Hilbay rebuffed on criticism Con-Com has no ‘constitutional value’

Former Solicitor Gen. Florin Hilbay INQUIRER/ MARIANNE BERMUDEZ

Malacañang on Friday dismissed the comment of former solicitor general Florin Hilbay that the Consultative Committee (Con-Com) tasked to review the Charter has no “constitutional value.”

Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque defended the committee, saying the proposal of the body may be adopted by President Rodrigo Duterte’s partymates in Congress.

“It should be highly persuasive to members of the President’s party in Congress since it is the Party Chairman who created it,” Roque said in a statement.

Duterte, is the chairman of the ruling PDP-Laban, which dominated the House of Representative and has majority of allies in the Senate. The President had earlier formed the Con-Com to review the 1987 Philippine Constitution.

The Con-Com, headed by retired chief justice Reynato Puno, has decided to adopt a federal-presidential system of government.

“Con-Com inputs relevant to party in control of Congress that will make specific proposals to revise the Constitution,” Roque said.

The committee has until July to make review the charter and make recommendations to the President and to Congress.