Archbishop Oscar Cruz says the Truth Commission created by President Benigno Aquino III today would be useless in solving corruption cases if it is not given the powers it needs to assemble evidence.

“The question is what authority would it [the commission] have to issue a subpoena and to obtain document,” the canon lawyer said on Church-run Radio Veritas 846.

Aquino earlier signed the first executive order of his administration, creating the commission tasked with investigating graft and corruption allegations made against the previous administration.

He announced that former Supreme Court Chief Justice Hilario Davide Jr. would head the body. The president said it would try to get to the bottom of allegations of corruption over the past nine years involving government officials and their accomplices in the private sector.

Justice Secretary Leila de Lima told a press conference the commission been given until Dec. 31, 2012 to complete its tasks. Most of the rest of this year will be spent organizing itself.

Archbishop Cruz, the retired archbishop of Lingayen-Dagupan, suggested the commission would be better as part of the Department of Justice (DOJ). That would negate the need for further legislation and provide access to existing facilities and powers.

Integrating the commission as a “line function” of the DOJ would make it readily operational according to law and would “give it teeth,” Archbishop Cruz said.

The commission is expected to probe cases including those of alleged misuse of funds and allegations of public officials’ involvement in overpriced government projects.

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