Federal gov’t would need ‘new balance of power’ — ex-Chief Justice Puno

A former Supreme Court chief justice on Monday raised the need for the striking of a "new balance of power" between and among the three branches of government as the consultative committee he heads embarks on a review of the 1987 Constitution towards federalism.

In a speech, ex-Chief Justice Reynato Puno told members of the consultative committee reviewing the existing Charter that there has to be "moderation on the extreme exercise of the checking power by each branch of government that often results in deadlocks."

When prolonged, he said such cases of impasse "'petrif[y] the progress of the people."

He said the need for this power balance between and among the executive, the legislative and the judiciary must come as a complement to the "architectural design" of a possible federal Charter, which he said in the same speech should be given "the most serious thought."

Architectural design refers to the federal model the Philippine Congress will possibly choose to adopt—Puno has recognized that some prefer a parliamentary framework, some favor a presidential one, and others may want a hybrid of the two.

"On certain issues of primordial importance to the political, economic and social interest of our people, the three departments of our government must speak with one voice," he said.

"In times of crises, more than one voice is noise," he added.

Puno chairs the consultative body, whose members were all appointed by President Rodrigo Duterte.

They held their first en banc session at the Philippine International Convention Center on Monday.

According to the committee's proposed calendar, its output should be submitted in final form to Duterte by July 19.

Proponents of federalism see this form of government as a way to decentralize power that has been long concentrated in Manila. — BM, GMA News