Facts:

On 6 December 1996 Atty. Jesus Delfin filed with the Public Respondent Commission on
Elections, a ‘Petition to Amend the Constitution, to Lift Term Limits of Elective Officials, by
People’s Initiative”; (1)fixing the time and dates for signature gathering all over the country, (2)
causing the necessary publication of said order and petition in circulation; (3)Instruct Municipal
registrars to assist in establishing signing stations.
The Petition alleged that the provisions sought to be amended are Sections 4& 7 of
Article VI and Section 4 of Article VII of the Constitution.
In December 1996, Miriam Santiago et.al. filed a civil action for prohibition against the
Delfin Petition. Santiago argued that the lifting of the term limit of the President constitutes a
revision and not an amendment, thus beyond the power of people’s initiative.

Issues:
Whether or not the Delfin Petition constitutes an amendment to the Constitution?

Decision:
No.

Ratio Decidendi:
The Delfin Petition is not a mere amendment to the Constitution but a revisions thereof
of Article VI & Article VII of the Constitution.The prohibition to remove the term limits of elected
officials openly negate and nullify the noble vision of the 1987 Constitution.
The initiative violates Section 2 of, Article XVII disallowing revision through initiatives. A
people's initiative to change the Constitution applies only to an amendment of the Constitution
and not to its revision. In contrast, Congress or a constitutional convention can propose both
amendments and revisions to the Constitution.