Justice Secretary Leila De Lima disclosed on Tuesday that retired Supreme Court Associate Justice Romeo J. Callejo Sr. had agreed to be part of the Truth Commission that will investigate the wide range of controversies that occurred during the Arroyo administration.

President Aquino announced during his State of the Nation Address (SoNA) last Monday that he will sign the executive order (EO) creating the Truth Commission, which will be headed by former Chief Justice Hilario G. Davide Jr., this week.

De Lima said she already saw the draft of the EO that will give the truth commission the latitude to look into alleged irregularities and anomalies under the Arroyo government, including those mentioned by President Aquino in his first SoNA. “Those anomalies exposed by the President in his SoNA would serve to add to the list of cases to be covered by the Truth Commission,” De Lima said in a press conference.

The anomalies include the depletion of the 2010 national budget, the many abuses of Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System (MWSS) officials such as the P160 million in questionable allowances and benefits, and the policy of the National Food Authority of importing rice that resulted in the agency’s debt amounting to P171 billion (Edmer Panesa)