Composition of truth body is finally complete

(Updated 8:15 p.m.) Malacanang announced Thursday the appointment of Ateneo law school professor Menardo I. Guevarra to the Truth Commission, the five-member body formed by President Benigno Aquino III to investigate corruption scandals in the administration of former president Gloria Macapagal Arroyo. The Truth Commission is headed by former Chief Justice Hilario Davide Jr. Its other members are two former Supreme Court justices, Romeo Callejo Jr. and Flerida Ruth Romero, and Carlos Medina Jr., another Ateneo law school professor and the head of the Ateneo Human Rights Center. According to Guevarra's profile posted on the Ateneo de Manila University Law School's website, he has taught Civil Procedure, Special Proceedings, Provisional Remedies, Special Civil Actions, Trial Technique, Administrative Law, Legal Counseling, Security Transactions, and Property. Guevarra was a classmate of Executive Secretary Paquito Ochoa Jr. at the Ateneo Law School and a member of class 1985. He is also a lecturer of the Mandatory Continuing Legal Education (MCLE) Program of the Supreme Court and an Accredited Arbitrator of the Philippine Dispute Resolution Center, Inc., the arbitration arm of the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry. Guevarra's government experience includes involvement in the drafting of the 1987 Constitution, work at the National Economic and Development Authority from 1977 to 1983, and work at the Central Bank of the Philippines from 1983 to 1986. He is also a senior partner in the De Borja Medialdea Bello Guevarra law firm, a "medium-sized law firm engaged in the general practice of law." Arroyo-allied lawmakers led by House minority leader and Albay Rep. Edcel Lagman have petitioned the Supreme Court to nullify Executive Order No. 1 creating the Truth Commission. Lagman was grilled by the SC during last Tuesday's oral arguments on the petition, where the pro-Arroyo lawmaker maintained that Aquino’s very first executive order is unconstitutional because, among other points he raised, the president is not empowered to create an entirely new government office and appropriate funds for it. The SC oral arguments will resume on Sept. 14, with the government through Solicitor General Joel Cadiz expected to defend the executive order.—Jam L. Sisante/JV, GMANews.TV