PRESS STATEMENT OF CONG. ROILO GOLEZ Congressman Roilo Golez, 2nd District of Parañaque City 26 January 2006
DAVIDE TRUTH COMMISSION URGED

ON DAVIDE APPOINTMENT

Retired Chief Justice Hilario Davide is one of the most distinguished and respected citizens of the Republic. The title presidential adviser is very demeaning to the majesty of his former position as Chief Justice. He would just be one of the many subordinate PA’s in Malacañang.

I urge Malacañang to create an independent Electoral Reform and Truth Commission and appoint Davide as the Chairman. We need the DAVIDE COMMISSION II (Davide Commission I being the one created by then President Cory Aquino to investigate the 1989 coup attempt, where Davide really distinguished himself). The Davide Commission II should study how to reform our electoral system and start by investigating the Hello Garci tape issue, the biggest election scandal in the history of our country.

If the President means what she says that she wants to find out the truth in a proper forum, she should revive her earlier proposal to create an independent truth commission with power to subpoena anyone in the government, thus nullifying EO 464 in the case of the proposed Davide Commission II. It will be recalled that the President broached the idea of a Truth Commission last year but the idea was shot down because there was no one at that time who could credibly and independently head the truth commission.

Now we have newly retired chief justice Hilario Davide who has the integrity, independence and legal skills to lead the way from the darkness we are in.

ON THE TERMINATION OF THE HELLO GARCI HEARINGS

There is no closure in the Hello Garci tape inquiry. More questions need to be answered with the pathetic and shameless stonewalling of Garcillano capped by his claim that he cannot recognize his own voice. Bunye needs to clarify what conspiracies and cover-ups happened upon discovery of the Garci tapes. Who fabricated the Ruado tape presented by Bunye as the original tape? Who ordered the fabrication? What about ISAFP? ISAFP has been accused of wiretapping the President but how come Malacañang has not indignantly ordered the axing of the ISAFP officers concerned and why did Malacañang not order an investigation of ISAFP? Are they afraid of what monster lies at the end of an honest to goodness investigation?

The diabolical EO 464 crippled the Hello Garci investigation. It was purported to be a response to the Venable contract investigation but the real target to my mind were the Hello Garci hearings and related matters like jueteng and the fertilizer fund mess.

It is a sad moment in the history of the House that the majority used their numbers to kill the search for the truth.