[1] Traced back to 2010, from a series of events within the elections, with the issue of massive corruption, in which Benigno Simeon Aquino III formed a special body tasked to investigate the alleged instances of graft and corruption of the Gloria Macapagal Arroyo administration, along with a few other incidents.
The second case is a special civil action for certiorari and prohibition filed by Lagman, Albano, Jr., Datumanong, and Fua.
Overall, it is the fact-finding body on graft and corrupt case involving third level public officers and higher, their co-principals, accomplices and accessories from the private sector.
The PTC, by focusing on punishing graft and corrupt practices committed by a past administration, deviates from the usual framework of truth commissions.
Therefore, even if the creation of fact finding or ad hoc bodies is not expressly reposed to the president, it still does not deprive him of these powers.
The court ruled that the investigating body will properly inform the president of the circumstances surrounding the issue, which will allow him to take the necessary measures to prevent future anomalous practices in the government.
[5] The Executive Order violates the equal protection clause enshrined in Section 1, Article III of the Bill of Rights which states that “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.” There is an intent to single out the previous administration with unreasonable classification.
Thus, the PTC, instead of infringing upon duties of the Ombudsman and the Department of Justice in determining the existence of probable cause and of prosecuting cases, will actually complement them.
To ensure the safety of persons called to testify, the Commission may secure the assistance of the Philippine National Police and other appropriate government agencies.