Davide: 1987 Constitution is the sole pro-rights charter in the world

MANILA, Philippines — Retired Supreme Court Chief Justice Hilario Davide Jr. said the 1987 Philippine Constitution is the only pro-human rights, pro-social justice, and pro-people charter in the world.

During Monday’s Senate subcommittee deliberation on the Resolution of Both Houses No. 6 (RB6) to amend the economic provisions of the country’s principal law, Davide explained why he is willing to die for this Charter.

“Because actually, this is now the time that I could say it – it is the only Constitution in our country and even in the whole world that is pro-life, pro-Filipino, pro-people, pro-poor, pro-social justice, pro-human rights, pro-family, pro-marriage, pro-environment, and I will add now – pro-youth [and] pro-women,” said Davide, a member of the 1986 Constitutional Commission which drafted the 1987 Constitution.

“Shall we amend, shall we revise?” he asked.

READ: Charter framer Hilario Davide Jr. warns vs changing economic provisions

Davide, however, emphasized that he saw no valid and compelling reason to amend the Charter now.

He instead stressed that what Filipinos need most right now is “full implementation of its (1987 Constitution) principles and state policies.”

According to Davide, RBH 6 will just make basic education – deemed the most crucial to the development of young Filipinos – vulnerable to foreign control and dominance.

He also cautioned that it would be “extremely dangerous” to just let Congress decide on the extent of Filipino ownership requirement in public utilities and advertising businesses.

“The day will not be far when public utilities and advertising industries will be under control or even under the full ownership of aliens,” he said.

READ: Davide: No need to amend Constitution

“I will not hesitate to say again that amendments or revisions to the Constitution, at this time, would be a lethal experiment,” he also said, further comparing the latest attempt to amend the 1987 Constitution with the “dance to grave or to hell” as changing the Charter would be a “cruel punishment for a God-loving, patriotic, and nationalistic people.”

In 2018, Davide likewise registered his opposition to Charter change and asserted that the 1987 Philippine Constitution is still “the best in the world” despite “imperfections.”