MANILA, Philippines - Justice Secretary Leila de Lima has asked the public to give the still non-existent Truth Commission a chance, saying it will prove things as was envisioned.

In a press conference on Thursday, De Lima said Malacañang only has good intentions in creating the Truth Commission in order to finally put closure to the issues that beset the public during the time of President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo.

President Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III has yet to put flesh to the highly-publicized Truth Commission. This early, however, critics are already questioning its capacity to prosecute.

Senator Joker Arroyo, in an earlier interview, questioned its creation through an executive order. This would mean that the commission will not have the “force of the law,” he said.

De Lima said justice would take long to be achieved if the Truth Commission will still go through the legislative mill. An executive order would be most practical, she said.

She said the Truth Commission will have recommendatory powers, in terms of the filing of charges to the proper bodies.

Since it will go through the nuances of the controversies, the commission will thus have to compel witnesses and other stakeholders to appear before it, she said.

It has yet to be determined if the commission can hold in contempt those who refuse to subject themselves to the probe, she added.

The evidence that will be obtained and eventually filed in court would give the executive a high level of confidence, she said.

However, De Lima is not dismissing the low conviction rate of the Office of the Ombudsman, where cases would most likely be filed.

“There’s always that apprehension because it will take political will to proceed with the process…but at least we can have a process of closure for our people. The Truth Commission will strengthen the cases,” she said.

She also stressed the Truth Commission will proceed through the strength of evidence presented. It will not be doing any witchhunts, she added.