Ex-CJ Puno gets own ‘PSG’ as he leads consultative body on Cha-cha

After President Rodrigo Duterte picked him to lead the consultative panel on Charter change, former Chief Justice Reynato Puno got his own  PSG —"Prayer Support Group."

Some 500 members of the United Methodist Church (UMC) last Thursday gathered at a local church along Holy Spirit Drive, Don Antonio Heights in Diliman, Quezon City to pray for God’s guidance and protection to one of its members—the former top judge Reynato Puno.

_{Photos by Jay-Ar Piolino}

UMC bishops, ministers, and members rushed to express their support for Puno shortly after the President appointed him to lead the Consultative Committee on Charter change (Cha-cha).

According to Puno, President Duterte has ordered the panel to “direct the trajectory of the future of the Filipino people.”

At the start of Thursday's program, the Rev. Joie Galinato, administrative pastor of the Puno United Methodist Church (Puno UMC), said Puno would need his own PSG, “but not the Presidential Security Group but a Prayer Support Group.”

Plea for guidance

In his message, Resident Bishop Ciriaco Francisco of UMC's  Manila Episcopal Area (MEA) said it was the former Puno who asked the three UMC bishops to pray for him (the two others are Bishop Pedro Torio of Baguio Episcopal Area or BEA and Bishop Rodolfo Juan of Davao Episcopal Area or DEA) for guidance in tackling his new task.

Bishop Francisco instead suggested that a flock of the United Methodists gather to pray for Puno. 

Thus, the “Prayer-Gathering and Launching of the Prayer Support Group for the former chief justice” was organized, initiated by the Northwest Metro Manila-Philippines Annual Conference (PAC) and the Quezon City Philippines Annual Conference –East (QCPACE).

Former Bishops Emerito Nacpil and Daniel Arichea were among the congregation.

Bishop Francisco emphasized that the prayer-gathering was “not a political rally but a rally of God’s people to pray in accord for our beloved brother.”

“It is an honor for the United Methodist Church that one of its members was chosen to lead a committee that is of such importance in the life of our nation,” he said.

Also in his reflection, he narrated a story in the Bible (I Kings 3:3-15) that God told the young King Solomon that He was offering him one wish, and the newly crowned monarch asked for “a wise and discerning heart.”

Bishop Francisco asked God that He give the same gift to Puno.

Never say ‘Never’

In his response towards the  end of of the program, Puno described his job as Chief Magistrate as “backbreaking.”

He said he butted heads constantly with the powers-that-be, including powerful politicians, rich businessmen and crime lords.

“But I survived, thanks to the mercy of the Lord,” he said.

Puno retired in 2006. Looking back at all those years in the Supreme Court, he vowed never to return to government service again. He turned down job offers as secretary of the Department of Justice (DoJ) and as Ombudsman. Instead, he opted to intensify his involvement in the church.

However, he did not have the heart to turn down an offer to be a part of the Consultative Committee for Charter Change, a body formed by the President last January 6, and tasked to “direct the trajectory of the future of the Filipino people.”

Unexpected appointment

The President gave the committee composed of 20 independent experts six months to finish the job. To his amazement, President Duterte eventually appointed him as chairperson of the consultative committee.

“I did not volunteer for the job,” puno said,  admitting that his acquaintance with the President “does not go beyond the handshake level.”

He thought former Senate President Aquilino “Nene” Pimentel Jr. was the hands-down choice for the post since he has all the qualifications fit for the job. Among other credentials, Pimentel authored the Local Government Code when he was still a senator and he founded the PDP-Laban, the political party under which President Duterte ran for the Presidency and won.

“I discovered that the task is overwhelmingly onerous,” Puno said, citing the need to “break up the over-centralization of power of the government” as the overwhelming priority.

He admitted that “it is not going to be easy" as he realizes that getting the Congress approve the anti-political dynasty bill is like expecting its members to commit “a political hara-kiri.”

Expanded Bill of Rights

Puno promised the congregation that the Bill of Rights enshrined in the 1987 Constitution “will not be diminished but will instead be expanded.”He said that aside of the political rights of citizens, they will also enjoy economic and environmental rights.

He acknowledged the pessimism of others who described the members of the Committee as mere “modern Don Quixotes” battling the windmill in vain. However, Puno said his faith tells him that it is possible to go against the odds and achieve victory.

“There were biblical characters who successfully completed the tasks God assigned to them,” he said.

“I believe that the God who made miracles in the past is the same God makes miracles today,” he added.

He said he accepted the daunting task of leading the Consultative Committee on Charter Change in spite of his advanced age “and my rattling bones” because he believes that God will make good His promise recorded in Chapter 46 of the Old Testament book Isaiah that says, “I am He who will sustain you.” —LBG, GMA News