Bishop Urges Arroyo to Cooperate in Corruption Probe

MANILA, August 4, 2010- A Catholic bishop said Pampanga Rep. Gloria Arroyo must prove her innocence and is urging the official to cooperate with a probe into her alleged corruption cases when she was still president.

Caloocan Bishop Deogracias Iñiguez said it would be easy for Arroyo to answer all allegations is she really has nothing to hide.

He urged the former president to attend the proceedings of the investigation set to be conducted by the Truth Commission formed by President Benigno Aquino III.

"It would be better if she will participate in the process of the Truth Commission if she is summoned especially if she thinks she did not do anything wrong. I don't see any reason why she should avoid it," Iñiguez said.

Aquino, last Friday, formally created the truth body to look into unresolved corruption allegations under the nine-year Arroyo administration.

Senator Franklin Drilon, however, said Arroyo cannot be compelled to attend the probe as "inter-parliamentary courtesy" dictates that a member of the legislature cannot be forced to present herself in a body created by the executive department.

The bishop said he is hoping that the independent panel headed by former chief justice Hilario Davide would succeed in digging all the anomalies of the past administration.

Several sectors have already doubted the authority of the Truth Commission saying it would be reduced to a "toothless tiger" if it is created by a mere executive order and not through a legislation. (CBCPNews)