SPEAKER Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez underscored the supremacy of the Constitution, stressing that no leader should be above the nation’s Charter and its laws.
Speaking before the Philippine Constitution Association (PHILCONSA) on Monday night at the Manila Polo Club in Makati City, Romualdez reiterated the vital role of constitutional adherence.
The event, held in commemoration of Constitution Day, was attended by PHILCONSA Chairman and former Supreme Court Chief Justice Reynato Puno, legal experts, and Commission on Elections (Comelec) Chairman George Garcia, the guest of honor.
“The Constitution is not a passive document; it commands obedience, imposes limits, and demands accountability. No institution, office, or leader is beyond its reach,” Romualdez said.
He emphasized that while the Constitution is resilient, it depends on those who uphold it—lawyers, jurists, scholars, and legislators. “No ambition is above the law, and no convenience justifies its disregard,” he added.
Describing the Constitution as “the soul of a nation,” Romualdez called it the foundation of government, the covenant binding leaders to their duty, and the shield protecting citizens’ rights.
“As we celebrate Constitution Day, we reaffirm not just a document, but a legacy and a duty that demands vigilance,” he told fellow constitutionalists. He also praised PHILCONSA for serving as the country’s guardian of constitutionalism.
Romualdez commended Comelec Chairman Garcia for safeguarding electoral integrity, noting that credibility in elections ensures legitimacy in governance.
He urged constitutionalists to ensure the rule of law remains more than rhetoric. “The Constitution endures not because it is written, but because we, its defenders, refuse to let it be ignored,” he concluded.
