Press Release
March 13, 2011

BONG REVILLA WANTS JELAC CONVENED

Senator Ramon Bong Revilla Jr. today urged President Noynoy Aquino to convene the Judicial Executive Legislative Advisory and Consultative Council (JELAC) to thresh out rifts of the three branches of the government in pursuit of national interest.

According to the senator, all branches should work in concert and put an end to all attacks on each other without necessarily foregoing the principle of check and balance. He stressed that it is only timely that the JELAC be convened to tackle important issues within and outside the government's primary institutions. "Let us put a stop to finger-pointing and the blame game. We must put more efforts to further cooperation in government in achieving the promises of better lives, good health care, and greater opportunities for our people," said Bong Revilla.

Bong Revilla further warned that economic and political problems in the country will only worsen if the discord among the executive, legislative and judicial branches continue. He pointed out the importance of consultations, coordination and solidarity among the three institutions in fighting poverty, graft and corruption and other enormous problems of the nation. "We must not give in to some vested interest groups, if any, who may desire to weaken our institutions, especially the judiciary, which is the bulwark of our democracy, just to impose their agenda. This will only jeopardize our goal of attracting more investors to the country," he said.

In pushing for the convening of the JELAC, Bong Revilla explained that the council can invoke and promote the consultation and cooperation among members of the three co-equal, independent branches of government. "Through JELAC, the three branches of government could advance shared priorities for the welfare of our countrymen," he added.

The JELAC is mandated to serve as the forum and venue for the representatives of the three branches of government in undertaking measures on matters affecting the primacy of the rule of law, identifying the problems and issues, formulating solutions, and implementing them. The nine member JELAC is chaired by the President with the following as members - the Vice-President, Senate President, House Speaker, Chief Justice, a Cabinet member to be designated by the President, one Senator to be designated by the Senate President, one House Representative to be designated by the Speaker, and a member of the High Tribunal to be designated by the Chief Justice.

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