1. ) Section 19.

Except in cases of impeachment, or as otherwise provided in this

Constitution, the President may grant reprieves, commutations, and pardons, and remit
fines and forfeitures, after conviction by final judgment.

He shall also have the power to grant amnesty with the concurrence of a majority of all
the Members of the Congress.

First paragraph refers to the pardoning power of the President. As the Chief Executive of
the country, along with his power to execute laws comes his power to pardon, remit fines
and forfietures and grant reprieves. But take note, only those who are serving sentence
shall be given these privileges. That means, only those who receive final judgment of the
court. (i.e. Gloria Arroyo pardoned Erap)

Second paragraph refers to the power of the President to grant amnesties. But first, there
must be a distinction between amnesty and pardon. In pardon, only those who received
final judgment can be granted of such while in amnesty, even the persons are in trial or at
large, they can be granted of amnesty. In pardon, only individuals are the recipient of the
power while in amnesty, it is extended to a certain group of persons. In pardon, criminal
records are not extinguished while in amnesty all are wiped out. In pardon, it involves
criminal offense while in amnesty, it may be criminal and political offense. (i.e. The
political prisoners of NPA want amnesty and not pardon. Why? They are political
offenders)

Both can be associated with the power of the supreme authority to forgive those who are
wronged. Look for a bible verse focusing on forgiveness.

2. ) Section 20. The President may contract or guarantee foreign loans on behalf of the
Republic of the Philippines with the prior concurrence of the Monetary Board, and
subject to such limitations as may be provided by law. The Monetary Board shall, within
thirty days from the end of every quarter of the calendar year, submit to the Congress a
complete report of its decision on applications for loans to be contracted or guaranteed
by the Government or government-owned and controlled corporations which would have
the effect of increasing the foreign debt, and containing other matters as may be provided
by law.

Alam na are ng ate kristy, if a local government unit like Bauan can contract loan, how
much more is the Philippines? Where does the Philippine borrow? Of course, in the
World Bank or any other International Banks. We are aware that Philippines has existing
loan contract that is why may kasabihan na nasasinapupunan ka palang ng iyong ina, may
utang ka na.

The last part of this section is a sort of protective measure and the observance of checks
and balances principle in our Constitution. As you can read, there is a needed report to be
submitted to the Congress. The President thru the Monetary Board is required to submit
report to Congress, his co-equal branch in the government. This is one example of
Checks and Balances. This is expressly so called by the Constitution so as to prevent the
President of abusing his power to contract foreign debts which in turn to be passed to all
Filipinos.

This is called the Borrowing Power of the President.

Section 21. No treaty or international agreement shall be valid and effective unless
concurred in by at least two-thirds of all the Members of the Senate.

The President, being the Head of the State, is the face of the nation. In the global forum,
every country is a person, so Philippine is. And who represents the Philippines? Of course
the President. Corollary to his power to represent the nation, he has the power to enter
into a treaty or international agreement. What is treaty? It is an international agreement
between countries across the globe regarding matters they agreed upon. Example of
which is the Treaty is the United Nations Convention on the Laws of the Sea (UNCLOS),
which is very controversial nowadays due to the dispute between our neighboring
countries over the Scarborough Shoal.

The last phrase of this section is also an observance of Checks and Balances. How? The
President, when he entered into a treaty or international agreement, he must submit the
same to the Senate. The Senate may concur or decline the treaty the President entered
into. They may concur the same upon the vote of two thirds. That means, two thirds of 24
is _______________ (di ako magaling sa math) haha. If the Senate did not concure, the
treaty that the President has entered into, is not valid and ineffective.

This is called as the Diplomatic Power of the President.

Section 22. The President shall submit to the Congress, within thirty days from the
opening of every regular session as the basis of the general appropriations bill, a budget
of expenditures and sources of financing, including receipts from existing and proposed
revenue measures.

Alam na are ng ate kristy. Like in the local government unit, the Mayor thru its Municipal
Budget Officer will submit appropriation bill to the Sangguniang Bayan who in turn will
pass the bill into ordinance. In the national level, the President thru the National Budget,
will submit to the Congress within thirty days from opening of every regular session. In
turn, the Congress will use these reports in their budget preparation. Another observance
of Checks and Balances.

This is called as the Budgetary Power of the President.

Section 23. The President shall address the Congress at the opening of its regular
session. He may also appear before it at any other time.

Self explanatory. The President shall talk to the Congress at the opening of its regular
session. This is popularly called as the State of the Nation Address (SONA) of the
President. Of course, the President is also allowed to appear to the Congress any other
time.