A House of Representatives subcommittee has proposed the removal of the judiciary’s power to determine grave abuse of discretion in government actions and policies as part of efforts to amend the 1987 Constitution for a shift to federalism. Proposal deniedDespite being an official document, Deputy Speaker Fredenil Castro, the chair of the subcommittee on judiciary-related amendments, denied the proposal was ever taken up for consideration. “It really is a question of whether [Congress acting as a constituent assembly] wants a strong or weak judicial department,” he added. Political questionsIt would also likely lead to broadening of the President’s discretion in declaring martial law once the provision was taken out. Members of the left-wing Makabayan bloc condemned the subcommittee’s proposal as yet another showing of the Duterte administration’s dictatorial tendency.

Source: Philippine Daily Inquirer January 17, 2018 22:30 UTC