News update Outgoing Palace exec confident Truth Commission will be fair to Arroyo

An outgoing Malacañang official on Wednesday expressed confidence that the Truth Commission created by President-elect Benigno Simeon Aquino III would be fair to outgoing President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.

In an interview with reporters, Executive Secretary Leandro Mendoza said he believes in the sense of fairness of former Chief Justice Hilario Davide Jr.

"I personally know Chief Justice Davide and I believe in his fairness. Magaling, (he is) very professional (He is good and very professional)," Mendoza said.

Mendoza will be among the incumbent officials who will welcome Aquino in Malacañang and accompany President Arroyo to the Quirino Grandstand in Manila.

After accompanying Aquino to the grandstand, Mrs. Arroyo will proceed to Lubao town in Pampanga for her oath taking as the new representative of the province's 2nd district before Associate Justice Eduardo Nachura.

On Tuesday, Aquino announced that Davide will lead the "independent" body that will try to work for the closure of unresolved controversies under the Arroyo administration.

“This Truth Commission is the commission I promised the people we will set up to put closure on so many issues. They will be collators of data, evidence, the proof as to who committed what and what transgression of our laws was committed," Aquino said. — Amita Legaspi/RSJ/LBG