Ex-CJ Puno warns solons: ‘You can’t tinker with the Bill of Rights’

FILE: Supreme Court Chief Justice Reynato Puno (Photo by Anyo Niminus – Own work, Public Domain)

Former Chief Justice Reynato Puno warned lawmakers calling for constitutional amendments not to tinker with the Bill of Rights.

In an interview on ANC, the ex-Chief Justice explained that rights under the 1987 Constitution are natural rights of men, which come before the crafting of constitutions of various states.

“Regardless of its source, we should very bear in mind that you cannot tinker with the Bill of Rights. The rights in the Bill of Rights are the natural rights of men,” Puno said.

“These rights are innate to man. In other words, these rights are not conferred by any kind of Constitution. These rights preceded the making of constitutions,” he added.

Puno further explained that lawmakers should not forget that the country is a “signatory to the universal declaration of rights,” which are commonly accepted by all civilized nations.

“I’d like to underline the descriptive word ‘universal.’ In other words, these are rights commonly accepted by all civilized nations,” the former Chief Justice said.

Legislators earlier announced that they want to revise the free speech clause in the 1987 Constitution and mandate the “responsible exercise” of free speech and expression as there has been “so much abuse” of this provision.

“That section of the constitution on the Bill of Rights is very important. We should always guard against any infringement of the rights protected in the bill of rights,” Puno said.