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Puno: Con-com to drop House panel’s proposed limit to free speech


Former Chief Justice Reynato Puno on Tuesday assured the public that the consultative committee (con-com) formed by President Rodrigo Duterte to propose changes to the 1987 Constitution will not limit the people's right to free speech.

Puno, who heads the 20-member panel, told News To Go in an interview that what the con-com intends is to strengthen the Bill of Rights, where the people's freedom of speech is guaranteed.

"Dito sa consultative committee, hindi mangyayari 'yun. Kaya sinasabi ko, the Bill of Rights will be strengthened. It will not be diminished under the consultative committee," the former chief magistrate said, referring to a proposal of a House of Representatives' panel to limit free speech by introducing the "responsible exercise" clause.

The House Subcommittee 2 had proposed to insert the clause to Section 4 of the Bill Rights, which originally states "No law shall be passed abridging the freedom of speech, of expression, or of the press, or the right of the people peaceably to assemble and petition the government for redress of grievances."

During the interview, Puno also said that the con-com will make sure journalists will not be made to face different levels of regulations in the different proposed federal states.

"Hindi mangyayari 'yun kasi 'yung freedom of speech and assembly nandoon sa Bill of Rights eh. At 'yung mga probisyon natin sa Bill of Rights, 'yun ay hindi maba-violate ng mga states," he said.

The con-com has voted to propose a presidential-federal system of government, similar to that of the United States. Next on the its agenda is looking into the executive powers.

Puno said also up for discussion by the con-com is the "re-calibration" of the federal court system.

Meanwhile, he said a federal form of government does not mean existing Philippine regions will immediately come out as distinct federal states or regions.

Some regions, he said, can be "fully sustainable" after a transition to federalism while some may not be "viable" at the same pace. He said areas that are not yet at the state-level may be given "autonomous status" as they "evolve" into a full state.

The panel targets to finish its work, for submission to Duterte, by late June or early July. —Nicole-Anne C. Lagrimas/ALG, GMA News

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