No leader, institution, office should be above the law – Romualdez

MANILA, Philippines —  No leader, institution, or office should be above the law, according to House Speaker Martin Romualdez, stressing that the 1987 Constitution “commands obedience” and “demands accountability.”

Romualdez made this point in a speech he delivered before the Philippine Constitution Association (Philconsa) during the recent Constitution Day commemoration.

“The Constitution is not a passive document; it commands obedience, it imposes limits, and most importantly, it demands accountability. It is our collective responsibility to ensure that no institution, no office, and no leader is ever beyond the reach of the law,” Romualdez said.

“We have seen how the Constitution, though written in ink, is tested by the tides of politics, governance, and power. It is resilient, but it is not indestructible. It relies on men and women — lawyers, jurists, scholars, legislators — who believe that no ambition is above the law, and no convenience justifies its disregard,” he added.

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He likewise highlighted the importance of the Constitution by calling it the “soul of a nation.”

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“[W]e do not simply commemorate a document — we reaffirm a legacy, a duty, and a cause that demands vigilance from all of us,” Romualdez said.

Based on a statement released by the speaker’s office on Wednesday, the event was attended by Philconsa Chairman and former Supreme Court Chief Justice Reynato Puno, jurists, and lawyers, with Commission on Elections Chairman George Garcia as guest of honor and speaker.