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Louis "Barok" Biraogo vs. The Philippine Truth Commission [SEPARATE OPINION, CORONA, C.J]

LOUIS "BAROK" C. BIRAOGO, Petitioner, vs. THE PHILIPPINE TRUTH COMMISSION OF 2010, Respondent.

G.R. No. 192935 and G.R. No. 193036 | 2010-12-07

SEPARATE OPINION

CORONA, C.J.:

Of Truth and Truth Commissions

The fundamental base upon which a truth commission is created is the right to the truth.1 While the right to the truth is yet to be established as a right under customary law2 or as a general principle of international law,3 it has nevertheless emerged as a "legal concept at the national, regional and international levels, and relates to the obligation of the state to provide information to victims or to their families or even society as a whole about the circumstances surrounding serious violations of human rights."4

A truth commission has been generally defined5 as a...