Politics and Governance

Lance B. Magayanes
BSRT-1
Prof. Miguel L. de la Rama, LPT, PH.D., MSPH

Philippine Constitution 1987

The sovereign Filipino people declare the constitution. The congress may amend
or revise this constitution by a vote of three-fourths of all its members or by a
constitutional convention. The constitution is made up of and split into 18 articles.
National Territory (I); Declaration of Principles and State Policies Principles (II); Bill of
Rights (III); Citizenship (IV); Suffrage (V); Legislative Department (VI); Executive
Department (VII); Judicial Department (VIII); Constitutional Commissions (IX); Local
Government (X); Accountability Of Public Officers (XI); National Economy and
Patrimony (XII); Social Justice and Human Rights (XIII); Education, Science and
Technology, Arts, Culture, and Sports (XIV); The Family (XV); General Provisions
(XVI); Amendments or Revisions (XVII); Transitory Provisions (XVIII).

Article I: National Territory

The Philippine archipelago includes all of the islands and surrounding
waterways, as well as all other areas over which the Philippines has dominion or
authority, including its terrestrial, fluvial, and aerial domains. Its territorial sea, seabed,
subsoil, insular shelf, and other undersea regions are all included. The territory includes
seas around, between, and linking the archipelago's islands, regardless of their breadth
and size, are part of the Philippines' internal waters.

Article II: Declaration of Principles and State Policies

Article II of the Philippine Constitution is divided into 28 sections, the first six of
which discuss principles while the other 22 discuss state policies. It states and explores
the democratic and republican state of the Philippines. They lose all government
authority, but the people retain sovereignty. It was also stated that the Philippines rejects
war as a tool of national policy, adheres to the principles of peace, equality, justice,
freedom, cooperation, and friendship with all nations, and accepts universally recognized
international law principles as part of domestic law. Civilian power is supreme over the
military. The Armed Forces of the Philippines is tasked with protecting the people and
the state, with the primary purpose of preserving the country's sovereignty and territorial
integrity. The role of the government is to serve and protect its citizens. It is the mandate
of the state to maintain peace and order, protecting life, liberty, and property, and
promoting general welfare are all necessary for guaranteeing that all people can benefit
from democracy. The church-state separation is unbreakable.

According to state policies, the Philippine Constitution gives the key principles
and policies that the government must uphold where it emphasizes the importance of
national sovereignty, territorial integrity, and self-determination in foreign relations, in
the sense of the administration is committed to promoting social justice, safeguarding
human rights, and strengthening family bonds which it is also believed to recognize the
importance of youth, women, and indigenous communities in nation-building.
Additionally, the Constitution also prioritizes education, science, technology, arts,
culture, and sports which it highlights the importance of effort, private enterprise, and
rural development. Local governments enjoy their independence, political dynasties are
outlawed, and the government appreciates knowledge and communication while
supporting non-governmental organizations. However, the Constitution demands full
public disclosure of government transactions and safeguards public servants' honesty and
integrity.

Article III: Bill of Rights

The Bill of Rights establishes the individual's connection to the state and
interprets the individual's rights, limiting the State's legal authority. According to the
1987 Philippine Constitution, the Bill of Rights serves as a cornerstone of individual
liberty, protecting individuals from unjustified government intervention. It creates
safeguards against unjustified searches and seizures, as well as safeguards for the privacy
of people' communication and correspondence. The Bill of Rights ensures fundamental
liberties such as free speech, expression, religion, and travel which it ensures the ability
to form organizations and unions, as well as the protection of private property against
government expropriation without just compensation. In order to prevent double jeopardy
and guarantee that people cannot be punished for acts committed before the Act's
enactment, the Bill of Rights expressly prohibits torture, severe punishment, hefty fines,
and the death sentence. These essential protections assure that the rights of the Filipino
people are recognised and upheld by acting as a check on government excess.

Article IV: Citizenship

There are two types of citizens: natural-born citizens and naturalized citizens.
Natural-born citizens are individuals who have been citizens by birth ; for example, those
born in the Philippines are natural-born citizens. A naturalized citizen is someone who
was born outside of the Philippines and obtained Philippine citizenship.
References:

Official Gazzette (n.d) | THE 1987 CONSTITUTION THE CONSTITUTION OF THE

REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES Retrieved From:
https://www.officialgazette.gov.ph/constitutions/1987-constitution/

Young Citizens (n.d) | What is citizenship? Retrieved From :

https://www.youngcitizens.org/resources/citizenship/what-is-citizenship/

Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (2022) | Constitution of the
Philippines. Retrieved From: https://www.fao.org/faolex/results/details/en/c/LEX-
FAOC132834/#:~:text=The%20Constitution%20is%20divided%20into,Commissions
%20(IX)%3B%20Local%20Government

Boundless (n.d.) |Naturalization Retrieved From:

https://www.boundless.com/immigration-resources/naturalization-explained/
#:~:text=What%20is%20a%20naturalized%20citizen,military%20service
%20requirements%20are%20eligible.