Reynato Puno, Former Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of the Philippines. INQUIRER.net / CATHY MIRANDA
President Duterte has named retired Chief Justice Reynato Puno chair of a new consultative committee tasked with reviewing the 1987 Constitution.
Mr. Duterte has so far appointed 19 to the committee, including other retired justices, former lawmakers, law school professors, and other legal experts.
Former Senate President Aquilino Pimentel Jr., who belongs to Mr. Duterte’s party PDP-Laban and also federalism advocate, has also been named to the panel along with Fr. Ranhilio Aquino, law dean of San Beda College, the President’s alma mater.
Retired Supreme Court Justices Antonio Eduardo Nachura and Bienvenido Reyes are also on the committee.
The other members are Roan Libarios, Edmund Tayao, Victor de la Serna, Virgilio Bautista, Rodolfo Robles, Julio Teehankee, Eddie Alih, Ali Balindong, Laurence Wacnang, Reuben Canoy, Arthur Aguilar, Susan Ubalde-Ordinario, Antonio Arellano and Randolph Parcasio.
Mr. Duterte has ordered the formation of the 25-member consultative committee through Executive Order No. 10, which he issued on Dec. 7, 2016.
The committee is under the Office of the President and is tasked with studying, conducting consultations, and reviewing the Constitution, including its provisions on the structure and powers of government and economic policies.
According to EO 10, the committee must work to complete its review in six months. It will submit its recommendations and proposals to the President, who will transmit these to Congress.