JBC interview: Sarmiento eyes creation of special rights courts to declog judiciary

Comelec Commissioner Rene Sarmiento. INQUIRER file photo

MANILA, Philippines—Commission on Elections (Comelec) Commissioner Rene Sarmiento told the Judicial and Bar Council Wednesday that if appointed Chief Justice he will establish special human rights courts to declog judiciary.

Sarmiento is the ninth candidate for the chief justice post who is not part of the Judiciary.

He also told the JBC panel that he favors charter change but only on amendments to the economic provisions of the Constitution.

“Now, there are proposals to amend the Constitution. I am in favor of amending the economic provisions of the Constitution because of the era of globalization,” Sarmiento said.

“The 60-40 (economic provision) is out-of-date that should be revised so we can compete with leading nations,” he added.

Recently, there have been moves to amend the 1987 Constitution particularly the 60-40 provision because it is the main culprit that limits ownership of the foreign investors and the reason Philippines lags behind its neighboring countries.

Sarmiento is one of the framers of the 1987 Constitution.