Source: http://www.filipiniana.

net/publication/the-
constitution-of-the-republic-of-the-philippines-
1987/12791881598556
1987 PH!PP"# $%"S&&'&%"
()&$!# : "ational &erritor*
Summary: Article I states the scope and extent of the
country's territory, including the internal waters; and
terrestrial, fluvial and aerial domains. Furthermore, the
waters around, etween, and connecting the islands of the
!hilippines form part of the country's internal waters
"ased on the Archipelagic #octrine$.
()&$!# : +eclaration of Principles an, State
Policies
Summary: Article II contains %& sections divided into two
parts. 'he first part enumerates the principles of the State
such as the democratic and repulican nature of the
!hilippine State; the supremacy of civilian authority over
the military; the people's duty to defend the State;
separation of (hurch and State; and renunciation of war as
an instrument of national policy. )hile the second part
stipulates the State policies such as the promotion of an
independent foreign policy; recognition of the youth's and
women's role in nation*uilding; promotion of a
comprehensive rural development and agrarian reform;
and the promotion of social +ustice.
()&$!# : -ill of )i.hts
Summary: Article III recogni,es the individual rights of the
Filipino people and guarantees its protection against
auses. Included in the ill of rights are: due process of
law; e-ual protection of the laws; protection against
unreasonale searches and sei,ures; right to privacy of
communication and correspondence; and the right to free
speech, expression and to peacealy assemle. 'he
specific rights of the accused is li.ewise presented, such
as; right to ail, right to criminal due process, right to
speedy disposition of cases, right against self*
incrimination, non*imprisonment for non payment of det
or a poll tax, and right against doule +eopardy. It further
prohiits the enactment of an ex post facto law or a ill of
attainder.
()&$!# /: $iti0enship
Summary: Article I/ enumerates the conditions of eing
citi,ens of the !hilippines and the manner of ac-uiring and
losing !hilippine citi,enship. It also provides for the
constitutional definition of 0natural*orn1 citi,en and the
retention of !hilippine citi,enship of those who marry
aliens unless they have renounced it.
()&$!# /: Suffra.e
Summary: Article / stipulates the -ualifications of the
Filipinos who have the right to vote. 2o literacy, property,
or other sustantive re-uirement is imposed on the
exercise of suffrage. 'he (ongress is tas.ed to provide a
system to protect the allots, a system of overseas
asentee voting, and a procedure for the disaled and
illiterates to vote without the assistance of other persons.
()&$!# /: !e.islati1e +epart2ent
Summary: Article /I provides for the estalishment of a
icameral legislature, its composition, terms of office,
powers and functions as the legislative ranch of the
government. 3nder this Article, the people can also
exercise legislative powers through a system of initiative
and referendum. 'he memers of the Senate, or the 3pper
house, are elected at large y the -ualified voters of the
!hilippines and are to serve for six years with a maximum
of two terms. )hile there are two .inds of memers of the
4ouse of 5epresentatives or the 6ower 4ouse of (ongress,
namely, the representatives elected y district and those
elected through the party*list system. 'he term of office of
the memers of the lower house is shorter than the
Senate. 7ach memer of the 4ouse of 5epresentatives is
elected for a term of three years with a maximum of three
terms. 'he powers of (ongress include the passage of
ills, levy taxes, approve appropriation, declare a state of
war, and confirm presidential appointments through the
(ommission of Appointments.
()&$!# /: #3ecuti1e +epart2ent
Summary: Article /II stipulates the -ualifications, duties
and functions of the !resident and /ice*!resident. It
expressly states that the executive power is vested in the
!resident of the !hilippines. 'he !resident and the /ice*
!resident are elected y direct vote of the -ualified voters
of the !hilippines for a six*year term. )hile the !resident is
not -ualified for re*election, the vice*president can serve
two "%$ consecutive terms. 'his article stipulates that the
!resident is the head of state, the chief executive of
government, and the commander*in*chief of the armed
forces. 4owever, certain protections are declared against
auses of executive power such as the prohiition against
practice of any other profession, prohiition against
appointment of spouse and relatives to certain positions in
government and limitation on the declaration of martial
law or suspension of the privilege of the writ of haeas
corpus to a period not exceeding 89 days.
()&$!# /: 4u,icial +epart2ent
Summary: Article /III provides for the composition, powers
and functions of the +udiciary. 'he +udicial power is vested
in one Supreme (ourt and in such lower courts as may e
estalished y law. (omposed of the (hief :ustice and ;<
Associate :ustices, the Supreme (ourt has administrative
supervision over all courts and its personnel. Among the
notale powers of the Supreme (ourt are its exercise of
original +urisdiction on cases involving amassadors, pulic
ministers and consuls; review, revise, reverse, modify, or
affirm +udgments or decisions of lower courts; rule on the
constitutionality of laws and treaties; and appoint officials
and employees of the +udiciary. Furthermore, the memers
of the Supreme (ourt and the +udges of lower courts are
appointed y the !resident from a list of at least three
nominees prepared y the :udicial and =ar (ouncil ":=($.
'hey must e natural*orn citi,ens of the !hilippines and
must e at least forty years of age. 'hey will hold office
hold office during good ehavior until the age of >9 years
or ecome incapacitated to discharge the duties of their
office. 'he :=(, which is created in this article, is under the
supervision of the Supreme (ourt and has the principal
function of nominating appointments to the +udiciary
()&$!# 5: $onstitutional $o22issions
Summary: Article I? stipulates the creation of three
independent constitutional commissions such as, the (ivil
Service (ommission "(S($, the (ommission on 7lections
"(@A767($, and the (ommission on Audit "(@A$. 7ach
commission en+oys fiscal autonomy, appoints their officials
and employees in accordance with law, and is composed of
commissioners appointed y the !resident with the
consent of the (ommission on Appointments. 'he (ivil
Service (ommission is the central personnel agency of the
government and estalishes a career service ased on
merit and fitness. 'he (ommission on 7lections, on the
other hand, enforces and administers all laws and
regulations relative to the conduct of an election,
pleiscite, initiative, referendum, and recall. 6astly, the
(ommission on Audit examines, audits, and settles all
accounts pertaining to the funds and property, owned or
held in trust y, or pertaining to the government.
()&$!# 5: !ocal 6o1ern2ent
Summary: Article ? provides for a decentrali,ed local
government administration through the various territorial
and political sudivisions such as, the autonomous
regions, provinces, cities, municipalities, and arangays.
'his article further mandates (ongress to enact a local
government code for a more responsive and accountale
local government structure, and an organic act for the
autonomous regions in Auslim Aindanao and in the
(ordilleras.
()&$!# 5: (ccountabilit* of Public %fficers
Summary: Article ?I states that pulic office is a pulic
trust. 'his article enumerates the officials that may e
impeached, the grounds for impeachment, and the rules of
impeachment. 'he 4ouse of 5epresentatives initiates all
impeachment cases, while the Senate conducts the trial
and decides on all impeachment cases. 'his article also
provides for the creation of special +udicial institutions as
instruments of pulic accountaility namely, the
Sandiganayan as the anti*graft court, the @ffice of the
@mudsman and the @ffice of the Special !rosecutor.
()&$!# 5: "ational #cono2* an, Patri2on*
Summary: Article ?II declares the aims of the State for a
more e-uitale distriution of opportunities, income, and
wealth; sustainale development and industriali,ation; and
full employment of its citi,ens. All natural resources except
agricultural lands are owned y the State. It stipulates the
limitations on the exploration, development and utili,ation
of these natural resources y Filipino citi,ens, private
corporations or associations, and foreign*owned
corporations. (ongress is mandated to estalish an
independent economic and planning agency and an
independent central monetary authority. Section ;> grants
the State the power to ta.e over or direct the operation of
any privately*owned pulic utility or usiness affected with
pulic interest in times of national emergency.
(rticle 5: Social 4ustice an, Hu2an )i.hts
Summary: Article ?III declares that the State shall promote
social +ustice, agrarian and natural resources reform, uran
land reform and housing; protect laor; recogni,e the
rights of every citi,en and people's organi,ation, and
adopt an integrated health development program. It also
mandates (ongress to enact a law creating an
independent (ommission on 4uman 5ights, with the
responsiility of investigating cases of human rights
violation.
()&$!# 5/: #,ucation7 Science an, &echnolo.*7
(rts7 $ulture7 an, Sports
Summary: Article ?I/ declares the principles of the State
on education, language, science and technology, arts and
culture, and sports. @n education, the State shall protect
and promote the right of all citi,ens to -uality education.
'his article also mandates that education shall e
accessile to all. @n language, this article states that
Filipino is the the national language of the !hilippines.
Filipino shall e used as a medium of official
communication and as language of instruction in the
educational system. Furthermore, (ongress is mandated
to estalish a national language commission. @n science
and technology, priority is given on research and
development, incentives are provided to science students,
researchers, scientists and gifted citi,ens to encourage
scientific research. @n arts and culture, the State shall
promote the !hilippine national culture and shall preserve,
and develop the cultures, traditions and institutions of the
indigenous cultural communities. 6astly on sports, the
State shall promote physical education and different sports
activities to foster self*discipline, teamwor., and
excellence.
()&$!# 5/: &he 8a2il*
Summary: Article ?/ recogni,es the Filipino family as the
foundation of the nation. 'he constitutional definition of
marriage is found herein. It further provides for specific
provisions to protect the rights of spouses, children, family
and family associations. 'he duty of the family and the
State to care for the elderly is li.ewise set forth in this
article.
()&$!# 5/: 6eneral Pro1isions
Summary: Article ?/I contains provisions on twelve
su+ects. 'he design of the !hilippine flag is set forth in the
first section, followed y a section on any change, y law,
of the name of the country, national anthem and national
seal. Section B hereof provides for the general rule on
State's immunity from suit. 'he composition of the Armed
Forces of the !hilippines as well as other provisions on the
military such as recruitment, appointment, and retirement
of soldiers and officers are li.ewise found in this article.
'his article further provides for the estalishment of a
national and civilian police force. It also stipulates general
provisions on the enefits, pensions and assistance to war
veterans, their spouses and orphans, as well as to the
retirees of the government and the private sectors. It is
also mandated that the State shall protect the consumer
against trade malpractices, respect the freedom of speech
and of the press, regulate the ownership and management
of mass media and the advertising industry. 6astly, it is
stipulated that (ongress may create a consultative ody
on indigenous cultural communities.
()&$!# 5/: (2en,2ents or )e1isions
Summary: Article ?/II stipulates that any amendment to,
and revision of the (onstitution may e proposed y a
three*fourths vote of all the memers of (ongress and a
constitutional convention. 'he people may li.ewise
propose amendments through an initiative of at least
twelve percent of total registered voters. It further states
that any amendment or revision is not valid without a
ratification y a ma+ority of votes cast in a pleiscite.
()&$!# 5/: &ransitor* Pro1isions
Summary: Article ?/III stipulates specific provisions that
are temporary in nature on the first elections, the
+udiciary, legal codes, international agreements, civil
service and private armies. It stipulates the dates of the
first elections of the memers of the (ongress, the first
local elections and the first regular elections for the
!resident and /ice*!resident. 'his article further provides
for the continued enforcement of all existing laws which
are consistent with this (onstitution as well as the
continued exercise of +urisdiction of all courts, until
otherwise provided y law. Section %< mandates that all
private armies and other paramilitary groups outside the
armed forces of the !hilippines e dismantled. An
important provision on the expiration of the Ailitary =ases
Agreement in ;CC; includes a declaration that no foreign
military ases, troops or facilities shall e allowed in the
!hilippines except under a treaty duly concurred in y the
Senate. 'he last part hereof is with regard to the
se-uestration or free,e order concerning the recovery of
ill*gotten wealth.