals and anomalies, na sana nga iyong Truth Commission ang haharap diyan, bubuno sa mga kasong iyan, pero dahil sa naging initial adverse ruling ng Supreme Court – that is now the subject of a motion for reconsideration – medyo naantala iyan,” he told reporters.

Coloma said the motion for reconsideration is now pending before the SC, seeking to reconsider the SC ruling. Voting 10-5, the SC earlier declared unconstitutional President Aquino’s first executive order creating the Truth Commission.

The Truth Commission was created to investigate of a slew of anomalies that hounded the nine-year rule of Aquino’s predecessor, former President and now Pampanga Congresswoman Arroyo.

Coloma said there are other fronts which are being used as avenues to resolve the reported scandals and anomalies that marred the past administration.

“Pero alalahanin natin that on other fronts, tuloy naman yung determinasyon, at naipakita nating pursigido tayo. Iyong every other week na nag-a-alternate lang yung pagpa-file ng kaso laban sa big time and high-profile tax evaders and smugglers, ipinagpapatuloy iyan. More than 40 cases have been filed for each category. Iyong paglinis ng ating judicial system, patuloy na isinasagawa iyan,” Coloma said.

Apart from the move to resolve and put closure on the scandals during the past administration, Coloma said the present administration is also implementing reforms in the government agencies and departments.

“Let us not lose sight of the reforms that are being carried out throughout the bureaucracy. That is really part of the cleaning up process,” he said.

Coloma cited the reforms being implemented in the Department of Public Works and Highways to ensure that there would be no overpricing in government’s contracts.

“In other words, hindi natin pinababayaan na iyun initial setback na hindi ma-operationalize yung Truth Commission ay naging balakid. We just proceeded with our initiatives on all the other fronts.