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Description:: G.R. No. 192935
Description:: G.R. No. 192935
Description:: G.R. No. 192935
1
PTC is a mere ad hoc body formed under the Office of the President with the primary task to investigate reports of
graft and corruption committed by thirdlevel public officers and employees, their coprincipals, accomplices and
accessories during the previous administration, and to submit its finding and recommendations to the President,
Congress and the Ombudsman. PTC has all the powers of an investigative body. All it can do is gather, collect and
assess evidence of graft and corruption and make recommendations.
c) The Truth Commission does not duplicate or supersede the functions of the Ombudsman
and the DOJ, because it is a factfinding body and not a quasijudicial body and its
functions do not duplicate, supplant or erode the latter’s jurisdiction.
d) The Truth Commission does not violate the equal protection clause because it was validly
created for laudable purposes.
ISSUE: W/N E.O. No. 1 violates the equal protection clause.
RULING: As stated in 2Section 1, Article III (Bill of Rights) of the 1987 Constitution, “No person shall be
deprived of life, liberty, or property without due process of law, nor shall any person be denied the equal
protection of the laws.”
Equal protection requires that all persons or things similarly situated should be treated alike, both
as to rights conferred and responsibilities imposed. So if wanted to be accorded with validity, the
commission must also cover reports of graft and corruption in all previous administrations. However, it was
clear that the main objective of the Truth Commission was to investigate and find out the truth concerning
the reported cases of graft and corruption during the 3Arroyo’s administration only.
HELD: Thus, E.O. No. 1 was declared unconstitutional as it violates the equal protection clause of the
constitution.
2
File: http://sc.judiciary.gov.ph/jurisprudence/2010/december2010/192935.htm
3
Case Digest: https://vbdiaz.wordpress.com/2013/03/28/biraogovsptc/