Supreme Court finally gets original prints of Constitution

The Supreme Court INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines—The Supreme Court’s “bible” is finally home.

Original copies of the 1987 Philippine Constitution are now on display at the Supreme Court library, the first time the original prints have found their way to the highest court of the land — 28 years after the country’s basic law was drafted.

Former Election Commissioner Rene Sarmiento, who was among the 47 appointed delegates who drafted the country’s supreme law, donated his personal copies of the original Filipino and English prints of the Constitution in May, gaining the high court’s recognition for his gesture.

The timing was coincidental but “providential” nonetheless, Sarmiento said, as the original prints were handed over to the Supreme Court at a time when the Constitution—its spirit and intent—is being widely talked about in light of recent events.

“I wasn’t thinking about whether something was happening or not. I just donated it and the timing was by chance,” said Sarmiento, who has resumed his private practice since retiring from the Comelec in February last year.

“With all the recent [issues], I think this is very timely, very providential, because right now the Constitution is being talked about, with all the current events,” Sarmiento said in a telephone interview.

He did not make any particular reference to it, but the Supreme Court’s recent decision striking down Malacañang’s Disbursement Acceleration Program (DAP) has spurred debate about the Constitution and its powers.

In accepting Sarmiento’s gift, the Supreme Court cited the value of having original prints of the Constitution within its halls.

“All Justices, before becoming full-fledged members of the Court, take an oath swearing to uphold and defend the Constitution. Let the copies donated by Atty. Sarmiento be constant reminders of this sworn duty. Let the copies be symbols of their unwavering fealty to the Constitution and the Court’s role as its ultimate guardian,” said the high court in an en banc resolution on June 10 released earlier this month.

In the resolution signed by all justices, the Supreme Court cited the importance of the Constitution, saying the very document was its “reason for being” that must be “defended at all times.”

“The Constitution is the fundamental law which embodies the sovereign will of the Filipino people. As the fundamental law, it serves as the Court’s bible which must be upheld and defended at all times. Indeed, the Court’s primordial duty is to uphold and defend the Constitution. It is the court’s raison d’etre (reason for being),” said the resolution, a copy of which Sarmiento sent to the Inquirer.

Sarmiento made the donation on the prodding of a long-time friend, Mila Ong, the Supreme Court’s chief librarian. He said each of the Constitution’s framers was given original copies of the English and Filipino prints.

“She said, ‘Rene, maybe you could donate your copies of the Constitution.’ So I, being a friend, felt that it would be better preserved there than just at my house in the province (Zambales). I never had second thoughts about giving my copies to them,” said Sarmiento.

For the lawyer, it was not hard to let go of his own personal piece of history.

“It wasn’t,” Sarmiento said when asked if giving up his copies was hard, “because I’m thinking of sharing them with people. I thought to myself later on that, yes, I did the right thing, because [they might just be damaged by] fire, water or termites,” Sarmiento said.

He recounted a meeting with Justice Antonio Carpio after handing over the copies of the Constitution.

“Justice Carpio was telling me that in all the Latin American countries he has visited, he could see the original copies of the Constitution in their Supreme Court. So tayo lang ang wala. He said he was most thankful for my donation,” Sarmiento said.

He noted how historical documents such as the Constitution are considered sacred in other countries, with people lining up in museums and archives just to see them.

“If you’ve been to Washington D.C., the original copy of their Constitution is encased in glass in the National Archives, and people line up just to see it. That’s how they treasure sacred documents. I hope this culture will also develop in us for us to treasure our Constitution,” said Sarmiento.