“Lessons of the past” enabled the Philippines to create a “just and humane society,” President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. said Wednesday as he led the commemoration of Philippine Constitution Day.
The President marked the historic event in Malacañang with members of the nonpartisan group Philippine Constitution Association or Philconsa, whom he lauded for “defending, preserving, and protecting the Constitution.”
In his speech, Marcos honored the supreme law of the land and called on the Filipino nation to recognize the significance of the Constitution.
“As we honor the supreme law of the land and perpetuate this milestone, it is important to remember that it is through the lessons of the past that we are able to establish a government that embodies our goals and creates a vision for a just and humane society,” Marcos said.
He added: “As we make sure that the spirit of the Constitution prevails over its letter, we take pride that it reflects the unique history and cultural heritage of the Philippines, includes provisions that protect the rights of indigenous peoples, promotes social justice, and ensures the protection of the environment.”
More than establishing and upholding a democratic system of government, Marcos said the Constitution ensures the “separation of powers” among the legislative, executive, and judicial branches.
The legislative branch is very much supportive of the President’s legislative agenda, however, with it being steered by his loyal allies — Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri and his cousin, House Speaker Martin Romualdez.
For instance, Marcos’s idea of putting up a Sovereign Wealth Fund was railroaded in the lower chamber of Congress. It took less than a month for lawmakers to file the proposed measure and approve it on the plenary floor. It remains pending in the Senate, however.
Fundamental rights
Marcos emphasized that the Charter guarantees that every Filipino enjoys one’s fundamental rights and freedom and can “keep up with the changing times.”
“It is indeed noteworthy that our supreme law remains a dynamic and flexible expression of our collective will, capable of adapting to the changing times and the circumstances of our nation,” he said.
“Apart from being an allocation of power, we must take to heart that the Constitution is also a social contract where the people have bestowed their sovereign power on the State for the common good.”
Marcos acknowledged Philconsa’s contribution to safeguarding the supreme law of the land and spreading its indispensable importance.
During the program, he conferred a posthumous award to Justice Manuel M. Lazaro, a long-time Philconsa president, and chairman, for espousing constitutionalism and establishing the non-stock organization as the premier and most revered institution in questioning laws that erode the non-negotiable precepts of the Constitution.