When Aquino rose to power in 1986, she had 3

options with regard to the law of the land:

1. To revert to the 1935 Constitution. But
because Marcos abolished the bicameral
legislature they had to resort to general
elections.
2. To retain the 1973 Constitution and be
granted the power to make reforms. This was
shot down by Aquino as "she did not want to
derive legitimacy and power from the very
institutions that she fought."
3. To start anew and break from the "vestiges of
a disgraced dictatorship."
When democracy was restored in 1986, the 1973
Constitution was replaced by first the Freedom
Constitution, also known as Proclamation No. 3, s.
1986, then our current constitution, the 1987
Constitution. This constitution came into full force
and effect on February 11, 1987, after President
Corazon C. Aquino issued Proclamation No. 58, s.
1987. The proclamation issued by President Aquino
included the results of the plebiscite held on
February 2, 1987.
After the ratification President Aquino issued
Proclamation No. 211 s, 1988, which moved the
commemoration of Constitution Day from January
17 to February 2 of every year—a proclamation still
Ruling by decree as a president installed via the
People Power Revolution, President Corazon
Aquino issued Proclamation No. 3 on March 25,
1986 which abrogated many of the provisions of
the 1973 Constitution adopted during the Marcos
regime including the unicameral legislature (the
Batasang Pambansa), the office of Prime
Minister, and provisions which gave the President
legislative powers. Often called the "Freedom
Constitution," this constitution was only
intended as a temporary constitution. A
constitutional commission was soon called to
draft a new constitution for the country.
The ConCom was composed of fifty members
appointed by Aquino The Commission elected
Cecilia Muñoz-Palma, a former Associate Justice
of the Supreme Court, as its president. Several
issues were of particular contention during the
Commission's sessions, including the form of
government to adopt, the abolition of the death
penalty, the retention of the U.S. bases in Clark
and Subic, and the integration of economic
policies into the constitution. Lino Brocka,
walked out before the constitution's completion,
and two other delegates dissented from the
final draft. The Commission finished the final
draft on October 12, 1986.
PREAMBLE
ARTICLE I National Territory
ARTICLE II Declaration of Principles and State
Policies
ARTICLE III Bill of Rights
ARTICLE IV Citizenship
ARTICLE V Suffrage
ARTICLE VI Legislative Department
ARTICLE VII Executive Department
ARTICLE VIII Judicial Department
ARTICLE IX Constitutional Commissions
ARTICLE X Local Government
ARTICLE XI Accountability of Public Officers
ARTICLE XII National Economy and Patrimony
ARTICLE XIII Social Justice and Human Rights
ARTICLE XIV Education, Science and Technology,
Arts, Culture and Sports
ARTICLE XV The Family
ARTICLE XVI General Provisions
ARTICLE XVII Amendments or Revisions
ARTICLE XVIII Transitory Provisions
The current constitution is the 1987 Constitution
which came into force on February 11, 1987. It
was approved by the 1986 Constitutional
Commission on October 12, 1986, and was ratified
in a national plebiscite held on February 2, 1987.
The 1987 Constitution establishes the Philippines
as a democratic and republican State (Article II,
Section 1). It provides for separation of powers
among the legislative, executive and judicial
branches. The legislative power is vested in the
Congress of the Philippines which shall consist of a
Senate and a House of Representatives (Article VI,
Section 1). Congress enacts laws subject to the
veto power of the President (Article VI, Section
The executive power is vested in the President
who shall ensure the faithful execution of the
laws (Article VII, Sections 1 & 17). The President
is both the chief of State and head of the
government and the Commander-in-Chief of the
armed forces (Article VII, Section 17). The
judicial power is vested in the Supreme Court
and the lower courts (Article VIII, Section 1).
The Supreme Court has the power to review and
revise, reverse, and modify on appeal, as the
law or the Rules of Court may provide final
judgments and decrees of inferior courts.
Branch Hierarchy Appointment Powers Removal

Executive President Elected by a direct vote  Nominates the Cabinet and other  Upon the end of 6
high officials year term
Cabinet  Nominated by the President and confirmed  Head of Government  Upon resignation
by a commission on appointments  Ensures faithful execution of the  Upon impeachmen
laws by the legislature
 Commander-in-Chief of the Armed
Forces
 Contracts for foreign loans  Upon removal by t
 Declares martial law President
 Upon resignation

 Advises the President

Legislative Senate  Elected by a direct vote  Election monitoring  Upon resignation
 Introduces and passes legislation by Upon the end of a 6 -
House of a majority vote year term
Representatives
 Elected by districts or a party-list system  Conductes inquiries in pursuit of
passing legislation
 Declares war with joint two-thirds  Upon resignation
vote of Congress  Upon the end of a 3-
year term

 Election monitoring
 Introduces and passes legislation
 Introduces and passes financial
legislation
 Conduct inquiries in pursuit of
passing legislation
 Declaring war with joint two-thirds
vote of Congress
Judicial Supreme Court  Appointed by the President  Administrative supervision over  Upon resignation
other courts  Upon reaching the
 Jurisdiction over cases involving age of 70
ambassadors and public officials
 Constitutional review
Sources:
http://www.constitutionnet.org/country/constitutional-history-
philippines

https://www.officialgazette.gov.ph/constitutions/constitution-day/

https://www.wipo.int/wipolex/en/details.jsp?id=3451

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Constitution_of_the_Philippines

Reading in Philippine History, 2018, Rex Bookstore Inc.

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