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CONSTITUTION OF THE REPUBLIC OF

THE PHILIPPINES
PREAMBLE
We, the sover ei gn Filipino peopl e, imploring
the aid of Almight y God, in order to build a
ust and humane so!i et y, and est abli sh a
Governme nt that shall embody our ideal s
and aspirati ons, promot e the !ommon good,
!onserve and devel op our pat ri mony, and
se!ur e to oursel ves and our post eri t y, the
blessi ngs of independe n! e and demo!r a!y
under the rule of la" and a regi me of trut h,
usti!e, freedom, love, e#ualit y, and pea!e,
do ordai n and promul gat e this $onsti t uti on%
ARTICLE I NATIONAL TERRITORY
&he national territ ory !ompri ses the
Philippine ar!hi pel ago, "ith all the islands
and "at er s embr a!ed ther ei n, and all other
territori es over "hi!h the Philippines has
sover ei gnt y or urisdi!tion, !onsi sti ng of its
terr est ri al, fluvial and aeri al domai ns,
in!luding its territ ori al sea, the seabed, the
subsoil, the insul ar shelves, and other
submari ne areas% &he "at er s around,
bet "een, and !onne!t i ng the islands of the
ar!hi pel ago, regar dl ess of their breadt h and
di mensi ons, form part of the int ernal "at er s
of the Philippines%
ARTICLE II DECLARATION OF
PRINCIPLES AND STATE POLICIES
PRINCIPLES
Sect i on 1. &he Philippines is a demo!r at i !
and republi!an 't at e% 'over ei gnt y resi des in
the peopl e and all gover nme nt aut hori t y
emanat es from them%
Sect i on 2. &he Philippines renoun!es "ar as
an instrume nt of national poli!y, adopt s the
gener all y a!!ept ed prin!ipl es of int ernat i onal
la" as part of the la" of the land and
adher es to the poli!y of pea!e, e#ualit y,
usti!e, freedom, !ooper at i on, and ami t y
"ith all nations%
Sect i on 3. $ivilian aut hori t y is, at all ti mes,
supr e me over the milit ary% &he Armed For!es
of the Philippines is the prot e!t or of the
peopl e and the 'tat e% (ts goal is to se!ur e
the sover ei gnt y of the 'tat e and the int egrit y
of the national territory%
Sect i on 4. &he pri me dut y of the
Governme nt is to serve and prot e!t the
peopl e% &he Governme nt may !all upon the
peopl e to defend the 't at e and, in the
fulfillment ther eof, all !iti)ens may be
re#uired, under !onditions provided by la",
to render personal , milit ary or !ivil servi!e%
Sect i on 5. &he mai nt ena n! e of pea!e and
order, the prot e!ti on of life, libert y, and
proper t y, and promot i on of the gener al
"elfare are essent i al for the enoyment by all
the peopl e of the blessi ngs of demo!r a!y%
Sect i on . &he separ at i on of $hur!h and
't at e shall be inviolabl e%

'&A&E P*L($(E'
Sect i on !. &he 't at e shall pursue an
independe nt foreign poli!y% (n its relati ons
"ith other st at es, the par amount
!onsi der at i on shall be national sover ei gnt y,
territori al int egri t y, national int er est , and the
right to self+ det er mi nat i on%
Sect i on ". &he Philippines, !onsi st ent "ith
the national int er est , adopt s and pursues a
poli!y of freedom from nu!l ear "eapons in
its territory%
Sect i on #. &he 'tat e shall promot e a ust
and dyna mi ! so!i al order that "ill ensur e the
prosperi t y and independe n! e of the nation
and free the peopl e from povert y through
poli!ies that provide ade#uat e so!i al
servi!es, promot e full empl oyme nt , a rising
st andar d of living, and an improved #ualit y
of life for all%
Sect i on 1$. &he 'tat e shall promot e so!i al
usti!e in all phas es of national devel opme nt %
Sect i on 11. &he 'tat e values the dignit y of
ever y human person and guar ant e e s full
respe!t for human right s%
Sect i on 12. &he 'tat e re!ogni)es the
san!ti t y of family life and shall prot e!t and
strengt hen the family as a basi! aut onomous
so!i al instit ution% (t shall e#uall y prot e!t the
life of the mot her and the life of the unbor n
from !on!ept i on% &he nat ur al and pri mar y
right and dut y of parent s in the reari ng of
the yout h for !ivi! effi!ien!y and the
devel opme nt of mor al !har a!t er shall re!ei ve
the suppor t of the Governme nt %
Sect i on 13. &he 'tat e re!ogni )es the vital
role of the yout h in nation+ building and shall
promot e and prot e!t their physi !al, mor al,
spiritual, int elle!t ual , and so!i al "ell+ being% (t
shall in!ul!at e in the yout h pat rioti s m and
nationalis m, and en!our age their
involveme nt in publi! and !ivi! affairs%
Sect i on 14. &he 't at e re!ogni )es the role of
"omen in nation+ building, and shall ensur e
the fundame nt al e#ualit y before the la" of
"omen and men%
Sect i on 15 % &he 't at e shall prot e!t and
promot e the right to heal t h of the peopl e and
instill heal t h !ons!iousnes s among them%
Sect i on 1 % &he 't at e shall prot e!t and
advan!e the right of the peopl e to a
bal an!ed and heal t hful e!ology in a!!ord
"ith the rhyt hm and har mony of nat ur e%
Sect i on 1! % &he 't at e shall give priority to
edu!at i on, s!ien!e and te!hnol ogy, art s,
!ultur e, and sport s to fost er pat rioti s m and
nationalis m, a!!el er at e so!i al progr es s, and
promot e tot al human liberati on and
devel opme nt %
Sect i on 1" % &he 't at e affirms labor as a
pri mar y so!i al e!onomi ! for!e% (t shall
prot e!t the right s of "or,er s and promot e
their "elfare%
Sect i on 1# % &he 'tat e shall devel op a self+
reliant and independent national e!onomy
effe!tivel y !ont rolled by Filipinos%
Sect i on 2$ % &he 'tat e re!ogni )es the
indispens a bl e role of the privat e se!t or,
en!our age s privat e ent er pri se, and provides
in!enti ves to needed invest me nt s %
Sect i on 21 % &he 't at e shall promot e
!ompr ehensi ve rural devel opme nt and
agr ari an refor m%
Sect i on 22 % &he 't at e re!ogni )es and
promot es the right s of indigenous !ult ur al
!ommuni ti es "ithin the frame"or , of
national unit y and devel opme nt %
Sect i on 23 % &he 't at e shall en!our age non+
gover nme nt al , !ommuni t y+ based, or se!t or al
organi )at i ons that promot e the "elfare of
the nation%
Sect i on 24 % &he 't at e re!ogni )es the vital
role of !ommuni !at i on and infor mat i on in
nation+ building%
Sect i on 25 % &he 't at e shall ensur e the
aut onomy of lo!al gover nme nt s %
Sect i on 2 % &he 'tat e shall guar ant e e e#ual
a!!es s to opport uni ti es for publi! servi!e and
prohi bit politi!al dynast i es as may be defined
by la"%
Sect i on 2! % &he 't at e shall mai nt ai n
honest y and int egrit y in the publi! servi!e
and ta,e positive and effe!tive meas ur es
agai nst graft and !orrupti on%
Sect i on 2" % 'ub e!t to reasonabl e
!ondi tions pres!ri bed by la", the 'tat e
adopt s and impl eme nt s a poli!y of full publi!
dis!losur e of all its trans a!t i ons involving
publi! int er est %
ARTICLE III BILL OF RI%HTS
Sect i on 1 % -o person shall be deprived of
life, libert y, or proper t y "ithout due pro!es s
of la", nor shall any person be deni ed the
e#ual prot e!ti on of the la"s%
Sect i on 2 % &he right of the peopl e to be
se!ur e in their persons, houses, paper s, and
effe!t s agai nst unreasonabl e sear!hes and
sei)ur es of "hat ever nat ur e and for any
purpos e shall be inviolabl e, and no sear !h
"arr ant or "arrant of arrest shall issue
e.!ept upon probabl e !ause to be
det er mi ned personall y by the udge aft er
e.ami nat i on under oat h or affirmat i on of the
!ompl ai nant and the "itness es he may
produ!e, and parti!ul arl y des!ri bi ng the
pla!e to be sear !hed and the persons or
things to be sei)ed%
Sect i on 3 % &1' &he priva!y of
!ommuni !at i on and !orresponde n! e shall be
inviolabl e e.!ept upon la"ful order of the
!ourt , or "hen publi! safet y or order re#uires
other"i se, as pres!ri bed by la"%
&2' Any eviden!e obt ai ned in violation of this
or the pre!edi ng se!tion shall be
inadmi ssi bl e for any purpos e in any
pro!eedi ng%
Sect i on 4 % -o la" shall be passed abri dgi ng
the freedom of spee!h, of e.pr es si on, or of
the press, or the right of the peopl e
pea!eabl y to asse mbl e and petition the
gover nme nt for redr ess of grievan!es%
Sect i on 5 % -o la" shall be made respe!t i ng
an est abli shme nt of religion, or prohibiting
the free e.er!i se ther eof% &he free e.er!i se
and enoyme nt of religious professi on and
"orshi p, "ithout dis!ri mi nat i on or
prefer en!e, shall forever be allo"ed% -o
religious test shall be re#uired for the
e.er!i se of !ivil or politi!al right s%
Sect i on % &he libert y of abode and of
!hangi ng the same "ithin the limits
pres!ri bed by la" shall not be impair ed
e.!ept upon la"ful order of the !ourt %
-either shall the right to travel be impair ed
e.!ept in the int er est of national se!uri t y,
publi! safet y, or publi! heal t h, as may be
provided by la"%
Sect i on ! % &he right of the peopl e to
infor mat i on on mat t er s of publi! !on!er n
shall be re!ogni)ed% A!!ess to offi!ial
re!ords, and to do!ument s and paper s
pert ai ni ng to offi!ial a!t s, trans a!t i ons, or
de!isions, as "ell as to gover nme nt resear !h
dat a used as basi s for poli!y devel opme nt ,
shall be afforded the !iti)en, sub e!t to su!h
limit ati ons as may be provided by la"%
Sect i on " % &he right of the peopl e, in!luding
those empl oyed in the publi! and privat e
se!t or s, to form unions, asso!i ati ons, or
so!i eti es for purpos es not !ont r ar y to la"
shall not be abridged%
Sect i on # % Privat e proper t y shall not be
ta,en for publi! use "ithout ust
!ompens at i on%
Sect i on 1$ % -o la" impairing the obligati on
of !ont r a!t s shall be passed%
Sect i on 11 % Free a!!ess to the !ourt s and
#uasi+ udi!ial bodi es and ade#uat e legal
assi st an!e shall not be deni ed to any person
by reason of pover t y%
Sect i on 12 % &1' Any person under
investi gat i on for the !ommi s si on of an
offense shall have the right to be infor med of
his right to remai n silent and to have
!ompet e nt and independent !ouns el
prefer abl y of his o"n !hoi!e% (f the person
!annot afford the servi!es of !ounsel , he
must be provided "ith one% &hese right s
!annot be "aived e.!ept in "riting and in
the presen!e of !ounsel %
&2' -o tort ur e, for!e, violen!e, threat ,
inti mi dat i on, or any other means "hi!h
vitiat e the free "ill shall be used agai nst
hi m% 'e!ret det ent i on pla!es, solit ary,
in!ommuni !ado, or other si mil ar forms of
det ent i on are prohi bit ed%
&3' Any !onfessi on or admi ssi on obt ai ned in
violation of this or 'e!tion /0 her eof shall be
inadmi ssi bl e in eviden!e agai nst hi m%
&4' &he la" shall provide for penal and !ivil
san!ti ons for violations of this se!tion as "ell
as !ompens at i on to the rehabilit ati on of
vi!ti ms of tort ur e or si mil ar pra!ti!es, and
their families%
Sect i on 13 % All persons, e.!ept those
!harged "ith offenses puni shabl e by
re!lusi on perpet ua "hen eviden!e of guilt is
strong, shall, befor e !onvi!tion, be bailabl e
by suffi!ient sureti es, or be releas ed on
re!ogni )an!e as may be provided by la"%
&he right to bail shall not be impair ed even
"hen the privilege of the "rit of habeas
!orpus is suspende d% E.!essive bail shall not
be re#uired%
Sect i on 14 % &1' -o person shall be held to
ans"er for a !ri mi nal offense "ithout due
pro!es s of la"%
&2' (n all !ri minal prose!ut i ons, the a!!us ed
shall be presume d inno!ent until the
!ont r ar y is proved, and shall enoy the right
to be hear d by hi mself and !ounsel , to be
infor med of the nat ur e and !ause of the
a!!us at i on agai nst hi m, to have a speedy,
impar ti al, and publi! trial, to meet the
"itness es fa!e to fa!e, and to have
!ompul sor y pro!es s to se!ur e the
att endan! e of "itness es and the produ!t i on
of eviden!e in his behalf% 1o"ever, aft er
arrai gnme nt , trial may pro!eed
not "it hst andi ng the absen!e of the a!!us ed2
Provided, that he has been duly notified and
his failure to appear is unustifiabl e%
Sect i on 15 % &he privilege of the "rit of
habeas !orpus shall not be suspended
e.!ept in !ases of invasion or rebellion,
"hen the publi! safet y re#uires it%
Sect i on 1 % All persons shall have the right
to a speedy disposi tion of their !ases befor e
all udi!ial, #uasi+ udi!ial, or admi ni st r at i ve
bodi es%
Sect i on 1! % -o person shall be !ompell ed to
be a "itness agai nst hi ms elf%
Sect i on 1" % &1' -o person shall be det ai ned
solely by reason of his politi!al beliefs and
aspirati ons%
&2' -o involunt ar y servit ude in any form
shall e.ist e.!ept as a puni shme nt for a
!ri me "her eof the part y shall have been duly
!onvi!t ed%
Sect i on 1# % &1' E.!essive fines shall not be
impos ed, nor !ruel, degr adi ng or inhuman
puni shme nt infli!t ed% -either shall deat h
penal t y be imposed, unl ess, for !ompelling
reasons involving hei nous !ri mes, the
$ongr ess her eaf t er provides for it% Any deat h
penal t y already imposed shall be redu!ed to
re!lusi on perpet ua%
&2' &he empl oyme nt of physi!al,
psy!hol ogi !al, or degr adi ng punishme nt
agai nst any prisoner or det ai nee or the use
of subst andar d or inade#uat e penal fa!ilities
under subhuma n !onditions shall be deal t
"ith by la"%
Sect i on 2$ % -o person shall be impri soned
for debt or non+ payment of a poll ta.%
Sect i on 21 % -o person shall be t"i!e put in
eopar dy of puni shme nt for the same
offense% (f an a!t is punished by a la" and an
ordinan!e, !onvi!tion or a!#ui t t al under
eit her shall !onsti t ut e a bar to anot her
prose!ut i on for the same a!t%
Sect i on 22 % -o e. post fa!t o la" or bill of
att ai nder shall be ena!t ed%
ARTICLE I( CITI)ENSHIP
Sect i on 1 % &he follo"ing are !iti)ens of the
Philippines2
*1+ &hose "ho are !iti)ens of the Philippines
at the time of the adopti on of this
$onstit uti on3
*2+ &hose "hose fat her s or mot her s are
!iti)ens of the Philippines3
*3+ &hose born before 4anuar y /0, /506, of
Filipino mot her s, "ho ele!t Philippine
!iti)enshi p upon rea!hi ng the age of
ma orit y3 and
*4+ &hose "ho are nat ur ali)ed in a!!or dan!e
"ith la"%
Sect i on 2 % -at ur al+ born !iti)ens are those
"ho are !iti)ens of the Philippines from birth
"ithout havi ng to perfor m any a!t to a!#uir e
or perfe!t their Philippine !iti)enshi p% &hose
"ho ele!t Philippine !iti)enshi p in
a!!or dan!e "ith par agr aph 768, 'e!tion /
her eof shall be deeme d nat ur al+ born !iti)ens%
Sect i on 3 % Philippine !iti)enshi p may be lost
or rea!#ui r ed in the manner provided by la"%
Sect i on 4 % $iti)ens of the Philippines "ho
marry aliens shall ret ai n their !iti)enshi p,
unless by their a!t or omi ssi on, they are
deeme d, under the la", to have renoun!ed
it%
Sect i on 5 % 9ual allegi an!e of !iti)ens is
ini mi!al to the national int er est and shall be
deal t "ith by la"%
ARTICLE ( SUFFRA%E
Sect i on 1 % 'uffrage may be e.er!i sed by all
!iti)ens of the Philippines, not other "i se
dis#ualified by la", "ho are at least eight een
year s of age, and "ho shall have resided in
the Philippines for at least one year and in
the pla!e "her ei n they propos e to vot e, for
at least si. mont hs immedi at el y pre!edi ng
the ele!ti on% -o litera!y, proper t y, or other
subst ant i ve re#uireme nt shall be imposed on
the e.er!i se of suffrage%
Sect i on 2 % &he $ongr es s shall provide a
syst e m for se!uri ng the se!r e!y and san!ti t y
of the ballot as "ell as a syst e m for absent e e
voting by #ualified Filipinos abroad%
&he $ongr ess shall also desi gn a pro!edur e
for the disabl ed and the illiterat es to vot e
"ithout the assi st an!e of other persons% :ntil
then, they shall be allo"ed to vot e under
e.isting la"s and su!h rules as the
$ommi ssi on on Ele!tions may promul gat e to
prot e!t the se!r e!y of the ballot%
ARTICLE (I THE LE%ISLATI(E
DEPART,ENT
Sect i on 1 % &he legisl ative po"er shall be
vest ed in the $ongr ess of the Philippines
"hi!h shall !onsi st of a 'enat e and a 1ouse
of Repres ent at i ves, e.!ept to the e.t ent
reserved to the peopl e by the provision on
initiative and refer endum%
Sect i on 2 % &he 'enat e shall be !ompos ed of
t"ent y+ four 'enat or s "ho shall be ele!t ed at
large by the #ualified vot ers of the
Philippines, as may be provided by la"%
Sect i on 3 % -o person shall be a 'enat or
unless he is a nat ur al+ born !iti)en of the
Philippines and, on the day of the ele!tion, is
at least thirt y+ five year s of age, abl e to read
and "rit e, a regi st er ed vot er, and a resident
of the Philippines for not less than t"o year s
immedi at el y pre!edi ng the day of the
ele!tion%
Sect i on 4 % &he ter m of offi!e of the 'enat or s
shall be si. year s and shall !omme n! e,
unless other"i se provided by la", at noon on
the thirtiet h day of 4une ne.t follo"ing their
ele!tion% -o 'enat or shall serve for mor e
than t"o !onse!ut i ve ter ms% ;olunt ar y
renun!i ati on of the offi!e for any lengt h of
ti me shall not be !onsi der ed as an
int errupti on in the !onti nui t y of his servi!e
for the full ter m of "hi!h he "as ele!t ed%
Sect i on 5 % &1' &he 1ouse of
Repr es ent at i ves shall be !ompos ed of not
mor e than t"o hundr ed and fifty member s,
unless other "i se fi.ed by la", "ho shall be
ele!t ed from legisl ative distri!t s apporti oned
among the provin!es, !ities, and the
Metropolit an Manila area in a!!or dan!e "ith
the number of their respe!t i ve inhabi t ant s,
and on the basi s of a unifor m and
progr essi ve ratio, and those "ho, as
provided by la", shall be ele!t ed through a
part y+ list syst e m of regist er ed national,
regional, and se!t or al parti es or
organi )at i ons%
&2' &he part y+ list repr es ent at i ves shall
!onsti t ut e t"ent y per !ent um of the tot al
number of repr es ent at i ves in!luding those
under the part y list% For three !onse!ut i ve
ter ms aft er the ratifi!ati on of this
$onstit uti on, one+ half of the seat s allo!at ed
to part y+ list repr es ent at i ves shall be filled, as
provided by la", by sel e!ti on or ele!ti on
from the labor, peas ant , urban poor,
indigenous !ultur al !ommuni ti es, "omen,
yout h, and su!h other se!t or s as may be
provided by la", e.!ept the religious se!t or%
&3' Ea!h legisl ative distri!t shall !ompri se,
as far as pra!ti!abl e, !onti guous, !ompa!t ,
and ad a!ent territ ory% Ea!h !ity "ith a
popul ati on of at least t"o hundr ed fifty
thous and, or ea!h provin!e, shall have at
least one repr es ent at i ve%
&4' Within three year s follo"ing the ret urn of
ever y !ensus, the $ongr es s shall ma,e a
reappor ti onme nt of legisl ative distri!t s based
on the st andar ds provided in this se!ti on%
Sect i on % -o person shall be a Member of
the 1ouse of Repres ent at i ves unl ess he is a
nat ur al+ born !iti)en of the Philippines and,
on the day of the ele!ti on, is at least t"ent y+
five year s of age, abl e to read and "rit e,
and, e.!ept the part y+ list repr es ent at i ves, a
regist er ed vot er in the distri!t in "hi!h he
shall be ele!t ed, and a resi dent ther eof for a
period of not less than one year immedi at el y
pre!edi ng the day of the ele!tion%
Sect i on ! % &he Member s of the 1ouse of
Repr es ent at i ves shall be ele!t ed for a ter m
of three year s "hi!h shall begi n, unl ess
other"i se provided by la", at noon on the
thirtiet h day of 4une ne.t follo"ing their
ele!tion% -o Member of the 1ouse of
Repr es ent at i ves shall serve for mor e than
three !onse!ut i ve ter ms% ;olunt ar y
renun!i ati on of the offi!e for any lengt h of
ti me shall not be !onsi der ed as an
int errupti on in the !onti nui t y of his servi!e
for the full ter m for "hi!h he "as ele!t ed%
Sect i on " % :nless other"i se provided by
la", the regul ar ele!ti on of the 'enat or s and
the Member s of the 1ouse of
Repr es ent at i ves shall be held on the se!ond
Monday of May%
Sect i on # % (n !ase of va!an!y in the 'enat e
or in the 1ouse of Repres ent at i ves, a spe!i al
ele!tion may be !alled to fill su!h va!an!y in
the manner pres!ri bed by la", but the
'enat or or Member of the 1ouse of
Repr es ent at i ves thus ele!t ed shall serve only
for the une.pir ed ter m%
Sect i on 1$ % &he sal ari es of 'enat or s and
Member s of the 1ouse of Repres ent at i ves
shall be det er mi ned by la"% -o in!reas e in
said !ompens at i on shall ta,e effe!t until
aft er the e.pirati on of the full ter m of all the
Member s of the 'enat e and the 1ouse of
Repr es ent at i ves approvi ng su!h in!reas e%
Sect i on 11 % A 'enat or or Member of the
1ouse of Repr es ent at i ves shall, in all
offenses puni shabl e by not mor e than si.
year s impri sonme nt , be privileged from
arrest "hile the $ongr ess is in sessi on% -o
Member shall be #uesti oned nor be held
liabl e in any other pla!e for any spee!h or
debat e in the $ongr es s or in any !ommi t t ee
ther eof%
Sect i on 12 % All Member s of the 'enat e and
the 1ouse of Repr es ent at i ves shall, upon
assumpt i on of offi!e, ma,e a full dis!losur e
of their finan!i al and busines s int er est s% &hey
shall notify the 1ouse !on!er ned of a
pot ent i al !onfli!t of int er est that may arise
from the filing of a propos ed legisl ati on of
"hi!h they are aut hor s%
Sect i on 13 % -o 'enat or or Member of the
1ouse of Repr es ent at i ves may hold any
other offi!e or empl oyme nt in the
Governme nt , or any subdi vi sion, agen!y, or
instrume nt al i t y ther eof, in!luding
gover nme nt + o"ned or !ont rolled
!orpor at i ons or their subsi di ari es, during his
ter m "ithout forfeiting his seat % -either shall
he be appoi nt ed to any offi!e "hi!h may
have been !reat ed or the emol ument s
ther eof in!reas ed during the ter m for "hi!h
he "as ele!t ed%
Sect i on 14 % -o 'enat or or Member of the
1ouse of Repr es ent at i ves may personall y
appear as !ouns el before any !ourt of usti!e
or befor e the Ele!t or al &ribunal s, or #uasi+
udi!ial and other admi ni st r at i ve bodi es%
-either shall he, dire!tl y or indire!tl y, be
int er est ed finan!i ally in any !ont r a!t "ith, or
in any fran!hi se or spe!i al privilege grant ed
by the Gover nme nt , or any subdi vision,
agen!y, or instrument ali t y ther eof, in!luding
any gover nme nt + o"ned or !ont roll ed
!orpor at i on, or its subsi di ar y, during his ter m
of offi!e% 1e shall not int ervene in any
mat t er befor e any offi!e of the Gover nme nt
for his pe!uni ar y benefi t or "her e he may be
!alled upon to a!t on a!!ount of his offi!e%
Sect i on 15 % &he $ongr es s shall !onvene
on!e ever y year on the fourt h Monday of 4uly
for its regul ar sessi on, unless a different dat e
is fi.ed by la", and shall !ontinue to be in
sessi on for su!h number of days as it may
det er mi ne until thirt y days befor e the
openi ng of its ne.t regul ar sessi on, e.!lusive
of 'at urdays, 'undays, and legal holidays%
&he Presi dent may !all a spe!i al sessi on at
any time%
Sect i on 1. &1'. &he 'enat e shall ele!t its
Presi dent and the 1ouse of Repres ent at i ves,
its 'pea,er , by a ma orit y vot e of all its
respe!t i ve Member s% Ea!h 1ouse shall
!hoos e su!h other offi!ers as it may deem
ne!es s ar y%
&2' A ma orit y of ea!h 1ouse shall !onsti t ut e
a #uorum to do busi ness, but a small er
number may adourn from day to day and
may !ompel the at t endan!e of absent
Member s in su!h manner , and under su!h
penal ti es, as su!h 1ouse may provide%
&3' Ea!h 1ouse may det er mi ne the rules of
its pro!eedi ngs, punish its Member s for
disorderl y behavi or, and, "ith the
!on!urr en!e of t"o+ thirds of all its Member s,
suspend or e.pel a Member% A penal t y of
suspensi on, "hen imposed, shall not e.!eed
si.ty days%
&4' Ea!h 1ouse shall ,eep a 4ournal of its
pro!eedi ngs, and from ti me to ti me publish
the same, e.!epti ng su!h part s as may, in
its udgment , affe!t national se!uri t y3 and
the yeas and nays on any #uesti on shall, at
the re#ues t of one+ fifth of the Member s
present , be ent er ed in the 4ournal% Ea!h
1ouse shall also ,eep a Re!ord of its
pro!eedi ngs%
&5' -either 1ouse during the sessi ons of the
$ongr ess shall, "ithout the !onsent of the
other, adourn for mor e than three days, nor
to any other pla!e than that in "hi!h the t"o
1ouses shall be sitting%
Sect i on 1! % &he 'enat e and the 1ouse of
Repr es ent at i ves shall ea!h have an Ele!t or al
&ribunal "hi!h shall be the sole udge of all
!ont est s relati ng to the ele!tion, ret urns, and
#ualifi!ations of their respe!t i ve Member s%
Ea!h Ele!t or al &ribunal shall be !ompos ed of
nine Member s, three of "hom shall be
4usti!es of the 'upr eme $ourt to be
desi gnat ed by the $hief 4usti!e, and the
remai ni ng si. shall be Member s of the
'enat e or the 1ouse of Repr es ent at i ves, as
the !ase may be, "ho shall be !hosen on the
basi s of propor ti onal repr es ent at i on from the
politi!al parti es and the parti es or
organi )at i ons regist er ed under the part y+ list
syst e m repr es ent e d ther ei n% &he senior
4usti!e in the Ele!t or al &ribunal shall be its
$hair man%
Sect i on 1" % &here shall be a $ommi ssi on on
Appoint ment s !onsi sti ng of the President of
the 'enat e, as e. offi!io $hair man, t"elve
'enat or s, and t"elve Member s of the 1ouse
of Repr es ent at i ves, ele!t ed by ea!h 1ouse
on the basi s of proporti onal repr es ent at i on
from the politi!al parti es and parti es or
organi )at i ons regist er ed under the part y+ list
syst e m repr es ent e d ther ei n% &he !hair man of
the $ommi ssi on shall not vot e, e.!ept in
!ase of a tie% &he $ommi ssi on shall a!t on all
appoi nt me nt s submi t t ed to it "ithin thirt y
sessi on days of the $ongr ess from their
submi ssi on% &he $ommi ssi on shall rule by a
ma orit y vot e of all the Member s%
Sect i on 1# % &he Ele!t or al &ribunal s and the
$ommi ssi on on Appoint me nt s shall be
!onsti t ut ed "ithin thirt y days aft er the
'enat e and the 1ouse of Repr es ent at i ves
shall have been organi)ed "ith the ele!tion
of the Presi dent and the 'pea,er% &he
$ommi ssi on on Appoint me nt s shall meet
only "hile the $ongr es s is in sessi on, at the
!all of its $hair man or a ma orit y of all its
Member s, to dis!har ge su!h po"er s and
fun!tions as are her ei n !onferr ed upon it%
Sect i on 2$ % &he re!ords and boo,s of
a!!ount s of the $ongr es s shall be preser ved
and be open to the publi! in a!!or dan!e "ith
la", and su!h boo,s shall be audi t ed by the
$ommi ssi on on Audit "hi!h shall publish
annuall y an itemi )ed list of amount s paid to
and e.pens es in!urred for ea!h Member%
Sect i on 21 % &he 'enat e or the 1ouse of
Repr es ent at i ves or any of its respe!t i ve
!ommi t t e es may !ondu!t in#uiri es in aid of
legisl ati on in a!!or dan!e "ith its duly
published rules of pro!edur e% &he right s of
persons appeari ng in, or affe!t ed by, su!h
in#uiries shall be respe!t ed%
Sect i on 22 % &he heads of depar t me nt s may,
upon their o"n initiative, "ith the !onsent of
the Presi dent , or upon the re#uest of either
1ouse, as the rules of ea!h 1ouse shall
provide, appear befor e and be hear d by su!h
1ouse on any mat t er pert ai ni ng to their
depar t me nt s % Writt en #uesti ons shall be
submi t t ed to the Presi dent of the 'enat e or
the 'pea,er of the 1ouse of Repr es ent at i ves
at least three days befor e their s!hedul ed
appear an!e% (nterpell ati ons shall not be
limit ed to "ritt en #uest i ons, but may !over
mat t er s relat ed ther et o% When the se!urit y of
the 't at e or the publi! int er est so re#uires
and the Presi dent so st at es in "riting, the
appear an!e shall be !ondu!t ed in e.e!uti ve
sessi on%
Sect i on 23. &1' &he $ongr es s, by a vot e of
t"o+ thirds of bot h 1ouses in oint sessi on
asse mbl ed, voting separ at el y, shall have the
sole po"er to de!l ar e the e.ist en!e of a
st at e of "ar%
&2' (n ti mes of "ar or other national
emer gen!y, the $ongr ess may, by la",
aut hori)e the Presi dent , for a limit ed period
and sub e!t to su!h rest ri!tions as it may
pres!ri be, to e.er!i se po"er s ne!es s ar y and
proper to !arry out a de!l ar ed national
poli!y% :nless sooner "ithdr a"n by
resol uti on of the $ongr es s, su!h po"er s shall
!eas e upon the ne.t adour nme nt ther eof%
Sect i on 24 % All appropri ati on, revenue or
tariff bills, bills aut hori)ing in!reas e of the
publi! debt , bills of lo!al appli!ati on, and
privat e bills, shall originat e e.!lusivel y in the
1ouse of Repr es ent at i ves, but the 'enat e
may propos e or !on!ur "ith amendme nt s %
Sect i on 25. &1' &he $ongr ess may not
in!reas e the appropri at i ons re!omme nd e d
by the Presi dent for the oper at i on of the
Governme nt as spe!ified in the budget % &he
form, !ont ent , and manner of prepar at i on of
the budget shall be pres!ri bed by la"%
&2' -o provision or ena!t me nt shall be
embr a!ed in the gener al appropri at i ons bill
unless it relat es spe!ifi!ally to some
parti!ul ar appropri at i on ther ei n% Any su!h
provision or ena!t me nt shall be limit ed in its
oper at i on to the appropri ati on to "hi!h it
relat es%
&3' &he pro!edur e in approvi ng
appropri ati ons for the $ongr es s shall stri!tly
follo" the pro!edur e for approvi ng
appropri ati ons for other depar t me nt s and
agen!i es%
&4' A spe!i al appropri ati ons bill shall spe!ify
the purpos e for "hi!h it is int ended, and
shall be support ed by funds a!t uall y
availabl e as !ertified by the -ational
&reasur er, or to be raised by a !orrespondi ng
revenue propos al ther ei n%
&5' -o la" shall be pass ed aut hori)ing any
transf er of appropri ati ons3 ho"ever, the
Presi dent , the Presi dent of the 'enat e, the
'pea,er of the 1ouse of Repres ent at i ves, the
$hief 4usti!e of the 'upre me $ourt, and the
heads of $onstit uti onal $ommi ssi ons may,
by la", be aut hori)ed to augme nt any item
in the gener al appropri at i ons la" for their
respe!t i ve offi!es from savi ngs in other
items of their respe!t i ve appropri ati ons%
&' 9is!reti onar y funds appropri at ed for
parti!ul ar offi!ials shall be disburs ed only for
publi! purpos es to be suppor t ed by
appropri at e vou!her s and sub e!t to su!h
guidelines as may be pres!ri bed by la"%
&!' (f, by the end of any fis!al year, the
$ongr ess shall have failed to pass the
gener al appropri ati ons bill for the ensui ng
fis!al year, the gener al appropri ati ons la"
for the pre!edi ng fis!al year shall be deeme d
re+ ena!t ed and shall remai n in for!e and
effe!t until the gener al appropri at i ons bill is
passed by the $ongr ess%
Sect i on 2. &1' Every bill pass ed by the
$ongr ess shall embr a!e only one sub e!t
"hi!h shall be e.pr ess ed in the title ther eof%
&2' -o bill pass ed by either 1ouse shall
be!ome a la" unl ess it has pass ed three
readi ngs on separ at e days, and print ed
!opi es ther eof in its final form have been
distribut ed to its Member s three days before
its pass age, e.!ept "hen the Presi dent
!ertifies to the ne!es si t y of its immedi at e
ena!t me nt to meet a publi! !alami t y or
emer gen!y% :pon the last readi ng of a bill,
no amend me nt ther et o shall be allo"ed, and
the vot e ther eon shall be ta,en immedi at el y
ther eaf t er , and the yeas and nays ent er ed in
the 4ournal%
Sect i on 2!. &1' Every bill pass ed by the
$ongr ess shall, before it be!ome s a la", be
present e d to the Presi dent % (f he approves
the same he shall sign it3 other "i se, he shall
vet o it and ret ur n the same "ith his
obe!ti ons to the 1ouse "her e it originat ed,
"hi!h shall ent er the obe!ti ons at large in
its 4ournal and pro!eed to re!onsi der it% (f,
aft er su!h re!onsi der at i on, t"o+ thirds of all
the Member s of su!h 1ouse shall agr ee to
pass the bill, it shall be sent , toget her "ith
the obe!tions, to the other 1ouse by "hi!h
it shall li,e"ise be re!onsi der ed, and if
approved by t"o+ thirds of all the Member s of
that 1ouse, it shall be!ome a la"% (n all su!h
!ases, the vot es of ea!h 1ouse shall be
det er mi ned by yeas or nays, and the names
of the Member s voting for or agai nst shall be
ent er ed in its 4ournal% &he Presi dent shall
!ommuni !at e his vet o of any bill to the
1ouse "her e it originat ed "ithin thirt y days
aft er the dat e of re!ei pt ther eof, other"i se, it
shall be!ome a la" as if he had signed it%
&2' &he Presi dent shall have the po"er to
vet o any parti!ul ar item or items in an
appropri ati on, revenue, or tariff bill, but the
vet o shall not affe!t the item or items to
"hi!h he does not obe!t %
Sect i on 2". &1' &he rule of ta.at i on shall be
unifor m and e#ui t abl e% &he $ongr ess shall
evolve a progr es si ve syst e m of ta.ati on%
&2' &he $ongr ess may, by la", aut hori)e the
Presi dent to fi. "ithin spe!ified limits, and
sub e!t to su!h limit ati ons and rest ri!tions as
it may impose, tariff rat es, import and e.port
#uot as, tonnage and "harfage dues, and
other duti es or impost s "ithin the frame"or ,
of the national devel opme nt progr a m of the
Governme nt %
&3' $harit abl e instit utions, !hur!hes and
personage s or !onvent s appurt ena nt ther et o,
mos#ues , non+ profit !emet eri es, and all
lands, buildings, and improve me nt s ,
a!t ually, dire!tl y, and e.!lusivel y used for
religious, !harit abl e, or edu!at i onal purpos es
shall be e.empt from ta.ati on%
&4' -o la" granti ng any ta. e.empt i on shall
be pass ed "ithout the !on!urr en!e of a
ma orit y of all the Member s of the $ongr es s%
Sect i on 2#. &1' -o money shall be paid out
of the &reasur y e.!ept in pursuan!e of an
appropri ati on made by la"%
&2' -o publi! money or proper t y shall be
appropri at ed, appli ed, paid, or empl oyed,
dire!tl y or indire!tl y, for the use, benefit, or
suppor t of any se!t , !hur!h, denomi nat i on,
se!t ari an instit ution, or syst e m of religion, or
of any priest , prea!her , mini st er, other
religious tea!her , or dignit ar y as su!h,
e.!ept "hen su!h priest , prea!her , minist er,
or dignit ar y is assi gned to the ar med for!es,
or to any penal instit uti on, or gover nme nt
orphanage or leprosari um%
&3' All money !olle!t ed on any ta. levied for
a spe!i al purpos e shall be treat ed as a
spe!i al fund and paid out for su!h purpos e
only% (f the purpos e for "hi!h a spe!i al fund
"as !reat ed has been fulfilled or abandoned,
the bal an!e, if any, shall be transf err ed to
the gener al funds of the Governme nt %
Sect i on 3$. -o la" shall be pass ed
in!reasi ng the appell at e urisdi!tion of the
'upreme $ourt as provided in this
$onstit uti on "ithout its advi!e and
!on!urr en!e%
Sect i on 31 % -o la" granti ng a title of
royalt y or nobility shall be ena!t ed%
Sect i on 32 % &he $ongr es s shall, as earl y as
possi bl e, provide for a syst e m of initiative
and refer endum, and the e.!epti ons
ther efrom, "her eby the peopl e !an dire!tl y
propos e and ena!t la"s or approve or re e!t
any a!t or la" or part ther eof pass ed by the
$ongr ess or lo!al legisl ative body aft er the
regist r at i on of a petition ther efor signed by
at least ten per !ent um of the tot al number
of regist er ed vot ers, of "hi!h ever y
legisl ative distri!t must be repr es ent e d by at
least three per !ent um of the regist er ed
vot er s ther eof%
ARTICLE (II E-ECUTI(E DEPART,ENT
Sect i on 1 % &he e.e!uti ve po"er shall be
vest ed in the Presi dent of the Philippines%
Sect i on 2 % -o person may be ele!t ed
Presi dent unless he is a nat ur al+ born !iti)en
of the Philippines, a regist er ed vot er, abl e to
read and "rit e, at least fort y year s of age on
the day of the ele!tion, and a resi dent of the
Philippines for at least ten year s immedi at el y
pre!edi ng su!h ele!ti on%
Sect i on 3 % &here shall be a ;i!e+ Presi dent
"ho shall have the same #ualifi!ations and
ter m of offi!e and be ele!t ed "ith, and in the
same manner , as the Presi dent % 1e may be
removed from offi!e in the same manner as
the Presi dent %
&he ;i!e+ Presi dent may be appoi nt ed as a
Member of the $abinet % 'u!h appoi nt me nt
re#uires no !onfirmat i on%
Sect i on 4 % &he Presi dent and the ;i!e+
Presi dent shall be ele!t ed by dire!t vot e of
the peopl e for a ter m of si. year s "hi!h shall
begi n at noon on the thirtiet h day of 4une
ne.t follo"ing the day of the ele!tion and
shall end at noon of the same dat e, si. year s
ther eaf t er % &he Presi dent shall not be eligible
for any re+ ele!ti on% -o person "ho has
su!!eede d as President and has served as
su!h for mor e than four year s shall be
#ualified for ele!ti on to the same offi!e at
any time%
-o ;i!e+ Presi dent shall serve for mor e than
t"o su!!es si ve ter ms% ;olunt ar y
renun!i ati on of the offi!e for any lengt h of
ti me shall not be !onsi der ed as an
int errupti on in the !ontinui t y of the servi!e
for the full ter m for "hi!h he "as ele!t ed%
:nless other"i se provided by la", the
regul ar ele!ti on for Presi dent and ;i!e+
Presi dent shall be held on the se!ond
Monday of May%
&he ret urns of ever y ele!ti on for Presi dent
and ;i!e+ Presi dent , duly !ertified by the
boar d of !anvas s er s of ea!h provin!e or !ity,
shall be trans mi t t ed to the $ongr ess,
dire!t ed to the Presi dent of the 'enat e% :pon
re!ei pt of the !ertifi!at es of !anvas s, the
Presi dent of the 'enat e shall, not lat er than
thirt y days aft er the day of the ele!ti on,
open all the !ertifi!at es in the presen!e of
the 'enat e and the 1ouse of Repres ent at i ves
in oint publi! sessi on, and the $ongr ess,
upon det er mi nat i on of the aut hent i !i t y and
due e.e!ut i on ther eof in the manner
provided by la", !anvas s the vot es%
&he person havi ng the highest number of
vot es shall be pro!l ai med ele!t ed, but in
!ase t"o or mor e shall have an e#ual and
highest number of vot es, one of them shall
fort h"i t h be !hosen by the vot e of a ma orit y
of all the Member s of bot h 1ouses of the
$ongr ess, voting separ at el y%
&he $ongr ess shall promul gat e its rules for
the !anvas si ng of the !ertifi!at es%
&he 'upreme $ourt, sitting en ban!, shall be
the sole udge of all !ont est s relati ng to the
ele!tion, ret urns, and #ualifi!ati ons of the
Presi dent or ;i!e+ President , and may
promul gat e its rules for the purpos e%
Sect i on 5 % Before they ent er on the
e.e!ut i on of their offi!e, the Presi dent , the
;i!e+ Presi dent , or the A!ting President shall
ta,e the follo"ing oat h or affirmat i on2
<( do solemnl y s"ear =or affirm> that ( "ill
faithfully and !ons!i enti ousl y fulfill my duti es
as Presi dent =or ;i!e+ Presi dent or A!ting
Presi dent > of the Philippines, preser ve and
defend its $onsti t uti on, e.e!ut e its la"s, do
usti!e to every man, and !onse!r at e myself
to the servi!e of the -ation% 'o help me
God%< =(n !ase of affirmat i on, last sent en!e
"ill be omit t ed>%
Sect i on % &he Presi dent shall have an
offi!ial residen!e% &he sal ari es of the
Presi dent and ;i!e+ Presi dent shall be
det er mi ned by la" and shall not be
de!r eas ed during their tenur e% -o in!reas e in
said !ompens at i on shall ta,e effe!t until
aft er the e.pirati on of the ter m of the
in!umbe nt during "hi!h su!h in!reas e "as
approved% &hey shall not re!eive during their
tenur e any other emol ume nt from the
Governme nt or any other sour!e%
Sect i on ! % &he Presi dent + ele!t and the ;i!e
Presi dent + ele!t shall assume offi!e at the
begi nni ng of their ter ms%
(f the Presi dent + ele!t fails to #ualify, the ;i!e
Presi dent + ele!t shall a!t as Presi dent until
the Presi dent + ele!t shall have #ualified%
(f a Presi dent shall not have been !hosen,
the ;i!e President + ele!t shall a!t as
Presi dent until a Presi dent shall have been
!hosen and #ualified%
(f at the begi nni ng of the ter m of the
Presi dent , the Presi dent + ele!t shall have died
or shall have be!ome per mane nt l y disabl ed,
the ;i!e President + ele!t shall be!ome
Presi dent %
Wher e no Presi dent and ;i!e+ President shall
have been !hosen or shall have #ualified, or
"her e bot h shall have died or be!ome
per mane nt l y disabl ed, the Presi dent of the
'enat e or, in !ase of his inability, the
'pea,er of the 1ouse of Repr es ent at i ves,
shall a!t as Presi dent until a Presi dent or a
;i!e+ Presi dent shall have been !hosen and
#ualified%
&he $ongr ess shall, by la", provide for the
manner in "hi!h one "ho is to a!t as
Presi dent shall be sel e!t ed until a Presi dent
or a ;i!e+ Presi dent shall have #ualified, in
!ase of deat h, per mane nt disabilit y, or
inability of the offi!ials ment i oned in the ne.t
pre!edi ng paragr aph%
Sect i on " % (n !ase of deat h, per mane nt
disability, removal from offi!e, or resi gnat i on
of the Presi dent , the ;i!e+ Presi dent shall
be!ome the Presi dent to serve the une.pi red
ter m% (n !ase of deat h, per mane nt disability,
removal from offi!e, or resi gnat i on of bot h
the Presi dent and ;i!e+ Presi dent , the
Presi dent of the 'enat e or, in !ase of his
inability, the 'pea,er of the 1ouse of
Repr es ent at i ves, shall then a!t as Presi dent
until the President or ;i!e+ Presi dent shall
have been ele!t ed and #ualified%
&he $ongr es s shall, by la", provide "ho
shall serve as Presi dent in !ase of deat h,
per mane nt disability, or resi gnat i on of the
A!ting Presi dent % 1e shall serve until the
Presi dent or the ;i!e+ President shall have
been ele!t ed and #ualified, and be sub e!t to
the same rest ri!tions of po"er s and
dis#ualifi!ations as the A!ting Presi dent %
Sect i on # % Whenever ther e is a va!an!y in
the *ffi!e of the ;i!e+ President during the
ter m for "hi!h he "as ele!t ed, the Presi dent
shall nomi nat e a ;i!e+ President from among
the Member s of the 'enat e and the 1ouse of
Repr es ent at i ves "ho shall assume offi!e
upon !onfir mat i on by a ma orit y vot e of all
the Member s of bot h 1ouses of the
$ongr ess, voting separ at el y%
Sect i on 1$ % &he $ongr es s shall, at ten
o? !lo!, in the mor ni ng of the third day aft er
the va!an!y in the offi!es of the Presi dent
and ;i!e+ Presi dent o!!urs, !onvene in
a!!or dan!e "ith its rules "ithout need of a
!all and "ithin seven days, ena!t a la"
!alling for a spe!i al ele!ti on to ele!t a
Presi dent and a ;i!e+ Presi dent to be hel d not
earlier than fort y+ five days nor lat er than
si.ty days from the ti me of su!h !all% &he bill
!alling su!h spe!i al ele!tion shall be deeme d
!ertified under par agr aph @, 'e!tion @A,
Arti!le ;/ of this $onstit uti on and shall
be!ome la" upon its approval on third
readi ng by the $ongr ess% Appropri ati ons for
the spe!i al ele!tion shall be !harged agai nst
any !urrent appropri ati ons and shall be
e.empt from the re#uir eme nt s of par agr aph
B, 'e!tion @C, Arti!le ;/ of this $onstit uti on%
&he !onveni ng of the $ongr es s !annot be
suspende d nor the spe!i al ele!tion
post poned% -o spe!i al ele!ti on shall be
!alled if the va!an!y o!!urs "ithin eight een
mont hs before the dat e of the ne.t
presi dent i al ele!ti on%
Sect i on 11 % Whenever the Presi dent
trans mi t s to the Presi dent of the 'enat e and
the 'pea,er of the 1ouse of Repr es ent at i ves
his "ritt en de!l ar at i on that he is unabl e to
dis!har ge the po"er s and duti es of his offi!e,
and until he trans mi t s to them a "ritt en
de!l ar at i on to the !ont r ar y, su!h po"er s and
duti es shall be dis!har ged by the ;i!e+
Presi dent as A!ting Presi dent %
Whenever a ma orit y of all the Member s of
the $abinet trans mi t to the Presi dent of the
'enat e and to the 'pea,er of the 1ouse of
Repr es ent at i ves their "ritt en de!l ar at i on
that the Presi dent is unabl e to dis!har ge the
po"er s and duti es of his offi!e, the ;i!e+
Presi dent shall immedi at el y assume the
po"er s and duti es of the offi!e as A!ting
Presi dent %
&hereaft er , "hen the Presi dent trans mi t s to
the Presi dent of the 'enat e and to the
'pea,er of the 1ouse of Repres ent at i ves his
"ritt en de!l ar at i on that no inability e.ist s,
he shall reass ume the po"er s and duti es of
his offi!e% Mean"hil e, shoul d a ma orit y of all
the Member s of the $abinet trans mi t "ithin
five days to the Presi dent of the 'enat e and
to the 'pea,er of the 1ouse of
Repr es ent at i ves, their "ritt en de!l ar at i on
that the Presi dent is unabl e to dis!har ge the
po"er s and duti es of his offi!e, the $ongr ess
shall de!i de the issue% For that purpos e, the
$ongr ess shall !onvene, if it is not in sessi on,
"ithin forty+ eight hours, in a!!or dan!e "ith
its rules and "ithout need of !all%
(f the $ongr ess, "ithin ten days aft er re!ei pt
of the last "ritt en de!l ar at i on, or, if not in
sessi on, "ithin t"elve days aft er it is
re#uired to asse mbl e, det er mi nes by a t"o+
thirds vot e of bot h 1ouses, voting
separ at el y, that the Presi dent is unabl e to
dis!har ge the po"er s and duti es of his offi!e,
the ;i!e+ Presi dent shall a!t as Presi dent 3
other"i se, the Presi dent shall !ontinue
e.er!i si ng the po"er s and duti es of his
offi!e%
Sect i on 12 % (n !ase of serious illness of the
Presi dent , the publi! shall be infor med of the
st at e of his heal t h% &he member s of the
$abinet in !har ge of national se!urit y and
foreign relati ons and the $hief of 't aff of the
Armed For!es of the Philippines, shall not be
deni ed a!!ess to the Presi dent during su!h
illness%
Sect i on 13 % &he Presi dent , ;i!e+ Presi dent ,
the Member s of the $abinet , and their
deputi es or assi st ant s shall not, unless
other"i se provided in this $onstit uti on, hold
any other offi!e or empl oyme nt during their
tenur e% &hey shall not, during said tenur e,
dire!tl y or indire!tl y, pra!ti!e any other
professi on, parti!ipat e in any busi ness, or be
finan!i ally int er est ed in any !ont r a!t "ith, or
in any fran!hi se, or spe!i al privilege grant ed
by the Gover nme nt or any subdivi sion,
agen!y, or instrument ali t y ther eof, in!luding
gover nme nt + o"ned or !ont rolled
!orpor at i ons or their subsi di ari es% &hey shall
stri!tly avoi d !onfli!t of int er est in the
!ondu!t of their offi!e%
&he spous e and relatives by !onsangui ni t y or
affinity "ithin the fourt h !ivil degr ee of the
Presi dent shall not, during his tenur e, be
appoi nt ed as Member s of the $onstit uti onal
$ommi ssi ons, or the *ffi!e of the
*mbuds ma n, or as 'e!ret ari es,
:nder se!r et ari es, !hair men or heads of
bureaus or offi!es, in!luding gover nme nt +
o"ned or !ont rolled !orpor at i ons and their
subsi di ari es%
Sect i on 14 % Appoint ment s e.t ended by an
A!ting Presi dent shall remai n effe!tive,
unless revo,ed by the ele!t ed Presi dent ,
"ithin ninet y days from his assumpt i on or
reass umpt i on of offi!e%
Sect i on 15 % &"o mont hs immedi at el y
before the ne.t presi dent i al ele!ti ons and up
to the end of his ter m, a Presi dent or A!ting
Presi dent shall not ma,e appoi nt me nt s ,
e.!ept tempor ar y appoi nt me nt s to e.e!ut i ve
positions "hen !onti nued va!an!i es ther ei n
"ill preudi !e publi! servi!e or endanger
publi! safet y%
Sect i on 1 % &he Presi dent shall nomi nat e
and, "ith the !onsent of the $ommi ssi on on
Appoint ment s , appoi nt the heads of the
e.e!ut i ve depar t me nt s , ambas s a dor s, other
publi! mini st er s and !onsul s, or offi!ers of
the ar med for!es from the ran, of !olonel or
naval !apt ai n, and other offi!ers "hose
appoi nt me nt s are vest ed in hi m in this
$onstit uti on% 1e shall also appoi nt all other
offi!ers of the Governme nt "hose
appoi nt me nt s are not other"i se provided for
by la", and those "hom he may be
aut hori)ed by la" to appoi nt % &he $ongr ess
may, by la", vest the appoi nt me nt of other
offi!ers lo"er in ran, in the President alone,
in the !ourt s, or in the heads of
depar t me nt s , agen!i es, !ommi ssi ons, or
boar ds%
&he Presi dent shall have the po"er to ma,e
appoi nt me nt s during the re!ess of the
$ongr ess, "het her volunt ar y or !ompul sor y,
but su!h appoi nt me nt s shall be effe!tive
only until disappr oved by the $ommi ssi on on
Appoint ment s or until the ne.t adournme nt
of the $ongr es s%
Sect i on 1! % &he Presi dent shall have !ont rol
of all the e.e!uti ve depar t me nt s , bureaus,
and offi!es% 1e shall ensur e that the la"s be
faithfully e.e!ut ed%
Sect i on 1" % &he Presi dent shall be the
$ommander + in+ $hief of all ar med for!es of
the Philippines and "henever it be!omes
ne!es s ar y, he may !all out su!h ar med
for!es to prevent or suppr es s la"less
violen!e, invasion or rebellion% (n !ase of
invasion or rebellion, "hen the publi! safet y
re#uires it, he may, for a period not
e.!eedi ng si.ty days, suspend the privilege
of the "rit of habeas !orpus or pla!e the
Philippines or any part ther eof under marti al
la"% Within forty+ eight hours from the
pro!l amat i on of marti al la" or the
suspensi on of the privilege of the "rit of
habeas !orpus, the Presi dent shall submi t a
report in person or in "riting to the
$ongr ess% &he $ongr ess, voting ointly, by a
vot e of at least a ma orit y of all its Member s
in regul ar or spe!i al sessi on, may revo,e
su!h pro!l amat i on or suspensi on, "hi!h
revo!at i on shall not be set aside by the
Presi dent % :pon the initiative of the
Presi dent , the $ongr es s may, in the same
manner , e.t end su!h pro!l amat i on or
suspensi on for a period to be det er mi ned by
the $ongr ess, if the invasion or rebellion
shall persi st and publi! safet y re#uires it%
&he $ongr ess, if not in sessi on, shall, "ithin
t"ent y+ four hours follo"ing su!h
pro!l amat i on or suspensi on, !onvene in
a!!or dan!e "ith its rules "ithout need of a
!all%
&he 'upreme $ourt may revie", in an
appropri at e pro!eedi ng filed by any !iti)en,
the suffi!ien!y of the fa!t ual basi s of the
pro!l amat i on of marti al la" or the
suspensi on of the privilege of the "rit of
habeas !orpus or the e.t ensi on ther eof, and
must promul gat e its de!ision ther eon "ithin
thirt y days from its filing%
A st at e of marti al la" does not suspend the
oper at i on of the $onsti t uti on, nor suppl ant
the fun!tioni ng of the !ivil !ourt s or
legisl ative asse mbl i es, nor aut hori)e the
!onfer ment of urisdi!tion on milit ary !ourt s
and agen!i es over !ivilians "her e !ivil !ourt s
are abl e to fun!tion, nor aut omat i !all y
suspend the privilege of the "rit of habeas
!orpus%
&he suspensi on of the privilege of the "rit of
habeas !orpus shall appl y only to persons
udi!ially !har ged for rebellion or offenses
inher ent in, or dire!tl y !onne!t ed "ith,
invasion%
9uring the suspensi on of the privilege of the
"rit of habeas !orpus, any person thus
arrest ed or det ai ned shall be udi!ially
!harged "ithin three days, other"i se he
shall be rel eas ed%
Sect i on 1# % E.!ept in !ases of
impea!hme nt , or as other "i se provided in
this $onstit uti on, the Presi dent may grant
repri eves, !ommut at i ons, and pardons, and
remi t fines and forfeit ur es, aft er !onvi!tion
by final udgment %
1e shall also have the po"er to grant
amnes t y "ith the !on!urr en!e of a ma orit y
of all the Member s of the $ongr ess%
Sect i on 2$ % &he Presi dent may !ont r a!t or
guar ant e e foreign loans on behalf of the
Republi! of the Philippines "ith the prior
!on!urr en!e of the Monet ar y Board, and
sub e!t to su!h limit ati ons as may be
provided by la"% &he Monet ar y Board shall,
"ithin thirt y days from the end of ever y
#uart er of the !al endar year, submi t to the
$ongr ess a !ompl et e report of its de!ision on
appli!ati ons for loans to be !ont r a!t ed or
guar ant e e d by the Gover nme nt or
gover nme nt + o"ned and !ont roll ed
!orpor at i ons "hi!h "ould have the effe!t of
in!reasi ng the foreign debt , and !ont ai ni ng
other mat t er s as may be provided by la"%
Sect i on 21 % -o treat y or int ernat i onal
agr ee me nt shall be valid and effe!tive unl ess
!on!urr ed in by at least t"o+ thirds of all the
Member s of the 'enat e%
Sect i on 22 % &he Presi dent shall submi t to
the $ongr es s, "ithin thirt y days from the
openi ng of every regul ar sessi on as the basi s
of the gener al appropri ati ons bill, a budget of
e.pendi t ur es and sour!es of finan!i ng,
in!luding re!ei pt s from e.isti ng and
propos ed revenue meas ur es %
Sect i on 23 % &he Presi dent shall addr es s the
$ongr ess at the openi ng of its regul ar
sessi on% 1e may also appear before it at any
other ti me%
ARTICLE (III .UDICIAL DEPART,ENT
Sect i on 1 % &he udi!ial po"er shall be
vest ed in one 'upr eme $ourt and in su!h
lo"er !ourt s as may be est abli shed by la"%
4udi!ial po"er in!ludes the dut y of the !ourt s
of usti!e to set tl e a!t ual !ont rover si es
involving right s "hi!h are legally
demanda bl e and enfor!eabl e, and to
det er mi ne "het her or not ther e has been a
grave abuse of dis!reti on amount i ng to la!,
or e.!ess of urisdi!tion on the part of any
bran!h or instrument ali t y of the
Governme nt %
Sect i on 2 % &he $ongr ess shall have the
po"er to define, pres!ri be, and apporti on the
urisdi!tion of the various !ourt s but may not
deprive the 'upre me $ourt of its urisdi!tion
over !ases enumer at e d in 'e!tion C her eof%
-o la" shall be passed reorgani )i ng the
4udi!iary "hen it under mi nes the se!urit y of
tenur e of its Member s%
Sect i on 3 % &he 4udi!iary shall enoy fis!al
aut onomy% Appropri ati ons for the 4udi!iary
may not be redu!ed by the legisl at ur e belo"
the amount appropri at ed for the previous
year and, aft er approval , shall be
aut omat i !all y and regul arl y rel eas ed%
Sect i on 4. &1' &he 'upr eme $ourt shall be
!ompos ed of a $hief 4usti!e and fourt een
Asso!i at e 4usti!es% (t may sit en ban! or in its
dis!r eti on, in division of three, five, or seven
Member s% Any va!an!y shall be filled "ithin
ninet y days from the o!!urr en!e ther eof%
&2' All !ases involving the !onsti t uti onali t y of
a treat y, int er nat i onal or e.e!uti ve
agr ee me nt , or la", "hi!h shall be hear d by
the 'upr eme $ourt en ban!, and all other
!ases "hi!h under the Rules of $ourt are
re#uired to be hear d en ban!, in!ludi ng
those involving the !onsti t uti onalit y,
appli!ati on, or oper at i on of presi dent i al
de!r ees, pro!l amat i ons, order s, instru!ti ons,
ordinan!es, and other regul ati ons, shall be
de!ided "ith the !on!urr en!e of a ma orit y
of the Member s "ho a!t ually too, part in the
deliber at i ons on the issues in the !ase and
vot ed ther eon%
&3' $ases or mat t er s hear d by a division
shall be de!i ded or resolved "ith the
!on!urr en!e of a ma orit y of the Member s
"ho a!t ually too, part in the deliber at i ons on
the issues in the !ase and vot ed ther eon,
and in no !ase "ithout the !on!urr en!e of at
least three of su!h Member s% When the
re#uired number is not obt ai ned, the !ase
shall be de!i ded en ban!2 Provided, that no
do!t ri ne or prin!ipl e of la" laid do"n by the
!ourt in a de!ision render ed en ban! or in
division may be modified or rever sed e.!ept
by the !ourt sitting en ban!%
Sect i on 5. &he 'upreme $ourt shall have
the follo"ing po"er s2
&1' E.er!ise original urisdi!tion over !ases
affe!ti ng ambas s a dor s, other publi!
mi nist er s and !onsul s, and over petitions for
!ertiorari, prohi bition, manda mus , #uo
"arr ant o, and habeas !orpus%
&2' Revie", revise, rever se, modify, or affirm
on appeal or !ertior ari, as the la" or the
Rules of $ourt may provide, final udgment s
and order s of lo"er !ourt s in2
&/' All !ases in "hi!h the !onsti t uti onali t y or
validity of any treat y, int ernat i onal or
e.e!ut i ve agr ee me nt , la", presi dent i al
de!r ee, pro!l amat i on, order, instru!ti on,
ordinan!e, or regul ati on is in #uesti on%
&0' All !ases involving the legalit y of any ta.,
impost , asses s me nt , or toll, or any penal t y
impos ed in relati on ther et o%
&c' All !ases in "hi!h the urisdi!tion of any
lo"er !ourt is in issue%
&1' All !ri mi nal !ases in "hi!h the penal t y
impos ed is re!lusi on perpet ua or higher%
&e' All !ases in "hi!h only an error or
#uesti on of la" is involved%
&3' Assign tempor arily udges of lo"er !ourt s
to other st ati ons as publi! int er est may
re#uire% 'u!h tempor ar y assi gnme nt shall
not e.!eed si. mont hs "ithout the !onsent
of the udge !on!er ned%
&4' *rder a !hange of venue or pla!e of trial
to avoid a mis!arri age of usti!e%
&5' Promul gat e rules !on!er ni ng the
prot e!ti on and enfor!eme nt of !onsti t uti onal
right s, pleadi ng, pra!ti!e, and pro!edur e in
all !ourt s, the admi ssi on to the pra!ti !e of
la", the int egr at ed bar, and legal assi st an!e
to the under+ privileged% 'u!h rules shall
provide a si mplified and ine.pensi ve
pro!edur e for the speedy disposi tion of
!ases, shall be unifor m for all !ourt s of the
same grade, and shall not di mi ni sh,
in!reas e, or modify subst ant i ve right s% Rules
of pro!edur e of spe!i al !ourt s and #uasi+
udi!ial bodi es shall remai n effe!tive unless
disappr oved by the 'upr eme $ourt%
&' Appoint all offi!ials and empl oyees of the
4udi!iary in a!!ordan!e "ith the $ivil 'ervi!e
La"%
Sect i on . &he 'upreme $ourt shall have
admi ni st r at i ve supervi sion over all !ourt s
and the personnel ther eof%
Sect i on !. &1' -o person shall be appoi nt ed
Member of the 'upre me $ourt or any lo"er
!ollegi at e !ourt unless he is a nat ur al+ born
!iti)en of the Philippines% A Member of the
'upreme $ourt must be at least forty year s
of age, and must have been for fifteen year s
or mor e, a udge of a lo"er !ourt or engaged
in the pra!ti !e of la" in the Philippines%
&2' &he $ongr es s shall pres!ri be the
#ualifi!ations of udges of lo"er !ourt s, but
no person may be appoi nt ed udge ther eof
unless he is a !iti)en of the Philippines and a
member of the Philippine Bar%
&3' A Member of the 4udi!iary must be a
person of proven !ompet en!e, int egrit y,
probit y, and independen! e%
Sect i on ". &1' A 4udi!ial and Bar $oun!il is
her eby !reat ed under the supervi sion of the
'upreme $ourt !ompos ed of the $hief 4usti!e
as e. offi!io $hair man, the 'e!r et ar y of
4usti!e, and a repr es ent at i ve of the $ongr ess
as e. offi!io Member s, a repr es ent at i ve of
the (nt egr at ed Bar, a professor of la", a
retired Member of the 'upreme $ourt, and a
repr es ent at i ve of the privat e se!t or%
&2' &he regul ar member s of the $oun!il shall
be appoi nt ed by the Presi dent for a ter m of
four year s "ith the !onsent of the
$ommi ssi on on Appoint me nt s % *f the
Member s first appoi nt ed, the repr es ent at i ve
of the (nt egr at ed Bar shall serve for four
year s, the professor of la" for three year s,
the retired 4usti!e for t"o year s, and the
repr es ent at i ve of the privat e se!t or for one
year%
&3' &he $ler, of the 'upre me $ourt shall be
the 'e!ret ar y e. offi!io of the $oun!il and
shall ,eep a re!ord of its pro!eedi ngs%
&4' &he regul ar Member s of the $oun!il shall
re!ei ve su!h emol ument s as may be
det er mi ned by the 'upr eme $ourt% &he
'upreme $ourt shall provide in its annual
budget the appropri at i ons for the $oun!il%
&5' &he $oun!il shall have the prin!ipal
fun!tion of re!omme ndi ng appoi nt ees to the
4udi!iary% (t may e.er!i se su!h other
fun!tions and duti es as the 'upr eme $ourt
may assi gn to it%
Sect i on #. &he Member s of the 'upr eme
$ourt and udges of the lo"er !ourt s shall be
appoi nt ed by the President from a list of at
least three nomi nees prepar ed by the
4udi!ial and Bar $oun!il for ever y va!an!y%
'u!h appoi nt me nt s need no !onfirmat i on%
For the lo"er !ourt s, the President shall
issue the appoi nt me nt s "ithin ninet y days
from the submi ssi on of the list%
Sect i on 1$ % &he sal ary of the $hief 4usti!e
and of the Asso!i at e 4usti!es of the 'upr eme
$ourt, and of udges of lo"er !ourt s, shall be
fi.ed by la"% 9uring their !onti nuan!e in
offi!e, their sal ar y shall not be de!r eas e d%
Sect i on 11. &he Member s of the 'upr eme
$ourt and udges of lo"er !ourt s shall hold
offi!e during good behavi or until they rea!h
the age of sevent y year s or be!ome
in!apa!i t at ed to dis!har ge the duti es of their
offi!e% &he 'upr eme $ourt en ban! shall
have the po"er to dis!ipline udges of lo"er
!ourt s, or order their dismi ss al by a vot e of a
ma orit y of the Member s "ho a!t ually too,
part in the deliber at i ons on the issues in the
!ase and vot ed ther eon%
Sect i on 12 % &he Member s of the 'upr eme
$ourt and of other !ourt s est abli shed by la"
shall not be desi gnat ed to any agen!y
perfor mi ng #uasi+ udi!ial or admi ni st r at i ve
fun!tions%
Sect i on 13 % &he !on!l usi ons of the 'upreme
$ourt in any !ase submi t t ed to it for de!ision
en ban! or in division shall be rea!hed in
!onsul t at i on before the !ase is assi gned to a
Member for the "riting of the opinion of the
$ourt% A !ertifi!ation to this effe!t signed by
the $hief 4usti!e shall be issued and a !opy
ther eof att a!hed to the re!ord of the !ase
and served upon the parti es% Any Member s
"ho too, no part , or dissent ed, or abst ai ned
from a de!ision or resol uti on, must st at e the
reason ther efor% &he same re#uir eme nt s
shall be observed by all lo"er !ollegi at e
!ourt s%
Sect i on 14. -o de!ision shall be render ed
by any !ourt "ithout e.pr es si ng ther ei n
!learly and distin!tl y the fa!t s and the la"
on "hi!h it is based%
-o petition for revi e" or moti on for
re!onsi der at i on of a de!ision of the !ourt
shall be refused due !ourse or deni ed
"ithout st ati ng the legal basi s ther efor%
Sect i on 15. &1' All !ases or mat t er s filed
aft er the effe!tivit y of this $onstit uti on must
be de!ided or resolved "ithin t"ent y+ four
mont hs from dat e of submi ssi on for the
'upreme $ourt, and, unless redu!ed by the
'upreme $ourt, t"elve mont hs for all lo"er
!ollegi at e !ourt s, and three mont hs for all
other lo"er !ourt s%
&2' A !ase or mat t er shall be deeme d
submi t t ed for de!ision or resol uti on upon the
filing of the last pleadi ng, brief, or
memor andu m re#uir ed by the Rules of $ourt
or by the !ourt itself%
&3' :pon the e.pirati on of the !orrespondi ng
period, a !ertifi!ation to this effe!t signed by
the $hief 4usti!e or the presi di ng udge shall
fort h"i t h be issued and a !opy ther eof
att a!hed to the re!ord of the !ase or mat t er ,
and served upon the parti es% &he
!ertifi!ati on shall st at e "hy a de!i sion or
resol uti on has not been render ed or issued
"ithin said period%
&4' 9espit e the e.pirati on of the appli!abl e
mandat or y period, the !ourt , "ithout
pre udi !e to su!h responsi bilit y as may have
been in!urr ed in !onse#uen!e ther eof, shall
de!ide or resolve the !ase or mat t er
submi t t ed ther et o for det er mi nat i on, "ithout
furt her del ay%
Sect i on 1. &he 'upreme $ourt shall, "ithin
thirt y days from the openi ng of ea!h regul ar
sessi on of the $ongr ess, submi t to the
Presi dent and the $ongr es s an annual report
on the oper at i ons and a!tiviti es of the
4udi!iary%
ARTICLE I- A. CO,,ON PRO(ISIONS
Sect i on 1. &he $onstit uti onal $ommi ssi ons,
"hi!h shall be independent , are the $ivil
'ervi!e $ommi ssi on, the $ommi ssi on on
Ele!tions, and the $ommi ssi on on Audit%
Sect i on 2. -o member of a $onsti t uti onal
$ommi ssi on shall, during his tenur e, hold
any other offi!e or empl oyme nt % -either
shall he engage in the pra!ti!e of any
professi on or in the a!tive manage me nt or
!ont rol of any busi nes s "hi!h, in any "ay,
may be affe!t ed by the fun!tions of his
offi!e, nor shall he be finan!i ally int er est ed,
dire!tl y or indire!tl y, in any !ont r a!t "ith, or
in any fran!hi se or privilege grant ed by the
Governme nt , any of its subdivi sions,
agen!i es, or instrument ali ti es, in!luding
gover nme nt + o"ned or !ont rolled
!orpor at i ons or their subsi di ari es%
Sect i on. 3. &he sal ary of the $hair man and
the $ommi ssi oner s shall be fi.ed by la" and
shall not be de!r eas e d during their tenur e%
Sect i on 4. &he $onstit uti onal $ommi ssi ons
shall appoi nt their offi!ials and empl oyees in
a!!or dan!e "ith la"%
Sect i on 5. &he $ommi ssi on shall enoy
fis!al aut onomy% &heir approved annual
appropri ati ons shall be aut omat i !all y and
regul arl y releas ed%
Sect i on % Ea!h $ommi ssi on en ban! may
promul gat e its o"n rules !on!er ni ng
pleadi ngs and pra!ti!e before it or befor e
any of its offi!es% 'u!h rules, ho"ever, shall
not di mi ni sh, in!reas e, or modify subst ant i ve
right s%
Sect i on ! % Ea!h $ommi ssi on shall de!i de by
a ma orit y vot e of all its Member s, any !ase
or mat t er brought before it "ithin si.ty days
from the dat e of its submi ssi on for de!ision
or resol uti on% A !ase or mat t er is deeme d
submi t t ed for de!ision or resol uti on upon the
filing of the last pleadi ng, brief, or
memor andu m re#uired by the rules of the
$ommi ssi on or by the $ommi ssi on itself%
:nless other "i se provided by this
$onstit uti on or by la", any de!ision, order,
or ruling of ea!h $ommi ssi on may be
brought to the 'upreme $ourt on !ertiorari
by the aggri eved part y "ithin thirt y days
from re!ei pt of a !opy ther eof%
Sect i on ". Ea!h $ommi ssi on shall perfor m
su!h other fun!tions as may be provided by
la"%
ARTICLE I- B. THE CI(IL SER(ICE
CO,,ISSION
Sect i on 1. &1' &he !ivil servi!e shall be
admi ni st er ed by the $ivil 'ervi!e
$ommi ssi on !ompos ed of a $hair man and
t"o $ommi ssi oner s "ho shall be nat ur al+
born !iti)ens of the Philippines and, at the
ti me of their appoi nt me nt , at least thirt y+ five
year s of age, "ith proven !apa!i t y for publi!
admi ni st r at i on, and must not have been
!andi dat es for any ele!tive position in the
ele!tions immedi at el y pre!edi ng their
appoi nt me nt %
&2' &he $hair man and the $ommi ssi oner s
shall be appoi nt ed by the Presi dent "ith the
!onsent of the $ommi ssi on on Appoint ment s
for a ter m of seven year s "ithout
reappoi nt me nt % *f those first appoi nt ed, the
$hair man shall hold offi!e for seven year s, a
$ommi ssi oner for five year s, and anot her
$ommi ssi oner for three year s, "ithout
reappoi nt me nt % Appoint ment to any va!an!y
shall be only for the une.pi r ed ter m of the
prede!es s or % (n no !ase shall any Member be
appoi nt ed or desi gnat ed in a tempor ar y or
a!ti ng !apa!i t y%
Sect i on 2. &1' &he !ivil servi!e embr a!es all
bran!hes, subdivi sions, instrument ali ti es,
and agen!i es of the Gover nme nt , in!luding
gover nme nt + o"ned or !ont rolled
!orpor at i ons "ith original !hart er s%
&2' Appoint ment s in the !ivil servi!e shall be
made only a!!or di ng to meri t and fitness to
be det er mi ned, as far as pra!ti !abl e, and,
e.!ept to positions "hi!h are poli!y+
det er mi ni ng, pri marily !onfidenti al, or highly
te!hni !al , by !ompet i tive e.ami nat i on%
&3' -o offi!er or empl oyee of the !ivil servi!e
shall be removed or suspende d e.!ept for
!ause provided by la"%
&4' -o offi!er or empl oyee in the !ivil servi!e
shall engage, dire!tl y or indire!tl y, in any
ele!tioneeri ng or parti san politi!al !ampai gn%
&5' &he right to self+ organi)at i on shall not be
deni ed to gover nme nt empl oyees%
&' &empor ar y empl oyees of the
Governme nt shall be given su!h prot e!t i on
as may be provided by la"%
Sect i on 3. &he $ivil 'ervi!e $ommi ssi on, as
the !ent r al personnel agen!y of the
Governme nt , shall est abli sh a !areer servi!e
and adopt meas ur es to promot e mor al e,
effi!ien!y, int egrit y, responsi venes s ,
progr essi venes s, and !ourt esy in the !ivil
servi!e% (t shall strengt hen the meri t and
re"ar ds syst e m, int egr at e all human
resour!es devel opme nt progr ams for all
levels and ran,s, and instit utionali)e a
manage me nt !limat e !ondu!i ve to publi!
a!!ount abilit y% (t shall submi t to the
Presi dent and the $ongr es s an annual report
on its personnel progr a ms %
Sect i on 4. All publi! offi!ers and empl oyees
shall ta,e an oat h or affirmat i on to uphol d
and defend this $onsti t uti on%
Sect i on 5. &he $ongr es s shall provide for
the st andar di )at i on of !ompens at i on of
gover nme nt offi!ials and empl oyees ,
in!luding those in gover nme nt + o"ned or
!ont roll ed !orpor at i ons "ith original
!hart er s, ta,ing into a!!ount the nat ur e of
the responsi bilities pert ai ni ng to, and the
#ualifi!ations re#uir ed for, their positions%
Sect i on . -o !andi dat e "ho has lost in any
ele!tion shall, "ithin one year aft er su!h
ele!tion, be appoi nt ed to any offi!e in the
Governme nt or any Governme nt + o"ned or
!ont roll ed !orpor at i ons or in any of their
subsi di ari es%
Sect i on !. -o ele!tive offi!ial shall be
eligibl e for appoi nt me nt or desi gnat i on in
any !apa!i t y to any publi! offi!e or position
during his tenur e%
:nless other "i se allo"ed by la" or by the
pri mar y fun!tions of his position, no
appoi ntive offi!ial shall hold any other offi!e
or empl oyme nt in the Gover nme nt or any
subdivi sion, agen!y or instrume nt al i t y
ther eof, in!luding Governme nt + o"ned or
!ont roll ed !orpor at i ons or their subsi di ari es%
Sect i on ". -o ele!tive or appoi ntive publi!
offi!er or empl oyee shall re!ei ve additional,
doubl e, or indire!t !ompens at i on, unl ess
spe!ifi!ally aut hori)ed by la", nor a!!ept
"ithout the !onsent of the $ongr ess, any
present , emol ume nt , offi!e, or title of any
,ind from any foreign gover nme nt %
Pensi ons or grat ui ti es shall not be
!onsi der ed as additional, doubl e, or indire!t
!ompens at i on%
ARTICLE I- C. THE CO,,ISSION ON
ELECTIONS
Sect i on 1. &1' &here shall be a $ommi ssi on
on Ele!tions !ompos ed of a $hair man and
si. $ommi ssi oner s "ho shall be nat ur al+ born
!iti)ens of the Philippines and, at the time of
their appoi nt me nt , at least thirt y+ five year s
of age, holder s of a !ollege degr ee, and must
not have been !andi dat es for any ele!tive
positions in the immedi at el y pre!edi ng
ele!tions% 1o"ever, a ma orit y ther eof,
in!luding the $hair man, shall be member s of
the Philippine Bar "ho have been engaged in
the pra!ti!e of la" for at least ten year s%
&2' &he $hair man and the $ommi ssi oner s
shall be appoi nt ed by the Presi dent "ith the
!onsent of the $ommi ssi on on Appoint ment s
for a ter m of seven year s "ithout
reappoi nt me nt % *f those first appoi nt ed,
three Member s shall hold offi!e for seven
year s, t"o Member s for five year s, and the
last Member s for three year s, "ithout
reappoi nt me nt % Appoint ment to any va!an!y
shall be only for the une.pi r ed ter m of the
prede!es s or % (n no !ase shall any Member be
appoi nt ed or desi gnat ed in a tempor ar y or
a!ti ng !apa!i t y%
Sec. 2. &he $ommi ssi on on Ele!tions shall
e.er!i se the follo"ing po"er s and fun!tions2
&1' Enfor!e and admi ni st er all la"s and
regul ati ons relative to the !ondu!t of an
ele!tion, plebi s!i t e, initiative, refer endum,
and re!all%
&2' E.er!i se e.!lusive original urisdi!tion
over all !ont est s relati ng to the ele!tions,
ret urns, and #ualifi!ations of all ele!tive
regional, provin!i al, and !ity offi!ials, and
appell at e urisdi!tion over all !ont est s
involving ele!tive muni !i pal offi!ials de!ided
by trial !ourt s of gener al urisdi!tion, or
involving ele!tive bar angay offi!ials de!ided
by trial !ourt s of limit ed urisdi!tion%
9e!isions, final order s, or rulings of the
$ommi ssi on on ele!tion !ont est s involving
ele!tive muni !ipal and bar angay offi!es shall
be final, e.e!ut or y, and not appeal abl e%
&3' 9e!ide, e.!ept those involving the right
to vot e, all #uesti ons affe!ti ng ele!ti ons,
in!luding det er mi nat i on of the number and
lo!ation of polling pla!es, appoi nt me nt of
ele!tion offi!ials and inspe!t or s, and
regist r at i on of vot er s%
&4' 9eputi)e, "ith the !on!urr en!e of the
Presi dent , la" enfor!e me nt agen!i es and
instrume nt al i ti es of the Gover nme nt ,
in!luding the Armed For!es of the
Philippines, for the e.!lusive purpos e of
ensuri ng free, orderl y, honest , pea!ef ul, and
!redi bl e ele!ti ons%
&5' Regist er, aft er suffi!ient publi!ati on,
politi!al parti es, organi )ati ons, or !oalitions
"hi!h, in addition to other re#uireme nt s ,
must present their platfor m or progr am of
gover nme nt 3 and a!!r edi t !iti)ens? ar ms of
the $ommi ssi on on Ele!tions% Religious
denomi nat i ons and se!t s shall not be
regist er ed% &hose "hi!h see, to a!hi eve their
goal s through violen!e or unl a"ful means, or
refuse to uphol d and adher e to this
$onstit uti on, or "hi!h are suppor t ed by any
foreign gover nme nt shall li,e"ise be refused
regist r at i on%
Finan!i al !ont ributi ons from forei gn
gover nme nt s and their agen!i es to politi!al
parti es, organi )ati ons, !oalitions, or
!andi dat es relat ed to ele!ti ons, !onsti t ut e
int erfer en!e in national affairs, and, "hen
a!!ept ed, shall be an additional ground for
the !an!ell ati on of their regist r at i on "ith the
$ommi ssi on, in addi tion to other penal ti es
that may be pres!ri bed by la"%
&' File, upon a verified !ompl ai nt , or on its
o"n initiative, petitions in !ourt for in!lusion
or e.!lusi on of vot er s3 investi gat e and,
"her e appropri at e, prose!ut e !ases of
violations of ele!tion la"s, in!luding a!t s or
omi ssi ons !onsti t uti ng ele!ti on frauds,
offenses, and mal pr a!t i !es%
&!' Re!omme nd to the $ongr es s effe!tive
meas ur es to mini mi )e ele!ti on spendi ng,
in!luding limit ati on of pla!es "her e
propaganda mat eri al s shall be post ed, and to
prevent and penali)e all forms of ele!ti on
frauds, offenses, mal pr a!t i !es, and nuisan!e
!andi da!i es%
&"' Re!omme nd to the Presi dent the
removal of any offi!er or empl oyee it has
deputi )ed, or the imposi tion of any other
dis!iplinar y a!tion, for violation or disregar d
of, or disobedi en!e to, its dire!tive, order, or
de!ision%
&#' 'ubmi t to the Presi dent and the
$ongr ess, a !ompr ehe nsi ve report on the
!ondu!t of ea!h ele!ti on, plebi s!it e,
initiative, refer endum, or re!all%
Sect i on 3. &he $ommi ssi on on Ele!tions
may sit en ban! or in t"o divisions, and shall
promul gat e its rules of pro!edur e in order to
e.pedi t e disposi tion of ele!tion !ases,
in!luding pre+ pro!l amat i on !ont rover si es% All
su!h ele!ti on !ases shall be hear d and
de!ided in division, provided that moti ons for
re!onsi der at i on of de!i sions shall be de!i ded
by the $ommi ssi on en ban!%
Sect i on 4. &he $ommi ssi on may, during the
ele!tion period, super vi se or regul at e the
enoyme nt or utili)ation of all fran!hi ses or
per mi t s for the oper at i on of transpor t at i on
and other publi! utilities, medi a of
!ommuni !at i on or infor mat i on, all grant s,
spe!i al privileges, or !on!es si ons grant ed by
the Gover nme nt or any subdivision, agen!y,
or instrument ali t y ther eof, in!ludi ng any
gover nme nt + o"ned or !ont rolled !orpor ati on
or its subsi di ary% 'u!h supervi sion or
regul ati on shall ai m to ensur e e#ual
opport uni t y, and e#ual rat es ther efor, for
publi! infor mat i on !ampai gns and forums
among !andi dat es in !onne!t i on "ith the
obe!tive of holding free, orderl y, honest ,
pea!ef ul, and !redi bl e ele!ti ons%
Sect i on 5 % -o pardon, amnes t y, parol e, or
suspensi on of sent en!e for violation of
ele!tion la"s, rules, and regul ati ons shall be
grant ed by the Presi dent "ithout the
favor abl e re!omme nda t i on of the
$ommi ssi on%
Sect i on % A free and open part y syst e m
shall be allo"ed to evolve a!!or di ng to the
free !hoi!e of the peopl e, sub e!t to the
provisions of this Arti!le%
Sect i on ! % -o vot es !ast in favor of a
politi!al part y, organi)ati on, or !oalition shall
be valid, e.!ept for those regi st er ed under
the part y+ list syst e m as provided in this
$onstit uti on%
Sect i on " % Politi!al parti es, or organi )at i ons
or !oalitions regi st er ed under the part y+ list
syst e m, shall not be repr es ent ed in the
vot er s? regi st r at i on boards, boards of
ele!tion inspe!t or s, boards of !anvas s er s, or
other si mil ar bodi es% 1o"ever, they shall be
entitl ed to appoi nt poll "at !her s in
a!!or dan!e "ith la"%
Sect i on #. :nless other "i se fi.ed by the
$ommi ssi on in spe!i al !ases, the ele!ti on
period shall !omme n! e ninet y days before
the day of ele!tion and shall end thirt y days
ther eaf t er %
Sect i on 1$ % Bona fide !andi dat es for any
publi! offi!e shall be free from any form of
har as s me nt and dis!ri mi nat i on%
Sect i on 11. Funds !ertified by the
$ommi ssi on as ne!es s ar y to defray the
e.pens e s for holding regul ar and spe!i al
ele!tions, plebi s!it es, initiatives, refer enda,
and re!alls, shall be provided in the regul ar
or spe!i al appropri at i ons and, on!e
approved, shall be releas ed aut omat i !all y
upon !ertifi!ation by the $hair man of the
$ommi ssi on%
ARTICLE I- D. THE CO,,ISSION ON
AUDIT
Sect i on 1. &1' &here shall be a $ommi ssi on
on Audit !ompos ed of a $hair man and t"o
$ommi ssi oner s, "ho shall be nat ur al+ born
!iti)ens of the Philippines and, at the time of
their appoi nt me nt , at least thirt y+ five year s
of age, $ertified Publi! A!!ount ant s "ith not
less than ten year s of audi ti ng e.peri en!e, or
member s of the Philippine Bar "ho have
been engaged in the pra!ti !e of la" for at
least ten year s, and must not have been
!andi dat es for any ele!tive position in the
ele!tions immedi at el y pre!edi ng their
appoi nt me nt % At no time shall all Member s of
the $ommi ssi on belong to the same
professi on%
&2' &he $hair man and the $ommi ssi oner s
shall be appoi nt ed by the Presi dent "ith the
!onsent of the $ommi ssi on on Appoint ment s
for a ter m of seven year s "ithout
reappoi nt me nt % *f those first appoi nt ed, the
$hair man shall hold offi!e for seven year s,
one $ommi ssi oner for five year s, and the
other $ommi ssi oner for three year s, "ithout
reappoi nt me nt % Appoint ment to any va!an!y
shall be only for the une.pi r ed portion of the
ter m of the prede!es s or % (n no !ase shall any
Member be appoi nt ed or desi gnat ed in a
tempor ar y or a!ti ng !apa!i t y%
Sect i on 2. &1' &he $ommi ssi on on Audit
shall have the po"er, aut hori t y, and dut y to
e.ami ne, audit , and set tl e all a!!ount s
pert ai ni ng to the revenue and re!ei pt s of,
and e.pendi t ur es or uses of funds and
proper t y, o"ned or held in trust by, or
pert ai ni ng to, the Governme nt , or any of its
subdivi sions, agen!i es, or instrume nt al i ti es,
in!luding gover nme nt + o"ned or !ont roll ed
!orpor at i ons "ith original !hart er s, and on a
post+ audit basi s2 &/' !onsti t uti onal bodi es,
!ommi s si ons and offi!es that have been
grant ed fis!al aut onomy under this
$onstit uti on3 &0' aut onomous st at e !olleges
and universi ti es3 &c' other gover nme nt +
o"ned or !ont rolled !orpor at i ons and their
subsi di ari es3 and &1' su!h non+ gover nme nt al
entiti es re!eivi ng subsi dy or e#uit y, dire!tl y
or indire!tl y, from or through the
Governme nt , "hi!h are re#uir ed by la" or
the granti ng instit uti on to submi t to su!h
audi t as a !ondi tion of subsi dy or e#ui t y%
1o"ever, "her e the int ernal !ont rol syst e m
of the audit ed agen!i es is inade#uat e, the
$ommi ssi on may adopt su!h meas ur es,
in!luding tempor ar y or spe!i al pre+ audi t, as
are ne!ess ar y and appropri at e to !orre!t the
defi!ien!i es% (t shall ,eep the gener al
a!!ount s of the Gover nme nt and, for su!h
period as may be provided by la", preser ve
the vou!her s and other supporti ng paper s
pert ai ni ng ther et o%
&2' &he $ommi ssi on shall have e.!lusive
aut hori t y, sub e!t to the limit ati ons in this
Arti!le, to define the s!ope of its audit and
e.ami nat i on, est abli sh the te!hni #ues and
met hods re#uired ther efor, and promul gat e
a!!ount i ng and auditing rules and
regul ati ons, in!luding those for the
prevent i on and disallo"an!e of irregul ar,
unne!es s ar y, e.!essi ve, e.tr avaga nt , or
un!ons!i onabl e e.pendi t ur es or uses of
gover nme nt funds and proper t i es%
Sect i on 3 % -o la" shall be passed
e.empt i ng any entit y of the Gover nme nt or
its subsi di ari es in any guise "hat ever , or any
invest me nt of publi! funds, from the
urisdi!tion of the $ommi ssi on on Audit%
Sect i on 4. &he $ommi ssi on shall submi t to
the Presi dent and the $ongr ess, "ithin the
ti me fi.ed by la", an annual report !overi ng
the finan!i al !ondition and oper at i on of the
Governme nt , its subdivi sions, agen!i es, and
instrume nt al i ti es, in!luding gover nme nt +
o"ned or !ont rolled !orpor at i ons, and non+
gover nme nt al entiti es sub e!t to its audit ,
and re!omme nd meas ur es ne!ess ar y to
improve their effe!tivenes s and effi!ien!y% (t
shall submi t su!h other report s as may be
re#uired by la"%
ARTICLE - LOCAL %O(ERN,ENT
GE-ERAL PR*;('(*-'
Sect i on 1. &he territ ori al and politi!al
subdivi sions of the Republi! of the
Philippines are the provin!es, !ities,
muni !ipaliti es, and barangays % &here shall be
aut onomous regions in Musli m Mindanao and
the $ordilleras as her ei naft er provided%
Sect i on 2. &he territori al and politi!al
subdivi sions shall enoy lo!al aut onomy%
Sect i on 3. &he $ongr es s shall ena!t a lo!al
gover nme nt !ode "hi!h shall provide for a
mor e responsi ve and a!!ount abl e lo!al
gover nme nt stru!t ur e instit ut ed through a
syst e m of de!ent r ali)ati on "ith effe!tive
me!hani s ms of re!all, initiative, and
refer endum, allo!at e among the different
lo!al gover nme nt unit s their po"er s,
responsi bilities, and resour!es, and provide
for the #ualifi!ations, ele!ti on, appoi nt me nt
and removal , ter m, sal ari es, po"er s and
fun!tions and duti es of lo!al offi!ials, and all
other mat t er s relati ng to the organi)ati on
and oper at i on of the lo!al unit s%
Sect i on 4. &he Presi dent of the Philippines
shall e.er!i se gener al supervi sion over lo!al
gover nme nt s % Provin!es "ith respe!t to
!omponent !ities and muni !ipaliti es, and
!ities and muni !ipaliti es "ith respe!t to
!omponent bar angays , shall ensur e that the
a!t s of their !omponent unit s are "ithin the
s!ope of their pres!ri bed po"er s and
fun!tions%
Sect i on 5 % Ea!h lo!al gover nme nt unit shall
have the po"er to !reat e its o"n sour!es of
revenues and to levy ta.es, fees and !har ges
sub e!t to su!h guidelines and limit ati ons as
the $ongr ess may provide, !onsi st ent "ith
the basi! poli!y of lo!al aut onomy% 'u!h
ta.es, fees, and !harges shall a!!rue
e.!lusivel y to the lo!al gover nme nt s %
Sect i on . Lo!al gover nme nt unit s shall
have a ust shar e, as det er mi ned by la", in
the national ta.es "hi!h shall be
aut omat i !all y releas ed to them%
Sect i on ! % Lo!al gover nme nt s shall be
entitl ed to an e#ui t abl e shar e in the
pro!eeds of the utili)ation and devel opme nt
of the national "eal t h "ithin their respe!t i ve
areas, in the manner provided by la",
in!luding shari ng the same "ith the
inhabi t ant s by "ay of dire!t benefit s%
Sect i on " % &he ter m of offi!e of ele!tive
lo!al offi!ials, e.!ept bar angay offi!ials,
"hi!h shall be det er mi ned by la", shall be
three year s and no su!h offi!ial shall serve
for mor e than three !onse!ut i ve ter ms%
;olunt ar y renun!i ati on of the offi!e for any
lengt h of ti me shall not be !onsi der ed as an
int errupti on in the !onti nui t y of his servi!e
for the full ter m for "hi!h he "as ele!t ed%
Sect i on #. Legislative bodi es of lo!al
gover nme nt s shall have se!t or al
repr es ent at i on as may be pres!ri bed by la"%
Sect i on 1$ % -o provin!e, !ity, muni !ipalit y,
or bar angay may be !reat ed, divided,
mer ged, abolished, or its boundar y
subst ant i ally alt er ed, e.!ept in a!!or dan!e
"ith the !rit eri a est abli shed in the lo!al
gover nme nt !ode and sub e!t to approval by
a ma orit y of the vot es !ast in a plebi s!i t e in
the politi!al unit s dire!tl y affe!t ed%
Sect i on 11 % &he $ongr es s may, by la",
!reat e spe!i al met r opolit an politi!al
subdivi sions, sub e!t to a plebis!it e as set
fort h in 'e!tion /D her eof% &he !omponent
!ities and muni !ipaliti es shall ret ai n their
basi! aut onomy and shall be entitl ed to their
o"n lo!al e.e!ut i ve and legisl ative
asse mbl i es% &he urisdi!tion of the
met r opolit an aut hori t y that "ill ther eby be
!reat ed shall be limit ed to basi! servi!es
re#uiring !oordi nat i on%
Sect i on 12 % $ities that are highly urbani )ed,
as det er mi ned by la", and !omponent !ities
"hose !hart er s prohi bit their vot er s from
voting for provin!i al ele!tive offi!ials, shall
be independe nt of the provin!e% &he vot er s
of !omponent !ities "ithin a provin!e, "hose
!hart er s !ont ai n no su!h prohi bition, shall
not be deprived of their right to vot e for
ele!tive provin!i al offi!ials%
Sect i on 13 % Lo!al gover nme nt unit s may
group thems el ves, !onsolidat e or !oordi nat e
their effort s, servi!es, and resour!es for
purpos es !ommonl y benefi!i al to them in
a!!or dan!e "ith la"%
Sect i on 14 % &he Presi dent shall provide for
regional devel opme nt !oun!ils or other
si mil ar bodi es !ompos ed of lo!al gover nme nt
offi!ials, regional heads of depar t me nt s and
other gover nme nt offi!es, and
repr es ent at i ves from non+ gover nme nt al
organi )at i ons "ithin the regions for purpos es
of admi ni st r at i ve de!ent r ali)ati on to
strengt hen the aut onomy of the unit s ther ei n
and to a!!el er at e the e!onomi ! and so!i al
gro"t h and devel opme nt of the unit s in the
region%
ARTICLE - AUTONO,OUS RE%IONS
Sect i on 15 % &here shall be !reat ed
aut onomous regions in Musli m Mindanao and
in the $ordilleras !onsi sti ng of provin!es,
!ities, muni !ipaliti es, and geogr aphi !al areas
shari ng !ommon and distin!tive hist ori!al
and !ult ur al herit age, e!onomi ! and so!i al
stru!t ur es, and other relevant !har a!t eri sti !s
"ithin the frame"or , of this $onstit uti on and
the national sover ei gnt y as "ell as territori al
int egri t y of the Republi! of the Philippines%
Sect i on 1 % &he Presi dent shall e.er!i se
gener al supervi sion over aut onomous
regions to ensur e that la"s are faithfully
e.e!ut ed%
Sect i on 1! % All po"er s, fun!tions, and
responsi bilities not grant ed by this
$onstit uti on or by la" to the aut onomous
regions shall be vest ed in the -ational
Governme nt %
Sect i on 1". &he $ongr ess shall ena!t an
organi ! a!t for ea!h aut onomous region "ith
the assi st an!e and parti!ipat i on of the
regional !onsul t at i ve !ommi s si on !ompos ed
of repr es ent at i ves appoi nt ed by the
Presi dent from a list of nomi nees from mul ti+
se!t or al bodi es% &he organi ! a!t shall define
the basi! stru!t ur e of gover nme nt for the
region !onsi sti ng of the e.e!ut i ve
depar t me nt and legisl ative asse mbl y, bot h of
"hi!h shall be ele!tive and repr es ent at i ve of
the !onsti t uent politi!al unit s% &he organi !
a!t s shall li,e"ise provide for spe!i al !ourt s
"ith personal , family, and proper t y la"
urisdi!tion !onsi st ent "ith the provisions of
this $onsti t uti on and national la"s%
&he !reati on of the aut onomous region shall
be effe!tive "hen approved by ma orit y of
the vot es !ast by the !onsti t uent unit s in a
plebi s!i t e !alled for the purpos e, provided
that only provin!es, !ities, and geogr aphi !
areas voting favorabl y in su!h plebi s!it e
shall be in!luded in the aut onomous region%
Sect i on 1#. &he first $ongr es s ele!t ed
under this $onstit uti on shall, "ithin eight een
mont hs from the ti me of organi)at i on of bot h
1ouses, pass the organi ! a!t s for the
aut onomous regions in Musli m Mindanao and
the $ordilleras%
Sect i on 2$ % Within its territ ori al urisdi!tion
and sub e!t to the provisions of this
$onstit uti on and national la"s, the organi !
a!t of aut onomous regions shall provide for
legisl ative po"er s over2
&1' Admini st r at i ve organi)ati on3
&2' $reati on of sour!es of revenues3
&3' An!est r al domai n and nat ur al resour!es3
&4' Personal , family, and proper t y relati ons3
&5' Regional urban and rural planni ng
devel opme nt 3
&' E!onomi !, so!i al, and touris m
devel opme nt 3
&!' Edu!ati onal poli!ies3
&"' Preservat i on and devel opme nt of the
!ultur al herit age3 and
&#' 'u!h other mat t er s as may be aut hori)ed
by la" for the promot i on of the gener al
"elfare of the peopl e of the region%
Sect i on 21 % &he preser vat i on of pea!e and
order "ithin the regions shall be the
responsi bility of the lo!al poli!e agen!i es
"hi!h shall be organi)ed, mai nt ai ned,
super vi sed, and utili)ed in a!!or dan!e "ith
appli!abl e la"s% &he defens e and se!urit y of
the regions shall be the responsi bilit y of the
-ational Gover nme nt %
ARTICLE -I ACCOUNTABILITY OF
PUBLIC OFFICERS
Sect i on 1 % Publi! offi!e is a publi! trust %
Publi! offi!ers and empl oyees must , at all
ti mes, be a!!ount abl e to the peopl e, serve
them "ith ut most responsi bilit y, int egrit y,
loyalt y, and effi!ien!y3 a!t "ith pat rioti s m
and usti!e, and lead modes t lives%
Sect i on 2 % &he Presi dent , the ;i!e+
Presi dent , the Member s of the 'upr eme
$ourt, the Member s of the $onsti t uti onal
$ommi ssi ons, and the *mbuds ma n may be
removed from offi!e on impea!hme nt for,
and !onvi!tion of, !ulpabl e violation of the
$onstit uti on, treason, briber y, graft and
!orrupti on, other high !ri mes, or bet r ayal of
publi! trust % All other publi! offi!ers and
empl oyees may be removed from offi!e as
provided by la", but not by impea!hme nt %
Sect i on 3. &1' &he 1ouse of
Repr es ent at i ves shall have the e.!lusive
po"er to initiat e all !ases of impea!hme nt %
&2' A verified !ompl ai nt for impea!hme nt
may be filed by any Member of the 1ouse of
Repr es ent at i ves or by any !iti)en upon a
resol uti on or endor s e me nt by any Member
ther eof, "hi!h shall be in!luded in the *rder
of Business "ithin ten sessi on days, and
referr ed to the proper $ommi t t ee "ithin
three sessi on days ther eaft er % &he
$ommi t t ee, aft er heari ng, and by a ma orit y
vot e of all its Member s, shall submi t its
report to the 1ouse "ithin si.t y sessi on days
from su!h referr al, toget her "ith the
!orrespondi ng resol uti on% &he resol ution
shall be !al endar ed for !onsi der at i on by the
1ouse "ithin ten sessi on days from re!ei pt
ther eof%
&3' A vot e of at least one+ third of all the
Member s of the 1ouse shall be ne!es s ar y
eit her to affirm a favorabl e resol ution "ith
the Arti!les of (mpea!hme nt of the
$ommi t t ee, or override its !ont r ar y
resol uti on% &he vot e of ea!h Member shall be
re!orded%
&4' (n !ase the verified !ompl ai nt or
resol uti on of impea!hme nt is filed by at least
one+ third of all the Member s of the 1ouse,
the same shall !onsti t ut e the Arti!les of
(mpea!hme nt , and trial by the 'enat e shall
fort h"i t h pro!eed%
&5' -o impea!hme nt pro!eedi ngs shall be
initiat ed agai nst the same offi!ial mor e than
on!e "ithin a period of one year%
&' &he 'enat e shall have the sole po"er to
try and de!ide all !ases of impea!hme nt %
When sitting for that purpos e, the 'enat or s
shall be on oat h or affirmat i on% When the
Presi dent of the Philippines is on trial, the
$hief 4usti!e of the 'upre me $ourt shall
presi de, but shall not vot e% -o person shall
be !onvi!t ed "ithout the !on!urr en!e of t"o+
thirds of all the Member s of the 'enat e%
&!' 4udgment in !ases of impea!hme nt shall
not e.t end further than removal from offi!e
and dis#ualifi!ation to hold any offi!e under
the Republi! of the Philippines, but the part y
!onvi!t ed shall nevert hel es s be liable and
sub e!t to prose!ut i on, trial, and
puni shme nt , a!!or di ng to la"%
&"' &he $ongr es s shall promul gat e its rules
on impea!hme nt to effe!tivel y !arry out the
purpos e of this se!tion%
Sect i on 4. &he present anti+ graft !ourt
,no"n as the 'andi ganbaya n shall !onti nue
to fun!tion and e.er!i se its urisdi!tion as
no" or her eaf t er may be provided by la"%
Sect i on 5 % &here is hereby !reat ed the
independe nt *ffi!e of the *mbuds ma n,
!ompos ed of the *mbuds ma n to be ,no"n
as &anodbayan, one over all 9eput y and at
least one 9eput y ea!h for Lu)on, ;isayas,
and Mindanao% A separ at e 9eput y for the
milit ary est abli shme nt may li,e"ise be
appoi nt ed%
Sect i on . &he offi!ials and empl oyees of
the *ffi!e of the *mbuds ma n, other than the
9eputi es, shall be appoi nt ed by the
*mbuds ma n, a!!or di ng to the $ivil 'ervi!e
La"%
Sect i on ! % &he e.isting &anodbayan shall
her eaf t er be ,no"n as the *ffi!e of the
'pe!i al Prose!ut or% (t shall !onti nue to
fun!tion and e.er!i se its po"er s as no" or
her eaf t er may be provided by la", e.!ept
those !onferr ed on the *ffi!e of the
*mbuds ma n !reat ed under this $onstit uti on%
Sect i on ". &he *mbuds ma n and his
9eputi es shall be nat ur al+ born !iti)ens of the
Philippines, and at the ti me of their
appoi nt me nt , at least fort y year s old, of
re!ogni )ed probit y and independe n! e, and
member s of the Philippine Bar, and must not
have been !andi dat es for any ele!tive offi!e
in the immedi at el y pre!edi ng ele!tion% &he
*mbuds ma n must have, for ten year s or
mor e, been a udge or engaged in the
pra!ti!e of la" in the Philippines%
9uring their tenur e, they shall be sub e!t to
the same dis#ualifi!ations and prohi bitions
as provided for in 'e!tion @ of Arti!le /E+A of
this $onsti t uti on%
Sect i on #. &he *mbuds ma n and his
9eputi es shall be appoi nt ed by the Presi dent
from a list of at least si. nomi nees prepar ed
by the 4udi!ial and Bar $oun!il, and from a
list of three nomi nees for ever y va!an!y
ther eaf t er % 'u!h appoi nt me nt s shall re#uire
no !onfirmat i on% All va!an!i es shall be filled
"ithin three mont hs aft er they o!!ur%
Sect i on 1$ % &he *mbuds ma n and his
9eputi es shall have the ran, of $hair man
and Member s, respe!t i vel y, of the
$onstit uti onal $ommi ssi ons, and they shall
re!ei ve the same sal ar y "hi!h shall not be
de!r eas ed during their ter m of offi!e%
Sect i on 11 % &he *mbuds ma n and his
9eputi es shall serve for a ter m of seven
year s "ithout reappoi nt me nt % &hey shall not
be #ualified to run for any offi!e in the
ele!tion immedi at el y su!!eedi ng their
!essat i on from offi!e%
Sect i on 12 % &he *mbuds ma n and his
9eputi es, as prot e!t or s of the peopl e, shall
a!t prompt l y on !ompl ai nt s filed in any form
or manner agai nst publi! offi!ials or
empl oyees of the Gover nme nt , or any
subdivi sion, agen!y or instrume nt al i t y
ther eof, in!ludi ng gover nme nt + o"ned or
!ont roll ed !orpor at i ons, and shall, in
appropri at e !ases, notify the !ompl ai nant s of
the a!tion ta,en and the result ther eof%
Sect i on 13 % &he *ffi!e of the *mbuds ma n
shall have the follo"ing po"er s, fun!tions,
and duti es2
&1' (nvesti gat e on its o"n, or on !ompl ai nt
by any person, any a!t or omi ssi on of any
publi! offi!ial, empl oyee, offi!e or agen!y,
"hen su!h a!t or omi ssi on appear s to be
illegal, unust , improper , or ineffi!ient %
&2' 9ire!t, upon !ompl ai nt or at its o"n
inst an!e, any publi! offi!ial or empl oyee of
the Gover nme nt , or any subdivision, agen!y
or instrument ali t y ther eof, as "ell as of any
gover nme nt + o"ned or !ont rolled !orpor ati on
"ith original !hart er, to perfor m and
e.pedi t e any a!t or dut y re#uired by la", or
to stop, prevent , and !orre!t any abuse or
impropri et y in the perfor man! e of duti es%
&3' 9ire!t the offi!er !on!er ned to ta,e
appropri at e a!tion agai nst a publi! offi!ial or
empl oyee at fault, and re!omme nd his
removal , suspensi on, demot i on, fine,
!ensur e, or prose!ut i on, and ensur e
!ompli an!e ther e"i t h%
&4' 9ire!t the offi!er !on!er ned, in any
appropri at e !ase, and sub e!t to su!h
limit ati ons as may be provided by la", to
furnish it "ith !opi es of do!ument s rel ati ng
to !ont r a!t s or trans a!t i ons ent er ed into by
his offi!e involving the disbur s e me nt or use
of publi! funds or proper ti es, and report any
irregul arit y to the $ommi ssi on on Audit for
appropri at e a!tion%
&5' Re#uest any gover nme nt agen!y for
assi st an!e and infor mat i on ne!ess ar y in the
dis!har ge of its responsi biliti es, and to
e.ami ne, if ne!ess ar y, perti nent re!ords and
do!ument s %
&' Publi!i)e mat t er s !over ed by its
investi gat i on "hen !ir!umst an!e s so "arr ant
and "ith due pruden!e%
&!' 9et er mi ne the !aus es of ineffi!ien!y, red
tape, mis mana ge me nt , fraud, and !orrupti on
in the Governme nt and ma,e
re!omme nda t i ons for their eli mi nat i on and
the observan!e of high st andar ds of et hi!s
and effi!ien!y%
&"' Promul gat e its rules of pro!edur e and
e.er!i se su!h other po"er s or perfor m su!h
fun!tions or duti es as may be provided by
la"%
Sect i on 14 % &he *ffi!e of the *mbuds ma n
shall enoy fis!al aut onomy% (ts approved
annual appropri at i ons shall be aut omat i !all y
and regul arl y releas ed%
Sect i on 15 % &he right of the 'tat e to re!over
proper t i es unl a"fully a!#uired by publi!
offi!ials or empl oyees, from them or from
their nomi nees or transf er ees, shall not be
barred by pres!ri ption, la!hes, or est oppel %
Sect i on 1 % -o loan, guar ant y, or other
form of finan!i al a!!ommoda t i on for any
busi ness purpos e may be grant ed, dire!tl y or
indire!tl y, by any gover nme nt + o"ned or
!ont roll ed ban, or finan!i al instit uti on to the
Presi dent , the ;i!e+ Presi dent , the Member s
of the $abinet , the $ongr es s, the 'upr eme
$ourt, and the $onsti t uti onal $ommi ssi ons,
the *mbuds ma n, or to any firm or entit y in
"hi!h they have !ont rolling int er est , during
their tenur e%
Sect i on 1!. A publi! offi!er or empl oyee
shall, upon assumpt i on of offi!e and as oft en
ther eaf t er as may be re#uired by la", submi t
a de!l ar at i on under oat h of his asset s,
liabilities, and net "ort h% (n the !ase of the
Presi dent , the ;i!e+ Presi dent , the Member s
of the $abinet , the $ongr es s, the 'upr eme
$ourt, the $onsti t uti onal $ommi ssi ons and
other !onsti t uti onal offi!es, and offi!ers of
the ar med for!es "ith gener al or flag ran,,
the de!l ar at i on shall be dis!losed to the
publi! in the manner provided by la"%
Sect i on 1" % Publi! offi!ers and empl oyees
o"e the 'tat e and this $onstit uti on
allegi an!e at all times and any publi! offi!er
or empl oyee "ho see,s to !hange his
!iti)enshi p or a!#uire the st at us of an
immi gr ant of anot her !ount r y during his
tenur e shall be deal t "ith by la"%
ARTICLE -II NATIONAL ECONO,Y AND
PATRI,ONY
Sect i on 1. &he goal s of the national
e!onomy are a mor e e#ui t abl e distributi on of
opport uni ti es, in!ome, and "eal t h3 a
sust ai ned in!reas e in the amount of goods
and servi!es produ!ed by the nation for the
benefit of the peopl e3 and an e.pandi ng
produ!t ivit y as the ,ey to raising the #ualit y
of life for all, espe!i ally the under+ privileged%
&he 't at e shall promot e indust ri ali)ati on and
full empl oyme nt based on sound agri!ult ur al
devel opme nt and agr ari an refor m, through
indust ri es that ma,e full and effi!ient use of
human and nat ur al resour !es, and "hi!h are
!ompet i tive in bot h domes t i ! and foreign
mar,et s% 1o"ever, the 'tat e shall prot e!t
Filipino ent er pri ses agai nst unfair foreign
!ompet i ti on and trade pra!ti !es%
(n the pursui t of thes e goal s, all se!t or s of
the e!onomy and all regions of the !ount r y
shall be given opti mum opport uni t y to
devel op% Privat e ent er pri ses, in!luding
!orpor at i ons, !ooper at i ves, and si milar
!olle!tive organi )ati ons, shall be en!our aged
to broaden the base of their o"ner shi p%
Sect i on 2. All lands of the publi! domai n,
"at er s, miner al s, !oal, pet rol eum, and other
mi ner al oils, all for!es of pot ent i al ener gy,
fisheri es, forest s or timber , "ildlife, flora and
fauna, and other nat ur al resour !es are
o"ned by the 'tat e% With the e.!ept i on of
agri!ult ur al lands, all other nat ur al resour !es
shall not be alienat ed% &he e.plor ati on,
devel opme nt , and utili)ation of nat ur al
resour!es shall be under the full !ont rol and
super vi si on of the 'tat e% &he 'tat e may
dire!tl y under t a,e su!h a!tiviti es, or it may
ent er into !o+ produ!t i on, oint vent ur e, or
produ!t i on+ shari ng agree me nt s "ith Filipino
!iti)ens, or !orpor ati ons or asso!i ati ons at
least si.ty per !ent um of "hose !apit al is
o"ned by su!h !iti)ens% 'u!h agr ee me nt s
may be for a period not e.!eedi ng t"ent y+
five year s, rene"abl e for not mor e than
t"ent y+ five year s, and under su!h ter ms and
!ondi tions as may be provided by la"% (n
!ases of "at er right s for irrigation, "at er
suppl y fisheri es, or indust ri al uses other than
the devel opme nt of "at er po"er, benefi!i al
use may be the meas ur e and limit of the
grant %
&he 't at e shall prot e!t the nation? s mari ne
"eal t h in its ar!hi pel agi ! "at er s, territori al
sea, and e.!lusive e!onomi ! )one, and
reserve its use and enoyme nt e.!lusivel y to
Filipino !iti)ens%
&he $ongr es s may, by la", allo" small+ s!al e
utili)ation of nat ur al resour!es by Filipino
!iti)ens, as "ell as !ooper at i ve fish farmi ng,
"ith priority to subsi st en!e fisher me n and
fish+ "or,er s in rivers, la,es, bays, and
lagoons%
&he Presi dent may ent er into agree me nt s
"ith foreign+ o"ned !orpor at i ons involving
eit her te!hni !al or finan!i al assi st an!e for
large+ s!al e e.plor ati on, devel opme nt , and
utili)ation of mi ner al s, pet rol eum, and other
mi ner al oils a!!or di ng to the gener al ter ms
and !ondi tions provided by la", based on
real !ont ributi ons to the e!onomi ! gro"t h
and gener al "elfare of the !ount r y% (n su!h
agr ee me nt s , the 'tat e shall promot e the
devel opme nt and use of lo!al s!ientifi! and
te!hni !al resour!es%
&he Presi dent shall notify the $ongr ess of
ever y !ont r a!t ent er ed into in a!!ordan!e
"ith this provision, "ithin thirt y days from its
e.e!ut i on%
Sect i on 3. Lands of the publi! domai n are
!lassified into agri!ul t ur al, forest or ti mber,
mi ner al lands and national par,s%
Agri!ult ur al lands of the publi! domai n may
be further !lassified by la" a!!or di ng to the
uses to "hi!h they may be devot ed%
Alienabl e lands of the publi! domai n shall be
limit ed to agri!ult ur al lands% Privat e
!orpor at i ons or asso!i ati ons may not hold
su!h alienabl e lands of the publi! domai n
e.!ept by lease, for a period not e.!eedi ng
t"ent y+ five year s, rene"abl e for not mor e
than t"ent y+ five year s, and not to e.!eed
one thousand he!t ar es in area% $iti)ens of
the Philippines may lease not mor e than five
hundr ed he!t ar es, or a!#uir e not mor e than
t"elve he!t ar es ther eof, by pur!has e,
homes t e a d, or grant %
&a,ing into a!!ount the re#uir eme nt s of
!onservat i on, e!ology, and devel opme nt ,
and sub e!t to the re#uireme nt s of agrari an
refor m, the $ongr ess shall det er mi ne, by
la", the si)e of lands of the publi! domai n
"hi!h may be a!#uired, devel oped, held, or
leased and the !onditions ther efor%
Sect i on 4. &he $ongr es s shall, as soon as
possi bl e, det er mi ne, by la", the spe!ifi!
limit s of forest lands and national par,s,
mar,i ng !learl y their boundari es on the
ground% &hereaft er , su!h forest lands and
national par,s shall be !onserved and may
not be in!reas ed nor di minished, e.!ept by
la"% &he $ongr es s shall provide for su!h
period as it may det er mi ne, meas ur es to
prohi bit logging in endanger e d forest s and
"at er shed areas%
Sect i on 5. &he 'tat e, sub e!t to the
provisions of this $onsti t uti on and national
devel opme nt poli!ies and progr a ms , shall
prot e!t the right s of indigenous !ult ur al
!ommuni ti es to their an!est r al lands to
ensur e their e!onomi !, so!i al, and !ult ur al
"ell+ being%
&he $ongr es s may provide for the
appli!ability of !ust omar y la"s gover ni ng
proper t y right s or relations in det er mi ni ng
the o"ner shi p and e.t ent of an!est r al
domai n%
Sect i on % &he use of proper t y bear s a
so!i al fun!tion, and all e!onomi ! agent s shall
!ont ri but e to the !ommon good% (ndividual s
and privat e groups, in!ludi ng !orpor at i ons,
!ooper at i ves, and si milar !olle!tive
organi )at i ons, shall have the right to o"n,
est abli sh, and oper at e e!onomi ! ent er pri ses,
sub e!t to the dut y of the 'tat e to promot e
distributi ve usti!e and to int ervene "hen
the !ommon good so demands%
Sect i on !. 'ave in !ases of heredi t ar y
su!!es si on, no privat e lands shall be
transf err ed or !onveyed e.!ept to
individual s, !orpor at i ons, or asso!i ati ons
#ualified to a!#uir e or hold lands of the
publi! domai n%
Sect i on ". -ot"it hst andi ng the provisions of
'e!tion 0 of this Arti!le, a nat ur al+ born
!iti)en of the Philippines "ho has lost his
Philippine !iti)enshi p may be a transf er ee of
privat e lands, sub e!t to limit ati ons provided
by la"%
Sect i on #. &he $ongr es s may est abli sh an
independe nt e!onomi ! and planni ng agen!y
headed by the Presi dent , "hi!h shall, aft er
!onsul t at i ons "ith the appropri at e publi!
agen!i es, various privat e se!t or s, and lo!al
gover nme nt unit s, re!omme nd to $ongr ess,
and impl eme nt !onti nui ng int egr at ed and
!oordi nat ed progr ams and poli!ies for
national devel opme nt %
:ntil the $ongr ess provides other"i se, the
-ational E!onomi ! and 9evel opment
Authorit y shall fun!tion as the independe nt
planni ng agen!y of the gover nme nt %
Sect i on 1$ % &he $ongr ess shall, upon
re!omme nda t i on of the e!onomi ! and
planni ng agen!y, "hen the national int er est
di!t at es, reserve to !iti)ens of the Philippines
or to !orpor at i ons or asso!i ati ons at least
si.ty per !ent um of "hose !apit al is o"ned
by su!h !iti)ens, or su!h higher per!ent age
as $ongr ess may pres!ri be, !ert ai n areas of
invest me nt s% &he $ongr ess shall ena!t
meas ur es that "ill en!our age the format i on
and oper at i on of ent er pri ses "hose !apit al is
"holly o"ned by Filipinos%
(n the grant of right s, privileges, and
!on!es si ons !overi ng the national e!onomy
and pat ri mony, the 't at e shall give
prefer en!e to #ualified Filipinos%
&he 't at e shall regul at e and e.er!i se
aut hori t y over foreign invest me nt s "ithin its
national urisdi!tion and in a!!or dan!e "ith
its national goal s and prioriti es%
Sect i on 11 % -o fran!hi se, !ertifi!at e, or any
other form of aut hori)at i on for the oper at i on
of a publi! utility shall be grant ed e.!ept to
!iti)ens of the Philippines or to !orpor at i ons
or asso!i ati ons organi )ed under the la"s of
the Philippines, at least si.ty per !ent um of
"hose !apit al is o"ned by su!h !iti)ens3 nor
shall su!h fran!hi se, !ertifi!at e, or
aut hori)at i on be e.!lusive in !har a!t er or for
a longer period than fifty year s% -either shall
any su!h fran!hi se or right be grant ed
e.!ept under the !ondi tion that it shall be
sub e!t to amendme nt , alt er at i on, or repeal
by the $ongr es s "hen the !ommon good so
re#uires% &he 'tat e shall en!our age e#ui t y
parti!ipat i on in publi! utilities by the gener al
publi!% &he parti!ipat i on of foreign invest or s
in the gover ni ng body of any publi! utility
ent er pri se shall be limit ed to their
proporti onat e shar e in its !apit al, and all the
e.e!ut i ve and managi ng offi!ers of su!h
!orpor at i on or asso!i ati on must be !iti)ens
of the Philippines%
Sect i on 12. &he 't at e shall promot e the
prefer ent i al use of Filipino labor, domes t i !
mat eri al s and lo!ally produ!ed goods, and
adopt meas ur es that help ma,e them
!ompet i tive%
Sect i on 13. &he 't at e shall pursue a trade
poli!y that serves the gener al "elfar e and
utili)es all forms and arrange me nt s of
e.!hange on the basi s of e#ualit y and
re!ipro!i t y%
Sect i on 14. &he sust ai ned devel opme nt of a
reservoi r of national tal ent s !onsi sti ng of
Filipino s!ienti st s, ent r epr eneur s,
professi onal s, manager s, high+ level te!hni !al
manpo"er and s,illed "or,er s and
!raft s men in all fields shall be promot ed by
the 'tat e% &he 't at e shall en!our age
appropri at e te!hnol ogy and regul at e its
transf er for the national benefit%
&he pra!ti!e of all professi ons in the
Philippines shall be limit ed to Filipino
!iti)ens, save in !ases pres!ri bed by la"%
Sect i on 15. &he $ongr ess shall !reat e an
agen!y to promot e the viability and gro"t h
of !ooper at i ves as instrume nt s for so!i al
usti!e and e!onomi ! devel opme nt %
Sect i on 1. &he $ongr ess shall not, e.!ept
by gener al la", provide for the format i on,
organi )at i on, or regul ati on of privat e
!orpor at i ons% Gover nme nt + o"ned or
!ont roll ed !orpor at i ons may be !reat ed or
est abli shed by spe!i al !hart er s in the
int er est of the !ommon good and sub e!t to
the test of e!onomi ! viability%
Sect i on 1!. (n times of national emer gen!y,
"hen the publi! int er est so re#uir es, the
't at e may, during the emer gen!y and under
reasonabl e ter ms pres!ri bed by it,
tempor aril y ta,e over or dire!t the oper at i on
of any privat el y+ o"ned publi! utility or
busi ness affe!t ed "ith publi! int er est %
Sect i on 1". &he 't at e may, in the int er est
of national "elfare or defens e, est abli sh and
oper at e vital indust ri es and, upon payme nt
of ust !ompens a t i on, transf er to publi!
o"ner shi p utilities and other privat e
ent er pri ses to be oper at ed by the
Governme nt %
Sect i on 1#. &he 't at e shall regul at e or
prohi bit monopoli es "hen the publi! int er est
so re#uir es% -o !ombi nat i ons in rest r ai nt of
trade or unfair !ompet i ti on shall be allo"ed%
Sect i on 2$. &he $ongr ess shall est abli sh an
independe nt !ent r al monet ar y aut hori t y, the
member s of "hose gover ni ng boar d must be
nat ur al+ born Filipino !iti)ens, of ,no"n
probit y, int egri t y, and pat rioti s m, the
ma orit y of "hom shall !ome from the
privat e se!t or% &hey shall also be sub e!t to
su!h other #ualifi!ati ons and disabiliti es as
may be pres!ri bed by la"% &he aut hori t y
shall provide poli!y dire!ti on in the areas of
money, ban,i ng, and !redit % (t shall have
super vi si on over the oper at i ons of ban,s and
e.er!i se su!h regul at or y po"er s as may be
provided by la" over the oper at i ons of
finan!e !ompani es and other instit utions
perfor mi ng si mil ar fun!tions%
:ntil the $ongr ess other "i se provides, the
$ent r al Ban, of the Philippines oper at i ng
under e.isting la"s, shall fun!tion as the
!ent r al monet ar y aut hori t y%
Sect i on 21. Foreign loans may only be
in!urred in a!!or dan!e "ith la" and the
regul ati on of the monet ar y aut hori t y%
(nformat i on on forei gn loans obt ai ned or
guar ant e e d by the Governme nt shall be
made availabl e to the publi!%
Sect i on 22. A!ts "hi!h !ir!umvent or
negat e any of the provisions of this Arti!le
shall be !onsi der ed inimi!al to the national
int er est and sub e!t to !ri mi nal and !ivil
san!ti ons, as may be provided by la"%
ARTICLE -III SOCIAL .USTICE AND
HU,AN RI%HTS
Sect i on 1. &he $ongr ess shall give highest
priorit y to the ena!t me nt of meas ur es that
prot e!t and enhan!e the right of all the
peopl e to human dignit y, redu!e so!i al,
e!onomi !, and politi!al ine#uali ti es, and
remove !ultur al ine#ui ti es by e#uit abl y
diffusing "eal t h and politi!al po"er for the
!ommon good%
&o this end, the 'tat e shall regul at e the
a!#ui si tion, o"ner shi p, use, and disposi tion
of proper t y and its in!rement s %
Sect i on 2. &he promot i on of so!i al usti!e
shall in!lude the !ommi t me nt to !reat e
e!onomi ! opport uni ti es based on freedom of
initiative and self+ relian!e%
ARTICLE -III LABOR
Sect i on 3. &he 't at e shall afford full
prot e!ti on to labor, lo!al and overseas,
organi )ed and unorgani )ed, and promot e
full empl oyme nt and e#ualit y of empl oyme nt
opport uni ti es for all%
(t shall guar ant e e the right s of all "or,er s to
self+ organi)at i on, !olle!tive bargai ni ng and
negoti ati ons, and pea!ef ul !on!er t ed
a!tiviti es, in!ludi ng the right to stri,e in
a!!or dan!e "ith la"% &hey shall be entitl ed
to se!uri t y of tenur e, humane !ondi tions of
"or,, and a living "age% &hey shall also
parti!ipat e in poli!y and de!ision+ ma,i ng
pro!es s es affe!ti ng their right s and benefi t s
as may be provided by la"%
&he 't at e shall promot e the prin!ipl e of
shar ed responsi bilit y bet "een "or,er s and
empl oyer s and the prefer ent i al use of
volunt ar y modes in set tling disput es,
in!luding !on!iliation, and shall enfor!e their
mut ual !ompli an!e ther e"i t h to fost er
indust ri al pea!e%
&he 'tat e shall regul at e the relations
bet "een "or,er s and empl oyer s, re!ogni)ing
the right of labor to its ust shar e in the fruits
of produ!ti on and the right of ent er pri ses to
reasonabl e ret ur ns to invest me nt s , and to
e.pansi on and gro"t h%
ARTICLE -III A%RARIAN AND NATURAL
RESOURCES REFOR,
Sect i on 4. &he 'tat e shall, by la",
under t a,e an agr ari an refor m progr am
founded on the right of farmer s and regul ar
far m"or,er s "ho are landl ess, to o"n
dire!tl y or !olle!tivel y the lands they till or,
in the !ase of other far m"or,er s, to re!eive
a ust shar e of the fruits ther eof% &o this end,
the 't at e shall en!our age and under t a,e the
ust distributi on of all agri!ult ur al lands,
sub e!t to su!h priorities and reasonabl e
ret ent i on limits as the $ongr ess may
pres!ri be, ta,ing into a!!ount e!ologi!al,
devel opme nt al , or e#ui t y !onsi der at i ons, and
sub e!t to the payme nt of ust !ompens at i on%
(n det er mi ni ng ret ent i on limit s, the 't at e
shall respe!t the right of small lando"ner s%
&he 'tat e shall further provide in!enti ves for
volunt ar y land+ shari ng%
Sect i on 5. &he 'tat e shall re!ogni )e the
right of far mer s, farm"or ,er s, and
lando"ner s, as "ell as !ooper at i ves, and
other independent farmer s? organi )ati ons to
parti!ipat e in the planni ng, organi )ati on, and
manage me nt of the progr am, and shall
provide support to agri!ul t ur e through
appropri at e te!hnol ogy and resear !h, and
ade#uat e finan!i al, produ!ti on, mar,et i ng,
and other suppor t servi!es%
Sect i on . &he 't at e shall appl y the
prin!ipl es of agrari an refor m or st e"ar ds hi p,
"henever appli!abl e in a!!ordan!e "ith la",
in the disposi tion or utili)ation of other
nat ur al resour !es, in!ludi ng lands of the
publi! domai n under lease or !on!essi on
suit abl e to agri!ul t ur e, sub e!t to prior
right s, homes t e a d right s of small set tl er s,
and the right s of indigenous !ommuni ti es to
their an!est r al lands%
&he 't at e may reset t l e landl ess far mer s and
far m"or,er s in its o"n agri!ul t ur al est at es
"hi!h shall be distribut ed to them in the
manner provided by la"%
Sect i on !. &he 't at e shall prot e!t the right s
of subsi st en!e fisher men, espe!i ally of lo!al
!ommuni ti es, to the prefer ent i al use of the
!ommunal mari ne and fishing resour!es,
bot h inland and offshor e% (t shall provide
suppor t to su!h fisher men through
appropri at e te!hnol ogy and resear !h,
ade#uat e finan!i al, produ!ti on, and
mar,et i ng assi st an!e, and other servi!es%
&he 'tat e shall also prot e!t , devel op, and
!onserve su!h resour!es% &he prot e!t i on
shall e.t end to offshor e fishing grounds of
subsi st en!e fisher men agai nst foreign
intrusion% Fish"or,er s shall re!eive a ust
shar e from their labor in the utili)ation of
mari ne and fishing resour!es%
Sect i on ". &he 't at e shall provide
in!enti ves to lando"ner s to invest the
pro!eeds of the agrari an refor m progr a m to
promot e indust ri ali)ati on, empl oyme nt
!reat i on, and privati)ati on of publi! se!t or
ent er pri ses% Finan!i al instrument s used as
payment for their lands shall be honor ed as
e#ui t y in ent er pri ses of their !hoi!e%
ARTICLE -III URBAN LAND REFOR,
AND HOUSIN%
Sect i on #. &he 't at e shall, by la", and for
the !ommon good, under t a,e, in !ooper at i on
"ith the privat e se!t or, a !onti nui ng progr a m
of urban land refor m and housi ng "hi!h "ill
ma,e avail abl e at affordabl e !ost, de!ent
housi ng and basi! servi!es to under+
privileged and homel es s !iti)ens in urban
!ent er s and reset tl e me nt areas% (t shall also
promot e ade#uat e empl oyme nt
opport uni ti es to su!h !iti)ens% (n the
impl eme nt at i on of su!h progr am the 't at e
shall respe!t the right s of small proper t y
o"ner s%
Sect i on 1$. :rban or rural poor d"ell ers
shall not be evi!t ed nor their d"elling
demoli shed, e.!ept in a!!or dan!e "ith la"
and in a ust and humane manner %
-o reset t l eme nt of urban or rural d"ell ers
shall be under t a,en "ithout ade#uat e
!onsul t at i on "ith them and the !ommuni t i es
"her e they are to be relo!at ed%
ARTICLE -III HEALTH
Sect i on 11. &he 't at e shall adopt an
int egr at ed and !ompr ehensi ve approa!h to
heal t h devel opme nt "hi!h shall endeavor to
ma,e essent i al goods, heal t h and other
so!i al servi!es avail abl e to all the peopl e at
affordabl e !ost % &here shall be priorit y for the
needs of the under+ privileged, si!,, elderl y,
disabl ed, "omen, and !hildren% &he 't at e
shall endeavor to provide free medi !al !are
to pauper s%
Sect i on 12. &he 't at e shall est abli sh and
mai nt ai n an effe!tive food and drug
regul at or y syst e m and under t a,e
appropri at e heal t h, manpo"er devel opme nt ,
and resear !h, responsi ve to the !ount r y? s
heal t h needs and probl ems%
Sect i on 13. &he 't at e shall est abli sh a
spe!i al agen!y for disabl ed person for their
rehabilit ati on, self+ devel opme nt , and self+
relian!e, and their int egr at i on into the
mai nst r ea m of so!i et y%
ARTICLE -III 2O,EN
Sect i on 14. &he 'tat e shall prot e!t "or,ing
"omen by providing safe and heal t hful
"or,ing !ondi tions, ta,ing into a!!ount their
mat er nal fun!tions, and su!h fa!ilities and
opport uni ti es that "ill enhan!e their "elfare
and enabl e them to reali)e their full pot ent i al
in the servi!e of the nation%
ARTICLE -III ROLE AND RI%HTS OF
PEOPLE3S OR%ANI)ATIONS
Sect i on 15. &he 't at e shall respe!t the role
of independe nt peopl e? s organi)ati ons to
enabl e the peopl e to pursue and prot e!t ,
"ithin the demo!r at i ! frame"or ,, their
legiti mat e and !olle!tive int er est s and
aspirati ons through pea!ef ul and la"ful
means%
Peopl e? s organi )at i ons are bona fide
asso!i ati ons of !iti)ens "ith demons t r at e d
!apa!i t y to promot e the publi! int er est and
"ith identifiabl e leader shi p, member s hi p,
and stru!t ur e%
Sect i on 1. &he right of the peopl e and
their organi )ati ons to effe!tive and
reasonabl e parti!ipati on at all levels of
so!i al, politi!al, and e!onomi ! de!ision+
ma,i ng shall not be abri dged% &he 'tat e
shall, by la", fa!ilit at e the est abli shme nt of
ade#uat e !onsul t at i on me!hani s ms %
ARTICLE -III HU,AN RI%HTS
Sect i on 1!. &1' &here is hereby !reat ed an
independe nt offi!e !alled the $ommi ssi on on
1uman Right s%
&2' &he $ommi ssi on shall be !ompos ed of a
$hair man and four Member s "ho must be
nat ur al+ born !iti)ens of the Philippines and a
ma orit y of "hom shall be member s of the
Bar% &he ter m of offi!e and other
#ualifi!ations and disabilities of the Member s
of the $ommi ssi on shall be provided by la"%
&3' :ntil this $ommi ssi on is !onsti t ut ed, the
e.isting Presi dent i al $ommi t t ee on 1uman
Right s shall !onti nue to e.er!i se its pres ent
fun!tions and po"er s%
&4' &he approved annual appropri at i ons of
the $ommi ssi on shall be aut omat i !all y and
regul arl y releas ed%
Sect i on 1". &he $ommi ssi on on 1uman
Right s shall have the follo"ing po"er s and
fun!tions2
&1' (nvesti gat e, on its o"n or on !ompl ai nt
by any part y, all forms of human right s
violations involving !ivil and politi!al right s3
&2' Adopt its oper at i onal guidelines and rules
of pro!edur e, and !ite for !ont empt for
violations ther eof in a!!ordan!e "ith the
Rules of $ourt3
&3' Provide appropri at e legal meas ur es for
the prot e!t i on of human right s of all persons
"ithin the Philippines, as "ell as Filipinos
residing abroad, and provide for prevent i ve
meas ur es and legal aid servi!es to the
under+ privileged "hose human right s have
been violat ed or need prot e!t i on3
&4' E.er!ise visitori al po"er s over ails,
prisons, or det ent i on fa!ilities3
&5' Est ablish a !onti nui ng progr am of
resear !h, edu!at i on, and infor mat i on to
enhan!e respe!t for the pri ma!y of human
right s3
&' Re!omme nd to $ongr ess effe!tive
meas ur es to promot e human right s and to
provide for !ompens at i on to vi!ti ms of
violations of human right s, or their families3
&!' Monitor the Philippine Governme nt ? s
!ompli an!e "ith int er nat i onal treat y
obligati ons on human right s3
&"' Grant immuni t y from prose!ut i on to any
person "hose testi mony or "hose
posses si on of do!ument s or other eviden!e
is ne!es s ar y or !onveni ent to det er mi ne the
trut h in any investi gat i on !ondu!t ed by it or
under its aut hori t y3
&#' Re#uest the assi st an!e of any
depar t me nt , bureau, offi!e, or agen!y in the
perfor man! e of its fun!tions3
&1$' Appoint its offi!ers and empl oyees in
a!!or dan!e "ith la"3 and
&11' Perfor m su!h other duti es and fun!tions
as may be provided by la"%
Sect i on 1#. &he $ongr es s may provide for
other !ases of violations of human right s
that shoul d fall "ithin the aut hori t y of the
$ommi ssi on, ta,ing into a!!ount its
re!omme nda t i ons%
ARTICLE -I( EDUCATION4 SCIENCE
AND TECHNOLO%Y4 ARTS4 CULTURE AND
SPORTS
EDUCATION
Sect i on 1. &he 't at e shall prot e!t and
promot e the right of all !iti)ens to #ualit y
edu!at i on at all level s, and shall ta,e
appropri at e st eps to ma,e su!h edu!at i on
a!!es si bl e to all%
Sect i on 2. &he 'tat e shall2
&1' Est ablish, mai nt ai n, and suppor t a
!ompl et e, ade#uat e, and int egr at ed syst e m
of edu!at i on relevant to the needs of the
peopl e and so!i et y3
&2' Est ablish and mai nt ai n, a syst e m of free
publi! edu!at i on in the element ar y and high
s!hool levels% Without limiting the nat ur al
right s of parent s to rear their !hildren,
element ar y edu!at i on is !ompul sor y for all
!hildren of s!hool age3
&3' Est ablish and mai nt ai n a syst e m of
s!hol arshi p grant s, student loan progr ams ,
subsi di es, and other in!enti ves "hi!h shall
be availabl e to deser vi ng st udent s in bot h
publi! and privat e s!hool s, espe!i ally to the
under+ privileged3
&4' En!our age non+ formal, infor mal , and
indigenous learni ng syst e ms , as "ell as self+
learni ng, independe nt , and out+ of+ s!hool
study progr ams parti!ul arl y those that
respond to !ommuni t y needs3 and
&5' Provide adult !iti)ens, the disabl ed, and
out+ of+s!hool yout h "ith traini ng in !ivi!s,
vo!ati onal effi!ien!y, and other s,ills%
Sect i on 3. &1' All edu!at i onal instit uti ons
shall in!lude the st udy of the $onsti t uti on as
part of the !urri!ul a%
&2' &hey shall in!ul!at e pat rioti s m and
nationalis m, fost er love of humani t y, respe!t
for human right s, appr e!i ati on of the role of
national heroes in the hist ori!al devel opme nt
of the !ount r y, tea!h the right s and duti es of
!iti)enshi p, strengt hen et hi!al and spirit ual
values, devel op mor al !har a!t er and
personal dis!ipline, en!our age !riti!al and
!reat ive thin,ing, broaden s!ientifi! and
te!hnol ogi !al ,no"l edge, and promot e
vo!ati onal effi!ien!y%
&3' At the option e.pr ess ed in "riting by the
par ent s or guar di ans, religion shall be
allo"ed to be taught to their !hildren or
"ards in publi! element ar y and high s!hool s
"ithin the regul ar !lass hours by instru!t or s
desi gnat ed or approved by the religious
aut hori ti es of the religion to "hi!h the
!hildren or "ards belong, "ithout addi tional
!ost to the Gover nme nt %
Sect i on 4. & 1' &he 't at e re!ogni)es the
!ompl e me nt ar y roles of publi! and privat e
instit utions in the edu!at i onal syst e m and
shall e.er!i se reasonabl e supervi sion and
regul ati on of all edu!at i onal instit utions%
&2' Edu!ati onal instit uti ons, other than those
est abli shed by religious groups and mission
boar ds, shall be o"ned solely by !iti)ens of
the Philippines or !orpor at i ons or
asso!i ati ons at least si.ty per !ent um of the
!apit al of "hi!h is o"ned by su!h !iti)ens%
&he $ongr ess may, ho"ever, re#uire
in!reas ed Filipino e#ui t y parti!ipati on in all
edu!at i onal instit uti ons%
&he !ont rol and admi ni st r at i on of
edu!at i onal instit utions shall be vest ed in
!iti)ens of the Philippines%
-o edu!at i onal instit ution shall be
est abli shed e.!lusivel y for aliens and no
group of aliens shall !ompri se mor e than
one+ third of the enroll ment in any s!hool%
&he provisions of this subse!t i on shall not
appl y to s!hool s est abli shed for forei gn
diplomat i ! personnel and their depende nt s
and, unless other"i se provided by la", for
other foreign tempor ar y resident s%
&3' All revenues and asset s of non+ sto!,,
non+ profit edu!at i onal instit uti ons used
a!t ually, dire!tl y, and e.!lusivel y for
edu!at i onal purpos es shall be e.empt from
ta.es and duti es% :pon the dissol ution or
!essat i on of the !orpor at e e.ist en!e of su!h
instit utions, their asset s shall be dispos ed of
in the manner provided by la"%
Propri et ar y edu!at i onal instit uti ons, in!luding
those !ooper at i vel y o"ned, may li,e"ise be
entitl ed to su!h e.empt i ons, sub e!t to the
limit ati ons provided by la", in!luding
rest ri!tions on dividends and provisions for
reinvest me nt %
&4' 'ub e!t to !onditions pres!ri bed by la",
all grant s, endo"me nt s , donat i ons, or
!ont ri buti ons used a!t ually, dire!tl y, and
e.!lusivel y for edu!at i onal purpos es shall be
e.empt from ta.%
Sect i on 5. &1' the 'tat e shall ta,e into
a!!ount regional and se!t or al needs and
!ondi tions and shall en!our age lo!al
planni ng in the devel opme nt of edu!at i onal
poli!ies and progr a ms %
&2' A!ademi ! freedom shall be enoyed in all
instit utions of higher learni ng%
&3' Every !iti)en has a right to sel e!t a
professi on or !ourse of study, sub e!t to fair,
reasonabl e, and e#ui t abl e admi ssi on and
a!ade mi ! re#uir eme nt s%
&4' &he 'tat e shall enhan!e the right of
tea!her s to professi onal advan!e me nt % -on+
tea!hi ng a!ade mi ! and non+ a!ade mi !
personnel shall enoy the prot e!t i on of the
't at e%
&5' &he 'tat e shall assi gn the highest
budget ar y priorit y to edu!at i on and ensur e
that tea!hi ng "ill att r a!t and ret ai n its
rightful shar e of the best avail abl e tal ent s
through ade#uat e remuner at i on and other
means of ob sati sfa!ti on and fulfillment %
ARTICLE -I( EDUCATION4 SCIENCE
AND TECHNOLO%Y4 ARTS4 CULTURE AND
SPORTS
LAN%UA%E
Sect i on . &he national language of the
Philippines is Filipino% As it evolves, it shall
be further devel oped and enri!hed on the
basi s of e.isting Philippine and other
language s%
'ub e!t to provisions of la" and as the
$ongr ess may deem appropri at e, the
Governme nt shall ta,e st eps to initiat e and
sust ai n the use of Filipino as a medi um of
offi!ial !ommuni !at i on and as language of
instru!ti on in the edu!at i onal syst e m%
Sect i on !. For purpos es of !ommuni !at i on
and instru!ti on, the offi!ial language s of the
Philippines are Filipino and, until other "i se
provided by la", English%
&he regional languages are the au.iliary
offi!ial language s in the regions and shall
serve as au.iliary medi a of instru!ti on
ther ei n%
'pani sh and Arabi! shall be promot ed on a
volunt ar y and optional basi s%
Sect i on ". &his $onstit uti on shall be
promul gat ed in Filipino and English and shall
be transl at ed into ma or regional language s,
Arabi!, and 'pani sh%
Sect i on #. &he $ongr ess shall est abli sh a
national language !ommi ssi on !ompos ed of
repr es ent at i ves of various regions and
dis!iplines "hi!h shall under t a,e,
!oordi nat e, and promot e resear !hes for the
devel opme nt , propagat i on, and preser vat i on
of Filipino and other languages%
ARTICLE -I( EDUCATION4 SCIENCE
AND TECHNOLO%Y4 ARTS4 CULTURE AND
SPORTS
SCIENCE AND TECHNOLO%Y
Sect i on 1$. '!ien!e and te!hnol ogy are
essent i al for national devel opme nt and
progr ess% &he 't at e shall give priorit y to
resear !h and devel opme nt , inventi on,
innovati on, and their utili)ation3 and to
s!ien!e and te!hnol ogy edu!at i on, traini ng,
and servi!es% (t shall suppor t indigenous,
appropri at e, and self+ reliant s!ientifi! and
te!hnol ogi !al !apabilities, and their
appli!ati on to the !ount r y? s produ!ti ve
syst e ms and national life%
Sect i on 11. &he $ongr es s may provide for
in!enti ves, in!ludi ng ta. dedu!ti ons, to
en!our age privat e parti!ipat i on in progr a ms
of basi! and appli ed s!ientifi! resear !h%
'!hol ar shi ps, grant s+ in+ aid, or other forms of
in!enti ves shall be provided to deservi ng
s!ien!e st udent s, resear !her s, s!ienti st s,
invent or s, te!hnol ogi st s, and spe!i ally gifted
!iti)ens%
Sect i on 12. &he 't at e shall regul at e the
transf er and promot e the adapt at i on of
te!hnol ogy from all sour!es for the national
benefit% (t shall en!our age the "idest
parti!ipat i on of privat e groups, lo!al
gover nme nt s , and !ommuni t y+ based
organi )at i ons in the gener at i on and
utili)ation of s!ien!e and te!hnol ogy%
Sect i on 13. &he 'tat e shall prot e!t and
se!ur e the e.!lusive right s of s!ienti st s,
invent or s, artist s, and other gifted !iti)ens to
their int ell e!t ual proper t y and !reat i ons,
parti!ul arl y "hen benefi!i al to the peopl e,
for su!h period as may be provided by la"%
ARTICLE -I( EDUCATION4 SCIENCE
AND TECHNOLO%Y4 ARTS4 CULTURE AND
SPORTS
ARTS AND CULTURE
Sect i on 14. &he 'tat e shall fost er the
preser vat i on, enri!hme nt , and dynami !
evol ution of a Filipino national !ult ur e based
on the prin!ipl e of unit y in diversi t y in a
!limat e of free artisti! and int ell e!t ual
e.pr es si on%
Sect i on 15. Arts and lett er s shall enoy the
pat ronage of the 'tat e% &he 't at e shall
!onserve, promot e, and popul ari)e the
nation? s hist ori!al and !ult ur al herit age and
resour!es, as "ell as artisti! !reati ons%
Sect i on 1. All the !ount r y? s artisti! and
hist ori! "eal t h !onsti t ut es the !ult ur al
treas ur e of the nation and shall be under the
prot e!ti on of the 't at e "hi!h may regul at e
its disposi tion%
Sect i on 1!. &he 'tat e shall re!ogni )e,
respe!t , and prot e!t the right s of indigenous
!ultur al !ommuni t i es to preser ve and
devel op their !ult ur es, tradi tions, and
instit utions% (t shall !onsi der these right s in
the formul ati on of national plans and
poli!ies%
Sect i on 1". &1' &he 'tat e shall ensur e
e#ual a!!ess to !ultur al opport uni ti es
through the edu!at i onal syst e m, publi! or
privat e !ultur al entiti es, s!hol ar shi ps, grant s
and other in!enti ves, and !ommuni t y
!ultur al !ent er s, and other publi! venues%
&2' &he 'tat e shall en!our age and suppor t
resear !hes and studi es on the art s and
!ultur e%
ARTICLE -I( EDUCATION4 SCIENCE
AND TECHNOLO%Y4 ARTS4 CULTURE AND
SPORTS
SPORTS
Sect i on 1#. &1' &he 'tat e shall promot e
physi !al edu!at i on and en!our age sport s
progr ams , league !ompet i ti ons, and amat eur
sport s, in!luding trai ni ng for int ernat i onal
!ompet i ti ons, to fost er self+ dis!ipline,
team"or ,, and e.!ell en!e for the
devel opme nt of a heal t hy and alert !iti)enry%
&2' All edu!at i onal instit uti ons shall
under t a,e regul ar sport s a!tiviti es
throughout the !ount r y in !ooper at i on "ith
at hl eti ! !lubs and other se!t or s%
ARTICLE -( THE FA,ILY
Sect i on 1. &he 't at e re!ogni )es the Filipino
family as the foundat i on of the nation%
A!!ordi ngl y, it shall strengt hen its solidari t y
and a!tivel y promot e its tot al devel opme nt %
Sect i on 2. Marriage, as an inviolabl e so!i al
instit ution, is the foundat i on of the family
and shall be prot e!t ed by the 't at e%
Sect i on 3. &he 'tat e shall defend2
&1' &he right of spous es to found a family in
a!!or dan!e "ith their religious !onvi!tions
and the demands of responsi bl e parent hood3
&2' &he right of !hildren to assi st an!e,
in!luding proper !are and nutrition, and
spe!i al prot e!t i on from all forms of negl e!t ,
abuse, !ruel t y, e.ploit ati on and other
!ondi tions preudi!i al to their devel opme nt 3
&3' &he right of the family to a family living
"age and in!ome3 and
&4' &he right of families or family
asso!i ati ons to parti!ipat e in the planni ng
and impl eme nt at i on of poli!ies and progr a ms
that affe!t them%
Sect i on 4. &he family has the dut y to !are
for its elderl y member s but the 'tat e may
also do so through ust progr a ms of so!i al
se!urit y%
ARTICLE -(I %ENERAL PRO(ISIONS
Sect i on 1. &he flag of the Philippines shall
be red, "hit e, and blue, "ith a sun and three
st ar s, as !onse!r at ed and honor ed by the
peopl e and re!ogni)ed by la"%
Sect i on 2. &he $ongr es s may, by la", adopt
a ne" name for the !ount r y, a national
ant he m, or a national seal, "hi!h shall all be
truly refle!tive and symboli! of the ideal s,
hist ory, and traditions of the peopl e% 'u!h
la" shall ta,e effe!t only upon its ratifi!ati on
by the peopl e in a national refer endum%
Sect i on 3. &he 't at e may not be sued
"ithout its !onsent %
Sect i on 4. &he Armed For!es of the
Philippines shall be !ompos ed of a !iti)en
ar med for!e "hi!h shall under go milit ary
training and serve as may be provided by
la"% (t shall ,eep a regul ar for!e ne!ess ar y
for the se!urit y of the 't at e%
Sect i on 5. &1' All member s of the ar med
for!es shall ta,e an oat h or affirmat i on to
uphol d and defend this $onsti t uti on%
&2' &he 'tat e shall strengt hen the pat rioti!
spirit and nationalist !ons!i ousnes s of the
milit ary, and respe!t for peopl e? s right s in
the perfor man! e of their dut y%
&3' Professi onali s m in the ar med for!es and
ade#uat e remuner at i on and benefi t s of its
member s shall be a pri me !on!er n of the
't at e% &he ar med for!es shall be insul at ed
from parti san politi!s%
-o member of the milit ary shall engage,
dire!tl y or indire!tl y, in any parti san politi!al
a!tivit y, e.!ept to vot e%
&4' -o member of the ar med for!es in the
a!tive servi!e shall, at any time, be
appoi nt ed or desi gnat ed in any !apa!i t y to a
!ivilian position in the Governme nt , in!luding
gover nme nt + o"ned or !ont rolled
!orpor at i ons or any of their subsi di ari es%
&5' La"s on retirement of milit ary offi!ers
shall not allo" e.t ensi on of their servi!e%
&' &he offi!ers and men of the regul ar for!e
of the ar med for!es shall be re!ruit ed
proporti onat el y from all provin!es and !ities
as far as pra!ti !abl e%
&!' &he tour of dut y of the $hief of 'taff of
the ar med for!es shall not e.!eed three
year s% 1o"ever, in ti mes of "ar or other
national emer gen!y de!l ar ed by the
$ongr ess, the Presi dent may e.t end su!h
tour of dut y%
Sect i on . &he 't at e shall est abli sh and
mai nt ai n one poli!e for!e, "hi!h shall be
national in s!ope and !ivilian in !har a!t er , to
be admi ni st er ed and !ont roll ed by a national
poli!e !ommi s si on% &he aut hori t y of lo!al
e.e!ut i ves over the poli!e unit s in their
urisdi!tion shall be provided by la"%
Sect i on !. &he 't at e shall provide
immedi at e and ade#uat e !are, benefit s, and
other forms of assi st an!e to "ar vet er ans
and vet er ans of milit ary !ampai gns, their
surviving spous es and orphans% Funds shall
be provided ther efor and due !onsi der at i on
shall be given them in the disposi tion of
agri!ult ur al lands of the publi! domai n and,
in appropri at e !ases, in the utili)ation of
nat ur al resour !es%
Sect i on ". &he 't at e shall, from ti me to
ti me, revi e" to in!reas e the pensi ons and
other benefit s due to retirees of bot h the
gover nme nt and the privat e se!t or s%
Sect i on #. &he 't at e shall prot e!t
!onsumer s from trade mal pr a!t i !es and from
subst andar d or ha)ar dous produ!t s%
Sect i on 1$. &he 'tat e shall provide the
poli!y environment for the full devel opme nt
of Filipino !apabilit y and the emer gen!e of
!ommuni !at i on stru!t ur es suit abl e to the
needs and aspir ati ons of the nation and the
bal an!ed flo" of infor mat i on into, out of, and
a!ross the !ount ry, in a!!or dan!e "ith a
poli!y that respe!t s the freedom of spee!h
and of the press%
Sect i on 11. &1' &he o"ner shi p and
manage me nt of mass medi a shall be limit ed
to !iti)ens of the Philippines, or to
!orpor at i ons, !ooper at i ves or asso!i ati ons,
"holly+ o"ned and manage d by su!h !iti)ens%
&he $ongr es s shall regul at e or prohi bit
monopoli es in !ommer !i al mass medi a "hen
the publi! int er est so re#uires% -o
!ombi nat i ons in rest r ai nt of trade or unfair
!ompet i ti on ther ei n shall be allo"ed%
&2' &he adverti si ng indust r y is impr es s ed
"ith publi! int er est , and shall be regul at ed
by la" for the prot e!ti on of !onsumer s and
the promot i on of the gener al "elfare%
*nly Filipino !iti)ens or !orpor at i ons or
asso!i ati ons at least sevent y per !ent um of
the !apit al of "hi!h is o"ned by su!h
!iti)ens shall be allo"ed to engage in the
adver ti si ng indust r y%
&he parti!ipati on of foreign invest or s in the
gover ni ng body of entiti es in su!h indust r y
shall be limit ed to their proporti onat e shar e
in the !apit al ther eof, and all the e.e!uti ve
and managi ng offi!ers of su!h entiti es must
be !iti)ens of the Philippines%
Sect i on 12. &he $ongr ess may !reat e a
!onsul t at i ve body to advi se the Presi dent on
poli!ies affe!ti ng indigenous !ultur al
!ommuni ti es, the ma orit y of the member s of
"hi!h shall !ome from su!h !ommuni ti es%
ARTICLE -(II A,END,ENTS OR
RE(ISIONS
Sect i on 1. Any amendme nt to, or revision
of, this $onstit uti on may be propos ed by2
&1' &he $ongr es s, upon a vot e of three+
fourt hs of all its Member s3 or
&2' A !onsti t uti onal !onvent i on%
Sect i on 2. Amendme nt s to this $onsti t uti on
may li,e"ise be dire!tl y propos ed by the
peopl e through initiative upon a petition of
at least t"elve per !ent um of the tot al
number of regist er ed vot er s, of "hi!h ever y
legisl ative distri!t must be repr es ent e d by at
least three per !ent um of the regist er ed
vot er s ther ei n% -o amend me nt under this
se!tion shall be aut hori)ed "ithin five year s
follo"ing the ratifi!ation of this $onstit uti on
nor oft ener than on!e every five year s
ther eaf t er %
&he $ongr ess shall provide for the
impl eme nt at i on of the e.er!i se of this right%
Sect i on 3. &he $ongr es s may, by a vot e of
t"o+ thirds of all its Member s, !all a
!onsti t uti onal !onvent i on, or by a ma orit y
vot e of all its Member s, submi t to the
ele!t or at e the #uesti on of !alling su!h a
!onvent i on%
Sect i on 4. Any amendme nt to, or revision
of, this $onstit uti on under 'e!tion / her eof
shall be valid "hen ratified by a ma orit y of
the vot es !ast in a plebi s!i t e "hi!h shall be
held not earli er than si.t y days nor lat er than
ninet y days aft er the approval of su!h
amendme nt or revision%
Any amend me nt under 'e!tion @ her eof shall
be valid "hen ratified by a ma orit y of the
vot es !ast in a plebi s!i t e "hi!h shall be hel d
not earli er than si.t y days nor lat er than
ninet y days aft er the !ertifi!ati on by the
$ommi ssi on on Ele!tions of the suffi!ien!y of
the petition%
ARTICLE -(III TRANSITORY
PRO(ISIONS
Sect i on 1. &he first ele!ti ons of Member s of
the $ongr es s under this $onsti t uti on shall be
held on the se!ond Monday of May, /5F0%
&he first lo!al ele!tions shall be held on a
dat e to be det er mi ned by the Presi dent ,
"hi!h may be si mul t aneous "ith the ele!tion
of the Member s of the $ongr ess% (t shall
in!lude the ele!ti on of all Member s of the
!ity or muni !ipal !oun!ils in the Metropolit an
Manila area%
Sect i on 2. &he 'enat or s, Member s of the
1ouse of Repr es ent at i ves, and the lo!al
offi!ials first ele!t ed under this $onsti t uti on
shall serve until noon of 4une 6D, /55@%
*f the 'enat or s ele!t ed in the ele!ti ons in
/55@, the first t"elve obt ai ni ng the highest
number of vot es shall serve for si. year s and
the remai ni ng t"elve for three year s%
Sect i on 3. All e.isti ng la"s, de!r ees,
e.e!ut i ve order s, pro!l amat i ons, lett er s of
instru!ti ons, and other e.e!uti ve issuan!es
not in!onsi st ent "ith this $onstit uti on shall
remai n oper at i ve until amende d, repeal ed,
or revo,ed%
Sect i on 4. All e.isting treat i es or
int ernat i onal agr ee me nt s "hi!h have not
been ratified shall not be rene"ed or
e.t ended "ithout the !on!urr en!e of at least
t"o+ thirds of all the Member s of the 'enat e%
Sect i on 5. &he si.+ year ter m of the
in!umbe nt Presi dent and ;i!e+ Presi dent
ele!t ed in the Februar y 0, /5FA ele!ti on is,
for purpos es of syn!hroni)ati on of ele!tions,
her eby e.t ended to noon of 4une 6D, /55@%
&he first regul ar ele!tions for the Presi dent
and ;i!e+ Presi dent under this $onsti t uti on
shall be held on the se!ond Monday of May,
/55@%
Sect i on . &he in!umbe nt Presi dent shall
!onti nue to e.er!i se legisl ative po"er s until
the first $ongr ess is !onvened%
Sect i on !. :ntil a la" is passed, the
Presi dent may fill by appoi nt me nt from a list
of nomi nees by the respe!t i ve se!t or s, the
seat s reserved for se!t or al repr es ent at i on in
par agr aph 7@8, 'e!tion C of Arti!le ;/ of this
$onstit uti on%
Sect i on ". :ntil other"i se provided by the
$ongr ess, the Presi dent may !onsti t ut e the
Metropolit an Manila Authorit y to be
!ompos ed of the heads of all lo!al
gover nme nt unit s !ompri si ng the
Metropolit an Manila area%
Sect i on #. A sub+ provin!e shall !onti nue to
e.ist and oper at e until it is !onvert ed into a
regul ar provin!e or until its !omponent
muni !ipaliti es are revert ed to the mot her
provin!e%
Sect i on 1$. All !ourt s e.isti ng at the time of
the ratifi!ati on of this $onsti t uti on shall
!onti nue to e.er!i se their urisdi!tion, until
other"i se provided by la"% &he provisions of
the e.isti ng Rules of $ourt, udi!iary a!t s,
and pro!edur al la"s not in!onsi st ent "ith
this $onsti t uti on shall remai n oper at i ve
unless amende d or repeal ed by the 'upre me
$ourt or the $ongr ess%
Sect i on 11. &he in!umbe nt Member s of the
4udi!iary shall !onti nue in offi!e until they
rea!h the age of sevent y year s or be!ome
in!apa!i t at ed to dis!har ge the duti es of their
offi!e or are removed for !ause%
Sect i on 12. &he 'upreme $ourt shall, "ithin
one year aft er the ratifi!ation of this
$onstit uti on, adopt a syst e ma t i ! plan to
e.pedi t e the de!ision or resol ution of !ases
or mat t er s pendi ng in the 'upreme $ourt or
the lo"er !ourt s prior to the effe!tivit y of
this $onsti t uti on% A si milar plan shall be
adopt ed for all spe!i al !ourt s and #uasi+
udi!ial bodi es%
Sect i on 13. &he legal effe!t of the lapse,
before the ratifi!ati on of this $onsti t uti on, of
the appli!abl e period for the de!i sion or
resol uti on of the !ases or mat t er s submi t t ed
for adudi!ati on by the !ourt s, shall be
det er mi ned by the 'upr eme $ourt as soon as
pra!ti!abl e%
Sect i on 14. &he provisions of par agr aphs
768 and 7B8, 'e!tion /C of Arti!le ;((( of this
$onstit uti on shall appl y to !ases or mat t er s
filed befor e the ratifi!ation of this
$onstit uti on, "hen the appli!abl e period
lapses aft er su!h ratifi!ation%
Sect i on 15. &he in!umbe nt Member s of the
$ivil 'ervi!e $ommi ssi on, the $ommi ssi on
on Ele!tions, and the $ommi ssi on on Audit
shall !ontinue in offi!e for one year aft er the
ratifi!ati on of this $onsti t uti on, unless they
are sooner removed for !ause or be!ome
in!apa!i t at ed to dis!har ge the duti es of their
offi!e or appoi nt ed to a ne" ter m
ther eunder % (n no !ase shall any Member
serve longer than seven year s in!luding
servi!e before the ratifi!ati on of this
$onstit uti on%
Sect i on 1. $areer !ivil servi!e empl oyees
separ at ed from the servi!e not for !aus e but
as a resul t of the reorgani )at i on pursuant to
Pro!lamat i on -o% 6 dat ed Mar!h @C, /5FA
and the reorgani )at i on follo"ing the
ratifi!ati on of this $onsti t uti on shall be
entitl ed to appropri at e separ at i on pay and to
retirement and other benefit s a!!rui ng to
them under the la"s of gener al appli!ati on
in for!e at the time of their separ at i on% (n
lieu ther eof, at the option of the empl oyees,
they may be !onsi der ed for empl oyme nt in
the Gover nme nt or in any of its subdivi sions,
instrume nt al i ti es, or agen!i es, in!luding
gover nme nt + o"ned or !ont rolled
!orpor at i ons and their subsi di ari es% &his
provision also applies to !areer offi!ers
"hose resi gnat i on, tender ed in line "ith the
e.isting poli!y, had been a!!ept ed%
Sect i on 1!. :ntil the $ongr es s provides
other"i se, the Presi dent shall re!eive an
annual sal ary of three hundr ed thousand
pesos3 the ;i!e+ Presi dent , the Presi dent of
the 'enat e, the 'pea,er of the 1ouse of
Repr es ent at i ves, and the $hief 4usti!e of the
'upreme $ourt, t"o hundr ed forty thous and
pesos ea!h3 the 'enat or s, the Member s of
the 1ouse of Repres ent at i ves, the Asso!i at e
4usti!es of the 'upreme $ourt, and the
$hair men of the $onsti t uti onal $ommi ssi ons,
t"o hundr ed four thous and pesos ea!h3 and
the Member s of the $onstit uti onal
$ommi ssi ons, one hundr ed eight y thousand
pesos ea!h%
Sect i on 1". At the earliest possi bl e time,
the Governme nt shall in!reas e the sal ar y
s!al es of the other offi!ials and empl oyees of
the -ational Gover nme nt %
Sect i on 1#. All proper t i es, re!ords,
e#ui pment , buildings, fa!ilities, and other
asset s of any offi!e or body abolished or
reorgani )ed under Pro!lamat i on -o% 6 dat ed
Mar!h @C, /5FA or this $onsti t uti on shall be
transf err ed to the offi!e or body to "hi!h its
po"er s, fun!tions, and responsi biliti es
subst ant i ally pert ai n%
Sect i on 2$. &he first $ongr es s shall give
priorit y to the det er mi nat i on of the period for
the full impl ement a t i on of free publi!
se!ondar y edu!at i on%
Sect i on 21. &he $ongr es s shall provide
effi!a!ious pro!edur es and ade#uat e
remedi es for the rever si on to the 't at e of all
lands of the publi! domai n and real right s
!onne!t ed ther e"i t h "hi!h "er e a!#uir ed in
violation of the $onsti t uti on or the publi!
land la"s, or through !orrupt pra!ti!es% -o
transf er or disposi tion of su!h lands or real
right s shall be allo"ed until aft er the lapse of
one year from the ratifi!ati on of this
$onstit uti on%
Sect i on 22. At the earliest possi bl e time,
the Gover nme nt shall e.propri at e idle or
abandone d agri!ult ur al lands as may be
defined by la", for distributi on to the
benefi!i ari es of the agr ari an refor m progr am%
Sect i on 23. Advertising entiti es affe!t ed by
par agr aph 7@8, 'e!tion // of Arti!le E;/ of
this $onsti t uti on shall have five year s from
its ratifi!ati on to !ompl y on a graduat ed and
proporti onat e basi s "ith the mi ni mum
Filipino o"ner shi p re#uir eme nt ther ei n%
Sect i on 24. Privat e ar mi es and other ar med
groups not re!ogni)ed by duly !onsti t ut ed
aut hori t y shall be dismant l ed% All
par amilit ar y for!es in!luding $ivilian 1ome
9efense For!es not !onsi st ent "ith the
!iti)en ar med for!e est abli shed in this
$onstit uti on, shall be dissolved or, "her e
appropri at e, !onver t ed into the regul ar for!e%
Sect i on 25. After the e.pirati on in /55/ of
the Agreeme nt bet "een the Republi! of the
Philippines and the :nited 't at es of Ameri!a
!on!er ni ng milit ary bases, foreign milit ary
bases, troops, or fa!ilities shall not be
allo"ed in the Philippines e.!ept under a
treat y duly !on!urr ed in by the 'enat e and,
"hen the $ongr es s so re#uir es, ratified by a
ma orit y of the vot es !ast by the peopl e in a
national refer endum held for that purpos e,
and re!ogni )ed as a treat y by the other
!ont r a!t i ng 'tat e%
Sect i on 2. &he aut hori t y to issue
se#ues t r at i on or free)e order s under
Pro!lamat i on -o% 6 dat ed Mar!h @C, /5FA in
relati on to the re!over y of ill+got t en "eal t h
shall remai n oper at i ve for not mor e than
eight een mont hs aft er the ratifi!ation of this
$onstit uti on% 1o"ever, in the national
int er est , as !ertified by the Presi dent , the
$ongr ess may e.t end su!h period%
A se#ues t r at i on or free)e order shall be
issued only upon sho"i ng of a pri ma fa!ie
!ase% &he order and the list of the
se#ues t er ed or fro)en proper ti es shall
fort h"i t h be regist er ed "ith the proper !ourt %
For order s issued befor e the ratifi!ati on of
this $onsti t uti on, the !orrespondi ng udi!ial
a!tion or pro!eedi ng shall be filed "ithin si.
mont hs from its ratifi!ati on% For those issued
aft er su!h ratifi!ation, the udi!ial a!tion or
pro!eedi ng shall be !omme n! e d "ithin si.
mont hs from the issuan!e ther eof%
&he se#ues t r at i on or free)e order is deeme d
aut omat i !all y lifted if no udi!ial a!tion or
pro!eedi ng is !omme n! e d as her ei n
provided%
Sect i on 2!. &his $onsti t uti on shall ta,e
effe!t immedi at el y upon its ratifi!ati on by a
ma orit y of the vot es !ast in a plebi s!i t e held
for the purpos e and shall super s ede all
previous $onstit uti ons%
&he foregoi ng propos ed $onstit uti on of the
Republi! of the Philippines "as approved by
the $onsti t uti onal $ommi ssi on of /5FA on
the t"elft h day of *!tober, -inet een
hundr ed and eight y+ si., and a!!ordi ngl y
signed on the fifteent h day of *!tober,
-inet een hundr ed and eight y+ si. at the
Plenar y 1all, -ational Governme nt $ent er,
Gue)on $ity, by the $ommi ssi oner s "hose
signat ur es are hereunder affi.ed%
MEMBER' *F &1E $*-'&(&:&(*-AL
$*MM(''(*- =$*- $*M> W1($1 9RAF&E9
&1E /5F0 $*-'&(&:&(*- *F &1E
P1(L(PP(-E'

$e!ilia Muno) Pal ma
Presi dent

Ambrosi o B% Padilla
;i!e+ Presi dent

-apol eon G% Rama
Floor Leader

Ahmad 9omo!ao Alonto
Assist ant Floor Leader

4ose 9% $alderon
Assist ant Floor Leader

Husuf R% Abuba,ar
Feli!it as '% A#uino
Adolfo '% A)!una
&eodoro $% Ba!ani
4ose F% '% Beng)on, 4r%
Pon!i ano L% Bennagen
4oa#ui n G% Bernas
Florangel Rosari o Braid
$rispino M% de $astro
4ose $% $olay!o
Robert o R% $on!ep!i on
1ilario G% 9avide, 4r%
;i!ent e B% Fo)
Edmundo G% Gar!i a
4ose Luis Martin $% Gas!on
'erafin ;%$% Guingona
Albert o M% I% 4amir
4ose B% Laurel, 4r%
Eulogio R% Lerum
Regal ado E% Maambong
$hristi an '% Monsod
&eodul o $% -atividad
Ma% &eresa F% -ieva
4ose -% -olledo
Blas F% *ple
Minda Lu) M% Guesada
Floren) 9% Regal ado
Rusti!o F% de los Reyes, 4r%
$irilo A% Rigos
Fran!i s!o A% Rodrigo
Ri!ardo 4% Romul o
9e!oroso R% Rosal es
Rene ;% 'ar mi ent o
4ose E% 'uar e)
Loren)o M% 'umul ong
4aime '% L% &adeo
$hristi ne *% &an
Gregorio 4% &ingson
Efrain B% &renas
Lugum L% :,a
Wilfrido ;% ;illa!ort a
Bernar do M% ;illegas

Attest ed by 2

Flerida Ruth P% Romer o
'e!r et ar y+ Gener al

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