MANILA, Philippines — After two consecutive impeachment moves against Supreme Court chief justices, the consultative committee (Concom) of President Duterte vowed to address issues hounding the judiciary branch of government.
Former chief justice and Concom member Reynato Puno said they will deliberate on how to improve the judiciary, where focus is not on persons but the institution.
“Our stance is always to be personality-blind. We think of the system, we don’t think of any particular person. We amend, strengthen the provisions of the Constitution on the judiciary – we’ll not be doing this for any particular person,” Puno said.
Puno reiterated that Concom members discuss matters concerning the 1987 Constitution on the basis of how to improve the whole system instead of the individual issues in the agencies concerned.
“We are looking at the system as a whole. And as I said, when we consider or study or propose to amend or revise some provisions or sections of the Constitution, for instance, the section on the judiciary, our mind will be focused on how to improve the system,” he said.
Asked to comment on what is happening with Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno, Puno replied: “We shall be addressing that when we review the provisions of the Constitution on the judiciary.”
In the calendar of activities of the Concom, members are set to meet before the Holy Week break to discuss the structure of the federal government, specifically the distribution of powers of the three branches of government, among others.