The Commission on Human Rights (CHR) has lauded Chief Justice Alexander G. Gesmundo’s reminder that “civilian authority is, at all times, supreme over the military.”
Chief Justice Gesmundo stressed the constitutional provision in his message to members of the Philippine Military Academy (PMA) "Siklab Laya" Class of 2025 during their recognition rites in Baguio City last April 30.
“Remember that this provision makes explicit the principle of civilian supremacy. Civilian supremacy... is not a guaranteed supremacy of civilian officers who are in power, but the supremacy of the sovereign people,” he emphasized.
CHR Executive Director Jacqueline Ann de Guia said that Gesmundo's speech "emphasized the constitutional mandate of the military to bring primacy to the civil rights of the people before their own authority."
"It means that central to their duty of protecting our sovereignty should be the understanding that human rights are the very pillars that uphold and maintain our rule of law, and, therefore, should be safeguarded," De Guia said.
"As fellow duty bearers, the Commission thanks CJ Gesmundo for his expression of allegiance to civil human rights," she said.
"CHR counts on the 'Siklab Laya' class members, that in their life-long mission of honor and integrity, that they remain cognizant of and loyal to people’s rights and fundamental freedoms," she added.
Also, De Guia said, the CHR hopes that the "Siklab Laya" class “will serve the country by upholding the dignity of every person -- regardless of their race, color, gender, belief, religion, sexual orientation, educational attainment, disability, and social class.”