THE 1987 CONSTITUTION OF and property, and promotion of the

THE REPUBLIC OF THE general welfare are essential for the

enjoyment by all the people of the
PHILIPPINES – ARTICLE II
blessings of democracy.
ARTICLE II
Section 6. The separation of Church and
DECLARATION OF PRINCIPLES AND State shall be inviolable.
STATE POLICIES
STATE POLICIES
PRINCIPLES
Section 7. The State shall pursue an
Section 1. The Philippines is a independent foreign policy. In its
democratic and republican State. relations with other states, the
Sovereignty resides in the people and all paramount consideration shall be
government authority emanates from national sovereignty, territorial integrity,
them. national interest, and the right to self-
determination.
Section 2. The Philippines renounces
war as an instrument of national policy, Section 8. The Philippines, consistent
adopts the generally accepted principles with the national interest, adopts and
of international law as part of the law of pursues a policy of freedom from
the land and adheres to the policy of nuclear weapons in its territory.
peace, equality, justice, freedom,
cooperation, and amity with all nations. Section 9. The State shall promote a just
and dynamic social order that will
Section 3. Civilian authority is, at all ensure the prosperity and independence
times, supreme over the military. The of the nation and free the people from
Armed Forces of the Philippines is the poverty through policies that provide
protector of the people and the State. Its adequate social services, promote full
goal is to secure the sovereignty of the employment, a rising standard of living,
State and the integrity of the national and an improved quality of life for all.
territory.
Section 10. The State shall promote
Section 4. The prime duty of the social justice in all phases of national
Government is to serve and protect the development.
people. The Government may call upon
the people to defend the State and, in Section 11. The State values the dignity
the fulfillment thereof, all citizens may be of every human person and guarantees
required, under conditions provided by full respect for human rights.
law, to render personal, military or civil
service. Section 12. The State recognizes the
sanctity of family life and shall protect
Section 5. The maintenance of peace and strengthen the family as a basic
and order, the protection of life, liberty, autonomous social institution. It shall
equally protect the life of the mother and
the life of the unborn from conception. economy effectively controlled by
The natural and primary right and duty Filipinos.
of parents in the rearing of the youth for
civic efficiency and the development of Section 20. The State recognizes the
moral character shall receive the indispensable role of the private sector,
support of the Government. encourages private enterprise, and
provides incentives to needed
Section 13. The State recognizes the investments.
vital role of the youth in nation-building
and shall promote and protect their Section 21. The State shall promote
physical, moral, spiritual, intellectual, comprehensive rural development and
and social well-being. It shall inculcate in agrarian reform.
the youth patriotism and nationalism,
and encourage their involvement in Section 22. The State recognizes and
public and civic affairs. promotes the rights of indigenous
cultural communities within the
Section 14. The State recognizes the framework of national unity and
role of women in nation-building, and development.
shall ensure the fundamental equality
before the law of women and men. Section 23. The State shall encourage
non-governmental, community-based, or
Section 15. The State shall protect and sectoral organizations that promote the
promote the right to health of the people welfare of the nation.
and instill health consciousness among
them. Section 24. The State recognizes the
vital role of communication and
Section 16. The State shall protect and information in nation-building.
advance the right of the people to a
balanced and healthful ecology in Section 25. The State shall ensure the
accord with the rhythm and harmony of autonomy of local governments.
nature.
Section 26. The State shall guarantee
Section 17. The State shall give priority equal access to opportunities for public
to education, science and technology, service, and prohibit political dynasties
arts, culture, and sports to foster as may be defined by law.
patriotism and nationalism, accelerate
social progress, and promote total Section 27. The State shall maintain
human liberation and development. honesty and integrity in the public
service and take positive and effective
Section 18. The State affirms labor as a measures against graft and corruption.
primary social economic force. It shall
protect the rights of workers and Section 28. Subject to reasonable
promote their welfare. conditions prescribed by law, the State
adopts and implements a policy of full
Section 19. The State shall develop a public disclosure of all its transactions
self-reliant and independent national involving public interest.
 and petition the government for redress
of grievances.

Section 5. No law shall be made

respecting an establishment of religion,
or prohibiting the free exercise thereof.
ARTICLE III
The free exercise and enjoyment of
religious profession and worship, without
BILL OF RIGHTS
discrimination or preference, shall
forever be allowed. No religious test
Section 1. No person shall be deprived
shall be required for the exercise of civil
of life, liberty, or property without due
or political rights.
process of law, nor shall any person be
denied the equal protection of the laws.
Section 6. The liberty of abode and of
changing the same within the limits
Section 2. The right of the people to be
prescribed by law shall not be impaired
secure in their persons, houses, papers,
except upon lawful order of the court.
and effects against unreasonable
Neither shall the right to travel be
searches and seizures of whatever
impaired except in the interest of
nature and for any purpose shall be
national security, public safety, or public
inviolable, and no search warrant or
health, as may be provided by law.
warrant of arrest shall issue except upon
probable cause to be determined
Section 7. The right of the people to
personally by the judge after
information on matters of public concern
examination under oath or affirmation of
shall be recognized. Access to official
the complainant and the witnesses he
records, and to documents and papers
may produce, and particularly describing
pertaining to official acts, transactions,
the place to be searched and the
or decisions, as well as to government
persons or things to be seized.
research data used as basis for policy
development, shall be afforded the
Section 3. (1) The privacy of
citizen, subject to such limitations as
communication and correspondence
may be provided by law.
shall be inviolable except upon lawful
order of the court, or when public safety
Section 8. The right of the people,
or order requires otherwise, as
including those employed in the public
prescribed by law.
and private sectors, to form unions,
associations, or societies for purposes
(2) Any evidence obtained in violation of
not contrary to law shall not be abridged.
this or the preceding section shall be
inadmissible for any purpose in any
Section 9. Private property shall not be
proceeding.
taken for public use without just
compensation.
Section 4. No law shall be passed
abridging the freedom of speech, of
Section 10. No law impairing the
expression, or of the press, or the right
obligation of contracts shall be passed.
of the people peaceably to assemble
Section 11. Free access to the courts Section 14. (1) No person shall be held
and quasi-judicial bodies and adequate to answer for a criminal offense without
legal assistance shall not be denied to due process of law.
any person by reason of poverty.
(2) In all criminal prosecutions, the
Section 12. (1) Any person under accused shall be presumed innocent
investigation for the commission of an until the contrary is proved, and shall
offense shall have the right to be enjoy the right to be heard by himself
informed of his right to remain silent and and counsel, to be informed of the
to have competent and independent nature and cause of the accusation
counsel preferably of his own choice. If against him, to have a speedy, impartial,
the person cannot afford the services of and public trial, to meet the witnesses
counsel, he must be provided with one. face to face, and to have compulsory
These rights cannot be waived except in process to secure the attendance of
writing and in the presence of counsel. witnesses and the production of
evidence in his behalf. However, after
(2) No torture, force, violence, threat, arraignment, trial may proceed
intimidation, or any other means which notwithstanding the absence of the
vitiate the free will shall be used against accused provided that he has been duly
him. Secret detention places, solitary, notified and his failure to appear is
incommunicado, or other similar forms unjustifiable.
of detention are prohibited.
Section 15. The privilege of the writ of
(3) Any confession or admission habeas corpus shall not be suspended
obtained in violation of this or Section 17 except in cases of invasion or rebellion
hereof shall be inadmissible in evidence when the public safety requires it.
against him.
Section 16. All persons shall have the
(4) The law shall provide for penal and right to a speedy disposition of their
civil sanctions for violations of this cases before all judicial, quasi-judicial,
section as well as compensation to and or administrative bodies.
rehabilitation of victims of torture or
similar practices, and their families. Section 17. No person shall be
compelled to be a witness against
Section 13. All persons, except those himself.
charged with offenses punishable by
reclusion perpetua when evidence of Section 18. (1) No person shall be
guilt is strong, shall, before conviction, detained solely by reason of his political
be bailable by sufficient sureties, or be beliefs and aspirations.
released on recognizance as may be
provided by law. The right to bail shall (2) No involuntary servitude in any form
not be impaired even when the privilege shall exist except as a punishment for a
of the writ of habeas corpus is crime whereof the party shall have been
suspended. Excessive bail shall not be duly convicted.
required.
Section 19. (1) Excessive fines shall not [3] Those born before January 17, 1973,
be imposed, nor cruel, degrading or of Filipino mothers, who elect Philippine
inhuman punishment inflicted. Neither citizenship upon reaching the age of
shall the death penalty be imposed, majority; and
unless, for compelling reasons involving
heinous crimes, the Congress hereafter [4] Those who are naturalized in
provides for it. Any death penalty accordance with law.
already imposed shall be reduced to
reclusion perpetua. Section 2. Natural-born citizens are
those who are citizens of the Philippines
(2) The employment of physical, from birth without having to perform any
psychological, or degrading punishment act to acquire or perfect their Philippine
against any prisoner or detainee or the citizenship. Those who elect Philippine
use of substandard or inadequate penal citizenship in accordance with
facilities under subhuman conditions paragraph (3), Section 1 hereof shall be
shall be dealt with by law. deemed natural-born citizens.

Section 20. No person shall be Section 3. Philippine citizenship may be

imprisoned for debt or non-payment of a lost or reacquired in the manner
poll tax. provided by law.

Section 21. No person shall be twice put Section 4. Citizens of the Philippines
in jeopardy of punishment for the same who marry aliens shall retain their
offense. If an act is punished by a law citizenship, unless by their act or
and an ordinance, conviction or acquittal omission, they are deemed, under the
under either shall constitute a bar to law, to have renounced it.
another prosecution for the same act.
Section 5. Dual allegiance of citizens is
Section 22. No ex post facto law or bill inimical to the national interest and shall
of attainder shall be enacted. be dealt with by law.

ARTICLE IV RTICLE V

CITIZENSHIP SUFFRAGE

Section 1. The following are citizens of Section 1. Suffrage may be exercised by

the Philippines: all citizens of the Philippines not
otherwise disqualified by law, who are at
[1] Those who are citizens of the least eighteen years of age, and who
Philippines at the time of the adoption of shall have resided in the Philippines for
this Constitution; at least one year, and in the place
wherein they propose to vote, for at
[2] Those whose fathers or mothers are least six months immediately preceding
citizens of the Philippines; the election. No literacy, property, or
other substantive requirement shall be
imposed on the exercise of suffrage.
Section 2. The Congress shall provide a June next following their election. No
system for securing the secrecy and Senator shall serve for more than two
sanctity of the ballot as well as a system consecutive terms. Voluntary
for absentee voting by qualified Filipinos renunciation of the office for any length
abroad. of time shall not be considered as an
interruption in the continuity of his
The Congress shall also design a service for the full term of which he was
procedure for the disabled and the elected.
illiterates to vote without the assistance
of other persons. Until then, they shall Section 5. (1) The House of
be allowed to vote under existing laws Representatives shall be composed of
and such rules as the Commission on not more than two hundred and fifty
Elections may promulgate to protect the members, unless otherwise fixed by law,
secrecy of the ballot. who shall be elected from legislative
districts apportioned among the
ARTICLE VI provinces, cities, and the Metropolitan
Manila area in accordance with the
THE LEGISLATIVE DEPARTMENT number of their respective inhabitants,
and on the basis of a uniform and
Section 1. The legislative power shall be progressive ratio, and those who, as
vested in the Congress of the provided by law, shall be elected
Philippines which shall consist of a through a party-list system of registered
Senate and a House of Representatives, national, regional, and sectoral parties
except to the extent reserved to the or organizations.
people by the provision on initiative and
referendum. (2) The party-list representatives shall
constitute twenty per centum of the total
Section 2. The Senate shall be number of representatives including
composed of twenty-four Senators who those under the party list. For three
shall be elected at large by the qualified consecutive terms after the ratification of
voters of the Philippines, as may be this Constitution, one-half of the seats
provided by law. allocated to party-list representatives
shall be filled, as provided by law, by
Section 3. No person shall be a Senator selection or election from the labor,
unless he is a natural-born citizen of the peasant, urban poor, indigenous cultural
Philippines and, on the day of the communities, women, youth, and such
election, is at least thirty-five years of other sectors as may be provided by
age, able to read and write, a registered law, except the religious sector.
voter, and a resident of the Philippines
for not less than two years immediately (3) Each legislative district shall
preceding the day of the election. comprise, as far as practicable,
contiguous, compact, and adjacent
Section 4. The term of office of the territory. Each city with a population of at
Senators shall be six years and shall least two hundred fifty thousand, or each
commence, unless otherwise provided province, shall have at least one
by law, at noon on the thirtieth day of representative.
(4) Within three years following the Representatives thus elected shall serve
return of every census, the Congress only for the unexpired term.
shall make a reapportionment of
legislative districts based on the Section 10. The salaries of Senators
standards provided in this section. and Members of the House of
Representatives shall be determined by
Section 6. No person shall be a Member law. No increase in said compensation
of the House of Representatives unless shall take effect until after the expiration
he is a natural-born citizen of the of the full term of all the Members of the
Philippines and, on the day of the Senate and the House of
election, is at least twenty-five years of Representatives approving such
age, able to read and write, and, except increase.
the party-list representatives, a
registered voter in the district in which Section 11. A Senator or Member of the
he shall be elected, and a resident House of Representatives shall, in all
thereof for a period of not less than one offenses punishable by not more than
year immediately preceding the day of six years imprisonment, be privileged
the election. from arrest while the Congress is in
session. No Member shall be
Section 7. The Members of the House of questioned nor be held liable in any
Representatives shall be elected for a other place for any speech or debate in
term of three years which shall begin, the Congress or in any committee
unless otherwise provided by law, at thereof.
noon on the thirtieth day of June next
following their election. No Member of Section 12. All Members of the Senate
the House of Representatives shall and the House of Representatives shall,
serve for more than three consecutive upon assumption of office, make a full
terms. Voluntary renunciation of the disclosure of their financial and business
office for any length of time shall not be interests. They shall notify the House
considered as an interruption in the concerned of a potential conflict of
continuity of his service for the full term interest that may arise from the filing of
for which he was elected. a proposed legislation of which they are
authors.
Section 8. Unless otherwise provided by
law, the regular election of the Senators Section 13. No Senator or Member of
and the Members of the House of the House of Representatives may hold
Representatives shall be held on the any other office or employment in the
second Monday of May. Government, or any subdivision,
agency, or instrumentality thereof,
Section 9. In case of vacancy in the including government-owned or
Senate or in the House of controlled corporations or their
Representatives, a special election may subsidiaries, during his term without
be called to fill such vacancy in the forfeiting his seat. Neither shall he be
manner prescribed by law, but the appointed to any office which may have
Senator or Member of the House of been created or the emoluments thereof
increased during the term for which he to day and may compel the attendance
was elected. of absent Members in such manner, and
under such penalties, as such House
Section 14. No Senator or Member of may provide.
the House of Representatives may
personally appear as counsel before any (3) Each House may determine the rules
court of justice or before the Electoral of its proceedings, punish its Members
Tribunals, or quasi-judicial and other for disorderly behavior, and, with the
administrative bodies. Neither shall he, concurrence of two-thirds of all its
directly or indirectly, be interested Members, suspend or expel a Member.
financially in any contract with, or in any A penalty of suspension, when imposed,
franchise or special privilege granted by shall not exceed sixty days.
the Government, or any subdivision,
agency, or instrumentality thereof, (4) Each House shall keep a Journal of
including any government-owned or its proceedings, and from time to time
controlled corporation, or its subsidiary, publish the same, excepting such parts
during his term of office. He shall not as may, in its judgment, affect national
intervene in any matter before any office security; and the yeas and nays on any
of the Government for his pecuniary question shall, at the request of one-fifth
benefit or where he may be called upon of the Members present, be entered in
to act on account of his office. the Journal.

Section 15. The Congress shall convene Each House shall also keep a Record of
once every year on the fourth Monday of its proceedings.
July for its regular session, unless a
different date is fixed by law, and shall (5) Neither House during the sessions of
continue to be in session for such the Congress shall, without the consent
number of days as it may determine until of the other, adjourn for more than three
thirty days before the opening of its next days, nor to any other place than that in
regular session, exclusive of Saturdays, which the two Houses shall be sitting.
Sundays, and legal holidays. The
President may call a special session at SECTION 17. The Senate and the
any time. House of Representatives shall each
have an Electoral Tribunal, which shall
SECTION 16. (1) The Senate shall elect be the sole judge of all contests relating
its President and the House of to the election, returns, and
Representatives its Speaker, by a qualifications of their respective
majority vote of all its respective Members. Each Electoral Tribunal shall
Members. be composed of nine Members, three of
whom shall be Justices of the Supreme
Each House shall choose such other Court to be designated by the Chief
officers as it may deem necessary. Justice, and the remaining six shall be
Members of the Senate or the House of
(2) A majority of each House shall Representatives, as the case may be,
constitute a quorum to do business, but who shall be chosen on the basis of
a smaller number may adjourn from day proportional representation from the
political parties and the parties or itemized list of amounts paid to and
organizations registered under the party- expenses incurred for each Member.
list system represented therein. The
senior Justice in the Electoral Tribunal SECTION 21. The Senate or the House
shall be its Chairman. of Representatives or any of its
respective committees may conduct
SECTION 18. There shall be a inquiries in aid of legislation in
Commission on Appointments consisting accordance with its duly published rules
of the President of the Senate, as ex of procedure. The rights of persons
officio Chairman, twelve Senators and appearing in or affected by such
twelve Members of the House of inquiries shall be respected.
Representatives, elected by each House
on the basis of proportional SECTION 22. The heads of
representation from the political parties departments may upon their own
and parties or organizations registered initiative, with the consent of the
under the party-list system represented President, or upon the request of either
therein. The Chairman of the House, as the rules of each House shall
Commission shall not vote, except in provide, appear before and be heard by
case of a tie. The Commission shall act such House on any matter pertaining to
on all appointments submitted to it within their departments. Written questions
thirty session days of the Congress from shall be submitted to the President of
their submission. The Commission shall the Senate or the Speaker of the House
rule by a majority vote of all the of Representatives at least three days
Members. before their scheduled appearance.
Interpellations shall not be limited to
SECTION 19. The Electoral Tribunals written questions, but may cover matters
and the Commission on Appointments related thereto. When the security of the
shall be constituted within thirty days State or the public interest so requires
after the Senate and the House of and the President so states in writing,
Representatives shall have been the appearance shall be conducted in
organized with the election of the executive session.
President and the Speaker. The
Commission on Appointments shall SECTION 23. (1) The Congress, by a
meet only while the Congress is in vote of two-thirds of both Houses in joint
session, at the call of its Chairman or a session assembled, voting separately,
majority of all its Members, to discharge shall have the sole power to declare the
such powers and functions as are herein existence of a state of war.
conferred upon it.
(2) In times of war or other national
SECTION 20. The records and books of emergency, the Congress may, by law,
accounts of the Congress shall be authorize the President, for a limited
preserved and be open to the public in period and subject to such restrictions
accordance with law, and such books as it may prescribe, to exercise powers
shall be audited by the Commission on necessary and proper to carry out a
Audit which shall publish annually an declared national policy. Unless sooner
withdrawn by resolution of the
Congress, such powers shall cease Supreme Court, and the heads of
upon the next adjournment thereof. Constitutional Commissions may, by
law, be authorized to augment any item
SECTION 24. All appropriation, revenue in the general appropriations law for
or tariff bills, bills authorizing increase of their respective offices from savings in
the public debt, bills of local application, other items of their respective
and private bills shall originate appropriations.
exclusively in the House of
Representatives, but the Senate may (6) Discretionary funds appropriated for
propose or concur with amendments. particular officials shall be disbursed
only for public purposes to be supported
SECTION 25. (1) The Congress may not by appropriate vouchers and subject to
increase the appropriations such guidelines as may be prescribed
recommended by the President for the by law.
operation of the Government as
specified in the budget. The form, (7) If, by the end of any fiscal year, the
content, and manner of preparation of Congress shall have failed to pass the
the budget shall be prescribed by law. general appropriations bill for the
ensuing fiscal year, the general
(2) No provision or enactment shall be appropriations law for the preceding
embraced in the general appropriations fiscal year shall be deemed reenacted
bill unless it relates specifically to some and shall remain in force and effect until
particular appropriation therein. Any the general appropriations bill is passed
such provision or enactment shall be by the Congress.
limited in its operation to the
appropriation to which it relates. SECTION 26. (1) Every bill passed by
the Congress shall embrace only one
(3) The procedure in approving subject which shall be expressed in the
appropriations for the Congress shall title thereof.
strictly follow the procedure for
approving appropriations for other (2) No bill passed by either House shall
departments and agencies. become a law unless it has passed
three readings on separate days, and
(4) A special appropriations bill shall printed copies thereof in its final form
specify the purpose for which it is have been distributed to its Members
intended, and shall be supported by three days before its passage, except
funds actually available as certified by when the President certifies to the
the National Treasurer, or to be raised necessity of its immediate enactment to
by a corresponding revenue proposed meet a public calamity or emergency.
therein. Upon the last reading of a bill, no
amendment thereto shall be allowed,
(5) No law shall be passed authorizing and the vote thereon shall be taken
any transfer of appropriations; however, immediately thereafter, and the yeas
the President, the President of the and nays entered in the Journal.
Senate, the Speaker of the House of
Representatives, the Chief Justice of the
SECTION 27. (1) Every bill passed by national development program of the
the Congress shall, before it becomes a Government.
law, be presented to the President. If he
approves the same, he shall sign it; (3) Charitable institutions, churches and
otherwise, he shall veto it and return the parsonages or convents appurtenant
same with his objections to the House thereto, mosques, non-profit cemeteries,
where it originated, which shall enter the and all lands, buildings, and
objections at large in its Journal and improvements, actually, directly, and
proceed to reconsider it. If, after such exclusively used for religious, charitable,
reconsideration, two-thirds of all the or educational purposes shall be exempt
Members of such House shall agree to from taxation.
pass the bill, it shall be sent, together
with the objections, to the other House (4) No law granting any tax exemption
by which it shall likewise be shall be passed without the concurrence
reconsidered, and if approved by two- of a majority of all the Members of the
thirds of all the Members of that House, Congress.
it shall become a law. In all such cases,
the votes of each House shall be SECTION 29. (1) No money shall be
determined by yeas or nays, and the paid out of the Treasury except in
names of the Members voting for or pursuance of an appropriation made by
against shall be entered in its Journal. law.
The President shall communicate his
veto of any bill to the House where it (2) No public money or property shall be
originated within thirty days after the appropriated, applied, paid, or
date of receipt thereof; otherwise, it shall employed, directly or indirectly, for the
become a law as if he had signed it. use, benefit, or support of any sect,
church, denomination, sectarian
(2) The President shall have the power institution, or system of religion, or of
to veto any particular item or items in an any priest, preacher, minister, or other
appropriation, revenue, or tariff bill, but religious teacher, or dignitary as such,
the veto shall not affect the item or items except when such priest, preacher,
to which he does not object. minister, or dignitary is assigned to the
armed forces, or to any penal institution,
SECTION 28. (1) The rule of taxation or government orphanage or
shall be uniform and equitable. The leprosarium.
Congress shall evolve a progressive
system of taxation. (3) All money collected on any tax levied
for a special purpose shall be treated as
(2) The Congress may, by law, authorize a special fund and paid out for such
the President to fix within specified purpose only. If the purpose for which a
limits, and subject to such limitations special fund was created has been
and restrictions as it may impose, tariff fulfilled or abandoned, the balance, if
rates, import and export quotas, tonnage any, shall be transferred to the general
and wharfage dues, and other duties or funds of the Government.
imposts within the framework of the
SECTION 30. No law shall be passed from office in the same manner as the
increasing the appellate jurisdiction of President.
the Supreme Court as provided in this
Constitution without its advice and The Vice-President may be appointed
concurrence. as a Member of the Cabinet. Such
appointment requires no confirmation.
SECTION 31. No law granting a title of
royalty or nobility shall be enacted. Section 4. The President and the Vice-
President shall be elected by direct vote
SECTION 32. The Congress shall, as of the people for a term of six years
early as possible, provide for a system which shall begin at noon on the thirtieth
of initiative and referendum, and the day of June next following the day of the
exceptions therefrom, whereby the election and shall end at noon of the
people can directly propose and enact same date, six years thereafter. The
laws or approve or reject any act or law President shall not be eligible for any re-
or part thereof passed by the Congress election. No person who has succeeded
or local legislative body after the as President and has served as such for
registration of a petition therefor signed more than four years shall be qualified
by at least ten per centum of the total for election to the same office at any
number of registered voters, of which time.
every legislative district must be
represented by at least three per centum No Vice-President shall serve for more
of the registered voters thereof. than two successive terms. Voluntary
renunciation of the office for any length
ARTICLE VII of time shall not be considered as an
interruption in the continuity of the
EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT service for the full term for which he was
elected.
Section 1. The executive power shall be
vested in the President of the Unless otherwise provided by law, the
Philippines. regular election for President and Vice-
President shall be held on the second
Section 2. No person may be elected Monday of May.
President unless he is a natural-born
citizen of the Philippines, a registered The returns of every election for
voter, able to read and write, at least President and Vice-President, duly
forty years of age on the day of the certified by the board of canvassers of
election, and a resident of the each province or city, shall be
Philippines for at least ten years transmitted to the Congress, directed to
immediately preceding such election. the President of the Senate. Upon
receipt of the certificates of canvass, the
Section 3. There shall be a Vice- President of the Senate shall, not later
President who shall have the same than thirty days after the day of the
qualifications and term of office and be election, open all the certificates in the
elected with, and in the same manner, presence of the Senate and the House
as the President. He may be removed of Representatives in joint public
session, and the Congress, upon increase in said compensation shall take
determination of the authenticity and effect until after the expiration of the
due execution thereof in the manner term of the incumbent during which such
provided by law, canvass the votes. increase was approved. They shall not
receive during their tenure any other
The person having the highest number emolument from the Government or any
of votes shall be proclaimed elected, but other source.
in case two or more shall have an equal
and highest number of votes, one of Section 7. The President-elect and the
them shall forthwith be chosen by the Vice President-elect shall assume office
vote of a majority of all the Members of at the beginning of their terms.
both Houses of the Congress, voting
separately. If the President-elect fails to qualify, the
Vice President-elect shall act as
The Congress shall promulgate its rules President until the President-elect shall
for the canvassing of the certificates. have qualified.

The Supreme Court, sitting en banc, If a President shall not have been
shall be the sole judge of all contests chosen, the Vice President-elect shall
relating to the election, returns, and act as President until a President shall
qualifications of the President or Vice- have been chosen and qualified.
President, and may promulgate its rules
for the purpose. If at the beginning of the term of the
President, the President-elect shall have
Section 5. Before they enter on the died or shall have become permanently
execution of their office, the President, disabled, the Vice President-elect shall
the Vice-President, or the Acting become President.
President shall take the following oath or
affirmation: Where no President and Vice-President
shall have been chosen or shall have
“I do solemnly swear [or affirm] that I will qualified, or where both shall have died
faithfully and conscientiously fulfill my or become permanently disabled, the
duties as President [or Vice-President or President of the Senate or, in case of his
Acting President] of the Philippines, inability, the Speaker of the House of
preserve and defend its Constitution, Representatives, shall act as President
execute its laws, do justice to every until a President or a Vice-President
man, and consecrate myself to the shall have been chosen and qualified.
service of the Nation. So help me
God.” [In case of affirmation, last The Congress shall, by law, provide for
sentence will be omitted]. the manner in which one who is to act
as President shall be selected until a
Section 6. The President shall have an President or a Vice-President shall have
official residence. The salaries of the qualified, in case of death, permanent
President and Vice-President shall be disability, or inability of the officials
determined by law and shall not be mentioned in the next preceding
decreased during their tenure. No paragraph.
Section 8. In case of death, permanent from the time of such call. The bill calling
disability, removal from office, or such special election shall be deemed
resignation of the President, the Vice- certified under paragraph 2, Section 26,
President shall become the President to Article VI of this Constitution and shall
serve the unexpired term. In case of become law upon its approval on third
death, permanent disability, removal reading by the Congress. Appropriations
from office, or resignation of both the for the special election shall be charged
President and Vice-President, the against any current appropriations and
President of the Senate or, in case of his shall be exempt from the requirements
inability, the Speaker of the House of of paragraph 4, Section 25, Article VI of
Representatives, shall then act as this Constitution. The convening of the
President until the President or Vice- Congress cannot be suspended nor the
President shall have been elected and special election postponed. No special
qualified. election shall be called if the vacancy
occurs within eighteen months before
The Congress shall, by law, provide who the date of the next presidential election.
shall serve as President in case of
death, permanent disability, or Section 11. Whenever the President
resignation of the Acting President. He transmits to the President of the Senate
shall serve until the President or the and the Speaker of the House of
Vice-President shall have been elected Representatives his written declaration
and qualified, and be subject to the that he is unable to discharge the
same restrictions of powers and powers and duties of his office, and until
disqualifications as the Acting President. he transmits to them a written
declaration to the contrary, such powers
Section 9. Whenever there is a vacancy and duties shall be discharged by the
in the Office of the Vice-President during Vice-President as Acting President.
the term for which he was elected, the
President shall nominate a Vice- Whenever a majority of all the Members
President from among the Members of of the Cabinet transmit to the President
the Senate and the House of of the Senate and to the Speaker of the
Representatives who shall assume House of Representatives their written
office upon confirmation by a majority declaration that the President is unable
vote of all the Members of both Houses to discharge the powers and duties of
of the Congress, voting separately. his office, the Vice-President shall
immediately assume the powers and
Section 10. The Congress shall, at ten duties of the office as Acting President.
o’clock in the morning of the third day
after the vacancy in the offices of the Thereafter, when the President
President and Vice-President occurs, transmits to the President of the Senate
convene in accordance with its rules and to the Speaker of the House of
without need of a call and within seven Representatives his written declaration
days, enact a law calling for a special that no inability exists, he shall
election to elect a President and a Vice- reassume the powers and duties of his
President to be held not earlier than office. Meanwhile, should a majority of
forty-five days nor later than sixty days all the Members of the Cabinet transmit
within five days to the President of the instrumentality thereof, including
Senate and to the Speaker of the House government-owned or controlled
of Representatives, their written corporations or their subsidiaries. They
declaration that the President is unable shall strictly avoid conflict of interest in
to discharge the powers and duties of the conduct of their office.
his office, the Congress shall decide the
issue. For that purpose, the Congress The spouse and relatives by
shall convene, if it is not in session, consanguinity or affinity within the fourth
within forty-eight hours, in accordance civil degree of the President shall not,
with its rules and without need of call. during his tenure, be appointed as
Members of the Constitutional
If the Congress, within ten days after Commissions, or the Office of the
receipt of the last written declaration, or, Ombudsman, or as Secretaries,
if not in session, within twelve days after Undersecretaries, chairmen or heads of
it is required to assemble, determines by bureaus or offices, including
a two-thirds vote of both Houses, voting government-owned or controlled
separately, that the President is unable corporations and their subsidiaries.
to discharge the powers and duties of
his office, the Vice-President shall act as Section 14. Appointments extended by
President; otherwise, the President shall an Acting President shall remain
continue exercising the powers and effective, unless revoked by the elected
duties of his office. President, within ninety days from his
assumption or reassumption of office.
Section 12. In case of serious illness of
the President, the public shall be Section 15. Two months immediately
informed of the state of his health. The before the next presidential elections
members of the Cabinet in charge of and up to the end of his term, a
national security and foreign relations President or Acting President shall not
and the Chief of Staff of the Armed make appointments, except temporary
Forces of the Philippines, shall not be appointments to executive positions
denied access to the President during when continued vacancies therein will
such illness. prejudice public service or endanger
public safety.
Section 13. The President, Vice-
President, the Members of the Cabinet, Section 16. The President shall
and their deputies or assistants shall nominate and, with the consent of the
not, unless otherwise provided in this Commission on Appointments, appoint
Constitution, hold any other office or the heads of the executive departments,
employment during their tenure. They ambassadors, other public ministers and
shall not, during said tenure, directly or consuls, or officers of the armed forces
indirectly, practice any other profession, from the rank of colonel or naval
participate in any business, or be captain, and other officers whose
financially interested in any contract appointments are vested in him in this
with, or in any franchise, or special Constitution. He shall also appoint all
privilege granted by the Government or other officers of the Government whose
any subdivision, agency, or appointments are not otherwise
provided for by law, and those whom he President, the Congress may, in the
may be authorized by law to appoint. same manner, extend such
The Congress may, by law, vest the proclamation or suspension for a period
appointment of other officers lower in to be determined by the Congress, if the
rank in the President alone, in the invasion or rebellion shall persist and
courts, or in the heads of departments, public safety requires it.
agencies, commissions, or boards.
The Congress, if not in session, shall,
The President shall have the power to within twenty-four hours following such
make appointments during the recess of proclamation or suspension, convene in
the Congress, whether voluntary or accordance with its rules without need of
compulsory, but such appointments a call.
shall be effective only until disapproved
by the Commission on Appointments or The Supreme Court may review, in an
until the next adjournment of the appropriate proceeding filed by any
Congress. citizen, the sufficiency of the factual
basis of the proclamation of martial law
Section 17. The President shall have or the suspension of the privilege of the
control of all the executive departments, writ of habeas corpus or the extension
bureaus, and offices. He shall ensure thereof, and must promulgate its
that the laws be faithfully executed. decision thereon within thirty days from
its filing.
Section 18. The President shall be the
Commander-in-Chief of all armed forces A state of martial law does not suspend
of the Philippines and whenever it the operation of the Constitution, nor
becomes necessary, he may call out supplant the functioning of the civil
such armed forces to prevent or courts or legislative assemblies, nor
suppress lawless violence, invasion or authorize the conferment of jurisdiction
rebellion. In case of invasion or on military courts and agencies over
rebellion, when the public safety civilians where civil courts are able to
requires it, he may, for a period not function, nor automatically suspend the
exceeding sixty days, suspend the privilege of the writ of habeas corpus.
privilege of the writ of habeas corpus or
place the Philippines or any part thereof The suspension of the privilege of the
under martial law. Within forty-eight writ of habeas corpus shall apply only to
hours from the proclamation of martial persons judicially charged for rebellion
law or the suspension of the privilege of or offenses inherent in, or directly
the writ of habeas corpus, the President connected with, invasion.
shall submit a report in person or in
writing to the Congress. The Congress, During the suspension of the privilege of
voting jointly, by a vote of at least a the writ of habeas corpus, any person
majority of all its Members in regular or thus arrested or detained shall be
special session, may revoke such judicially charged within three days,
proclamation or suspension, which otherwise he shall be released.
revocation shall not be set aside by the
President. Upon the initiative of the
Section 19. Except in cases of regular session. He may also appear
impeachment, or as otherwise provided before it at any other time.
in this Constitution, the President may
grant reprieves, commutations, and ARTICLE VIII
pardons, and remit fines and forfeitures,
after conviction by final judgment. JUDICIAL DEPARTMENT

He shall also have the power to grant Section 1. The judicial power shall be
amnesty with the concurrence of a vested in one Supreme Court and in
majority of all the Members of the such lower courts as may be established
Congress. by law.

Section 20. The President may contract Judicial power includes the duty of the
or guarantee foreign loans on behalf of courts of justice to settle actual
the Republic of the Philippines with the controversies involving rights which are
prior concurrence of the Monetary legally demandable and enforceable,
Board, and subject to such limitations as and to determine whether or not there
may be provided by law. The Monetary has been a grave abuse of discretion
Board shall, within thirty days from the amounting to lack or excess of
end of every quarter of the calendar jurisdiction on the part of any branch or
year, submit to the Congress a complete instrumentality of the Government.
report of its decision on applications for
loans to be contracted or guaranteed by Section 2. The Congress shall have the
the Government or government-owned power to define, prescribe, and
and controlled corporations which would apportion the jurisdiction of the various
have the effect of increasing the foreign courts but may not deprive the Supreme
debt, and containing other matters as Court of its jurisdiction over cases
may be provided by law. enumerated in Section 5 hereof.

Section 21. No treaty or international No law shall be passed reorganizing the

agreement shall be valid and effective Judiciary when it undermines the
unless concurred in by at least two- security of tenure of its Members.
thirds of all the Members of the Senate.
Section 3. The Judiciary shall enjoy
Section 22. The President shall submit fiscal autonomy. Appropriations for the
to the Congress, within thirty days from Judiciary may not be reduced by the
the opening of every regular session as legislature below the amount
the basis of the general appropriations appropriated for the previous year and,
bill, a budget of expenditures and after approval, shall be automatically
sources of financing, including receipts and regularly released.
from existing and proposed revenue
measures. Section 4. (1) The Supreme Court shall
be composed of a Chief Justice and
Section 23. The President shall address fourteen Associate Justices. It may
the Congress at the opening of its sit en banc or in its discretion, in division
of three, five, or seven Members. Any
vacancy shall be filled within ninety days (2) Review, revise, reverse, modify, or
from the occurrence thereof. affirm on appeal or certiorari, as the law
or the Rules of Court may provide, final
(2) All cases involving the judgments and orders of lower courts in:
constitutionality of a treaty, international
or executive agreement, or law, which (a) All cases in which the
shall be heard by the Supreme Court en constitutionality or validity of any treaty,
banc, and all other cases which under international or executive agreement,
the Rules of Court are required to be law, presidential decree, proclamation,
heard en banc, including those involving order, instruction, ordinance, or
the constitutionality, application, or regulation is in question.
operation of presidential decrees,
proclamations, orders, instructions, (b) All cases involving the legality of any
ordinances, and other regulations, shall tax, impost, assessment, or toll, or any
be decided with the concurrence of a penalty imposed in relation thereto.
majority of the Members who actually
took part in the deliberations on the (c) All cases in which the jurisdiction of
issues in the case and voted thereon. any lower court is in issue.

(3) Cases or matters heard by a division (d) All criminal cases in which the
shall be decided or resolved with the penalty imposed is reclusion perpetua or
concurrence of a majority of the higher.
Members who actually took part in the
deliberations on the issues in the case (e) All cases in which only an error or
and voted thereon, and in no case question of law is involved.
without the concurrence of at least three
of such Members. When the required (3) Assign temporarily judges of lower
number is not obtained, the case shall courts to other stations as public interest
be decided en banc: Provided, that no may require. Such temporary
doctrine or principle of law laid down by assignment shall not exceed six months
the court in a decision rendered en without the consent of the judge
banc or in division may be modified or concerned.
reversed except by the court sitting en
banc. (4) Order a change of venue or place of
trial to avoid a miscarriage of justice.
Section 5. The Supreme Court shall
have the following powers: (5) Promulgate rules concerning the
protection and enforcement of
(1) Exercise original jurisdiction over constitutional rights, pleading, practice,
cases affecting ambassadors, other and procedure in all courts, the
public ministers and consuls, and over admission to the practice of law, the
petitions for certiorari, integrated bar, and legal assistance to
prohibition, mandamus, quo warranto, the underprivileged. Such rules shall
and habeas corpus. provide a simplified and inexpensive
procedure for the speedy disposition of
cases, shall be uniform for all courts of
the same grade, and shall not diminish, and a representative of the private
increase, or modify substantive rights. sector.
Rules of procedure of special courts and
quasi-judicial bodies shall remain (2) The regular members of the Council
effective unless disapproved by the shall be appointed by the President for a
Supreme Court. term of four years with the consent of
the Commission on Appointments. Of
 (6) Appoint all officials and employees the Members first appointed, the
of the Judiciary in accordance with the representative of the Integrated Bar
Civil Service Law. shall serve for four years, the professor
of law for three years, the retired Justice
Section 6. The Supreme Court shall for two years, and the representative of
have administrative supervision over all the private sector for one year.
courts and the personnel thereof.
(3) The Clerk of the Supreme Court shall
Section 7. (1) No person shall be be the Secretary ex officio of the Council
appointed Member of the Supreme and shall keep a record of its
Court or any lower collegiate court proceedings.
unless he is a natural-born citizen of the
Philippines. A Member of the Supreme (4) The regular Members of the Council
Court must be at least forty years of shall receive such emoluments as may
age, and must have been for fifteen be determined by the Supreme Court.
years or more, a judge of a lower court The Supreme Court shall provide in its
or engaged in the practice of law in the annual budget the appropriations for the
Philippines. Council.

(2) The Congress shall prescribe the (5) The Council shall have the principal
qualifications of judges of lower courts, function of recommending appointees to
but no person may be appointed judge the Judiciary. It may exercise such other
thereof unless he is a citizen of the functions and duties as the Supreme
Philippines and a member of the Court may assign to it.
Philippine Bar.
Section 9. The Members of the Supreme
(3) A Member of the Judiciary must be a Court and judges of the lower courts
person of proven competence, integrity, shall be appointed by the President from
probity, and independence. a list of at least three nominees
prepared by the Judicial and Bar Council
Section 8. (1) A Judicial and Bar Council for every vacancy. Such appointments
is hereby created under the supervision need no confirmation.
of the Supreme Court composed of the
Chief Justice as ex officio Chairman, the For the lower courts, the President shall
Secretary of Justice, and a issue the appointments within ninety
representative of the Congress as ex days from the submission of the list.
officio Members, a representative of the
Integrated Bar, a professor of law, a Section 10. The salary of the Chief
retired Member of the Supreme Court, Justice and of the Associate Justices of
the Supreme Court, and of judges of the facts and the law on which it is
lower courts, shall be fixed by law. based.
During their continuance in office, their
salary shall not be decreased. No petition for review or motion for
reconsideration of a decision of the court
Section 11. The Members of the shall be refused due course or denied
Supreme Court and judges of lower without stating the legal basis therefor.
courts shall hold office during good
behavior until they reach the age of Section 15. (1) All cases or matters filed
seventy years or become incapacitated after the effectivity of this Constitution
to discharge the duties of their office. must be decided or resolved within
The Supreme Court en banc shall have twenty-four months from date of
the power to discipline judges of lower submission for the Supreme Court, and,
courts, or order their dismissal by a vote unless reduced by the Supreme Court,
of a majority of the Members who twelve months for all lower collegiate
actually took part in the deliberations on courts, and three months for all other
the issues in the case and voted lower courts.
thereon.
(2) A case or matter shall be deemed
Section 12. The Members of the submitted for decision or resolution upon
Supreme Court and of other courts the filing of the last pleading, brief, or
established by law shall not be memorandum required by the Rules of
designated to any agency performing Court or by the court itself.
quasi-judicial or administrative functions.
(3) Upon the expiration of the
Section 13. The conclusions of the corresponding period, a certification to
Supreme Court in any case submitted to this effect signed by the Chief Justice or
it for decision en banc or in division shall the presiding judge shall forthwith be
be reached in consultation before the issued and a copy thereof attached to
case is assigned to a Member for the the record of the case or matter, and
writing of the opinion of the Court. A served upon the parties. The
certification to this effect signed by the certification shall state why a decision or
Chief Justice shall be issued and a copy resolution has not been rendered or
thereof attached to the record of the issued within said period.
case and served upon the parties. Any
Member who took no part, or dissented, (4) Despite the expiration of the
or abstained from a decision or applicable mandatory period, the court,
resolution, must state the reason without prejudice to such responsibility
therefor. The same requirements shall as may have been incurred in
be observed by all lower collegiate consequence thereof, shall decide or
courts. resolve the case or matter submitted
thereto for determination, without further
Section 14. No decision shall be delay.
rendered by any court without
expressing therein clearly and distinctly Section 16. The Supreme Court shall,
within thirty days from the opening of
each regular session of the Congress, appropriations shall be automatically
submit to the President and the and regularly released.
Congress an annual report on the
operations and activities of the Judiciary. Section 6. Each Commission en
banc may promulgate its own rules
ARTICLE IX concerning pleadings and practice
before it or before any of its offices.
Constitutional Commissions Such rules, however, shall not diminish,
increase, or modify substantive rights.
A. COMMON PROVISIONS
Section 7. Each Commission shall
Section 1. The Constitutional decide by a majority vote of all its
Commissions, which shall be Members, any case or matter brought
independent, are the Civil Service before it within sixty days from the date
Commission, the Commission on of its submission for decision or
Elections, and the Commission on Audit. resolution. A case or matter is deemed
submitted for decision or resolution upon
Section 2. No member of a the filing of the last pleading, brief, or
Constitutional Commission shall, during memorandum required by the rules of
his tenure, hold any other office or the Commission or by the Commission
employment. Neither shall he engage in itself. Unless otherwise provided by this
the practice of any profession or in the Constitution or by law, any decision,
active management or control of any order, or ruling of each Commission may
business which, in any way, may be be brought to the Supreme Court
affected by the functions of his office, on certiorari by the aggrieved party
nor shall he be financially interested, within thirty days from receipt of a copy
directly or indirectly, in any contract with, thereof.
or in any franchise or privilege granted
by the Government, any of its Section 8. Each Commission shall
subdivisions, agencies, or perform such other functions as may be
instrumentalities, including government- provided by law.
owned or controlled corporations or their
subsidiaries. B. THE CIVIL SERVICE COMMISSION

Section. 3. The salary of the Chairman Section 1. (1) The civil service shall be
and the Commissioners shall be fixed by administered by the Civil Service
law and shall not be decreased during Commission composed of a Chairman
their tenure. and two Commissioners who shall be
natural-born citizens of the Philippines
Section 4. The Constitutional and, at the time of their appointment, at
Commissions shall appoint their officials least thirty-five years of age, with proven
and employees in accordance with law. capacity for public administration, and
must not have been candidates for any
Section 5. The Commission shall enjoy elective position in the elections
fiscal autonomy. Their approved annual immediately preceding their
appointment.
(2) The Chairman and the (6) Temporary employees of the
Commissioners shall be appointed by Government shall be given such
the President with the consent of the protection as may be provided by law.
Commission on Appointments for a term
of seven years without reappointment. Section 3. The Civil Service
Of those first appointed, the Chairman Commission, as the central personnel
shall hold office for seven years, a agency of the Government, shall
Commissioner for five years, and establish a career service and adopt
another Commissioner for three years, measures to promote morale, efficiency,
without reappointment. Appointment to integrity, responsiveness,
any vacancy shall be only for the progressiveness, and courtesy in the
unexpired term of the predecessor. In no civil service. It shall strengthen the merit
case shall any Member be appointed or and rewards system, integrate all human
designated in a temporary or acting resources development programs for all
capacity. levels and ranks, and institutionalize a
management climate conducive to
Section 2. (1) The civil service embraces public accountability. It shall submit to
all branches, subdivisions, the President and the Congress an
instrumentalities, and agencies of the annual report on its personnel programs.
Government, including government-
owned or controlled corporations with Section 4. All public officers and
original charters. employees shall take an oath or
affirmation to uphold and defend this
(2) Appointments in the civil service Constitution.
shall be made only according to merit
and fitness to be determined, as far as Section 5. The Congress shall provide
practicable, and, except to positions for the standardization of compensation
which are policy-determining, primarily of government officials and employees,
confidential, or highly technical, by including those in government-owned or
competitive examination. controlled corporations with original
charters, taking into account the nature
(3) No officer or employee of the civil of the responsibilities pertaining to, and
service shall be removed or suspended the qualifications required for, their
except for cause provided by law. positions.

(4) No officer or employee in the civil Section 6. No candidate who has lost in
service shall engage, directly or any election shall, within one year after
indirectly, in any electioneering or such election, be appointed to any office
partisan political campaign. in the Government or any Government-
owned or controlled corporations or in
(5) The right to self-organization shall any of their subsidiaries.
not be denied to government
employees. Section 7. No elective official shall be
eligible for appointment or designation in
any capacity to any public office or
position during his tenure.
Unless otherwise allowed by law or by Members for five years, and the last
the primary functions of his position, no Members for three years, without
appointive official shall hold any other reappointment. Appointment to any
office or employment in the Government vacancy shall be only for the unexpired
or any subdivision, agency or term of the predecessor. In no case
instrumentality thereof, including shall any Member be appointed or
Government-owned or controlled designated in a temporary or acting
corporations or their subsidiaries. capacity.

Section 8. No elective or appointive Sec. 2. The Commission on Elections

public officer or employee shall receive shall exercise the following powers and
additional, double, or indirect functions:
compensation, unless specifically
authorized by law, nor accept without (1) Enforce and administer all laws and
the consent of the Congress, any regulations relative to the conduct of an
present, emolument, office, or title of election, plebiscite, initiative,
any kind from any foreign government. referendum, and recall.

Pensions or gratuities shall not be (2) Exercise exclusive original

considered as additional, double, or jurisdiction over all contests relating to
indirect compensation. the elections, returns, and qualifications
of all elective regional, provincial, and
C. THE COMMISSION ON ELECTIONS city officials, and appellate jurisdiction
over all contests involving elective
Section 1. (1) There shall be a municipal officials decided by trial courts
Commission on Elections composed of of general jurisdiction, or involving
a Chairman and six Commissioners who elective barangay officials decided by
shall be natural-born citizens of the trial courts of limited jurisdiction.
Philippines and, at the time of their
appointment, at least thirty-five years of Decisions, final orders, or rulings of the
age, holders of a college degree, and Commission on election contests
must not have been candidates for any involving elective municipal and
elective positions in the immediately barangay offices shall be final,
preceding elections. However, a majority executory, and not appealable.
thereof, including the Chairman, shall be
members of the Philippine Bar who have (3) Decide, except those involving the
been engaged in the practice of law for right to vote, all questions affecting
at least ten years. elections, including determination of the
number and location of polling places,
(2) The Chairman and the appointment of election officials and
Commissioners shall be appointed by inspectors, and registration of voters.
the President with the consent of the
Commission on Appointments for a term (4) Deputize, with the concurrence of the
of seven years without reappointment. President, law enforcement agencies
Of those first appointed, three Members and instrumentalities of the Government,
shall hold office for seven years, two including the Armed Forces of the
Philippines, for the exclusive purpose of (8) Recommend to the President the
ensuring free, orderly, honest, peaceful, removal of any officer or employee it has
and credible elections. deputized, or the imposition of any other
disciplinary action, for violation or
(5) Register, after sufficient publication, disregard of, or disobedience to, its
political parties, organizations, or directive, order, or decision.
coalitions which, in addition to other
requirements, must present their (9) Submit to the President and the
platform or program of government; and Congress, a comprehensive report on
accredit citizens’ arms of the the conduct of each election, plebiscite,
Commission on Elections. Religious initiative, referendum, or recall.
denominations and sects shall not be
registered. Those which seek to achieve Section 3. The Commission on Elections
their goals through violence or unlawful may sit en banc or in two divisions, and
means, or refuse to uphold and adhere shall promulgate its rules of procedure in
to this Constitution, or which are order to expedite disposition of election
supported by any foreign government cases, including pre-proclamation
shall likewise be refused registration. controversies. All such election cases
shall be heard and decided in division,
Financial contributions from foreign provided that motions for
governments and their agencies to reconsideration of decisions shall be
political parties, organizations, decided by the Commission en banc.
coalitions, or candidates related to
elections, constitute interference in Section 4. The Commission may, during
national affairs, and, when accepted, the election period, supervise or
shall be an additional ground for the regulate the enjoyment or utilization of
cancellation of their registration with the all franchises or permits for the
Commission, in addition to other operation of transportation and other
penalties that may be prescribed by law. public utilities, media of communication
or information, all grants, special
(6) File, upon a verified complaint, or on privileges, or concessions granted by
its own initiative, petitions in court for the Government or any subdivision,
inclusion or exclusion of voters; agency, or instrumentality thereof,
investigate and, where appropriate, including any government-owned or
prosecute cases of violations of election controlled corporation or its subsidiary.
laws, including acts or omissions Such supervision or regulation shall aim
constituting election frauds, offenses, to ensure equal opportunity, time, and
and malpractices. space ,and the right to reply, including
reasonable, equal rates therefor, for
(7) Recommend to the Congress public information campaigns and
effective measures to minimize election forums among candidates in connection
spending, including limitation of places with the objective of holding free,
where propaganda materials shall be orderly, honest, peaceful, and credible
posted, and to prevent and penalize all elections.
forms of election frauds, offenses,
malpractices, and nuisance candidates.
Section 5. No pardon, amnesty, parole, automatically upon certification by the
or suspension of sentence for violation Chairman of the Commission.
of election laws, rules, and regulations
shall be granted by the President D. THE COMMISSION ON AUDIT
without the favorable recommendation
of the Commission. Section 1. (1) There shall be a
Commission on Audit composed of a
Section 6. A free and open party system Chairman and two Commissioners, who
shall be allowed to evolve according to shall be natural-born citizens of the
the free choice of the people, subject to Philippines and, at the time of their
the provisions of this Article. appointment, at least thirty-five years of
age, Certified Public Accountants with
Section 7. No votes cast in favor of a not less than ten years of auditing
political party, organization, or coalition experience, or members of the
shall be valid, except for those Philippine Bar who have been engaged
registered under the party-list system as in the practice of law for at least ten
provided in this Constitution. years, and must not have been
candidates for any elective position in
Section 8. Political parties, or the elections immediately preceding
organizations or coalitions registered their appointment. At no time shall all
under the party-list system, shall not be Members of the Commission belong to
represented in the voters’ registration the same profession.
boards, boards of election inspectors,
boards of canvassers, or other similar (2) The Chairman and the
bodies. However, they shall be entitled Commissioners shall be appointed by
to appoint poll watchers in accordance the President with the consent of the
with law. Commission on Appointments for a term
of seven years without reappointment.
Section 9. Unless otherwise fixed by the Of those first appointed, the Chairman
Commission in special cases, the shall hold office for seven years, one
election period shall commence ninety Commissioner for five years, and the
days before the day of election and shall other Commissioner for three years,
end thirty days thereafter. without reappointment. Appointment to
any vacancy shall be only for the
Section 10. Bona fide candidates for any unexpired portion of the term of the
public office shall be free from any form predecessor. In no case shall any
of harassment and discrimination. Member be appointed or designated in a
temporary or acting capacity.
Section 11. Funds certified by the
Commission as necessary to defray the Section 2. (1) The Commission on Audit
expenses for holding regular and special shall have the power, authority, and duty
elections, plebiscites, initiatives, to examine, audit, and settle all
referenda, and recalls, shall be provided accounts pertaining to the revenue and
in the regular or special appropriations receipts of, and expenditures or uses of
and, once approved, shall be released funds and property, owned or held in
trust by, or pertaining to, the
Government, or any of its subdivisions, the jurisdiction of the Commission on
agencies, or instrumentalities, including Audit.
government-owned or controlled
corporations with original charters, and Section 4. The Commission shall submit
on a post-audit basis: (a) constitutional to the President and the Congress,
bodies, commissions and offices that within the time fixed by law, an annual
have been granted fiscal autonomy report covering the financial condition
under this Constitution; (b) autonomous and operation of the Government, its
state colleges and universities; (c) other subdivisions, agencies, and
government-owned or controlled instrumentalities, including government-
corporations and their subsidiaries; and owned or controlled corporations, and
(d) such non-governmental entities non-governmental entities subject to its
receiving subsidy or equity, directly or audit, and recommend measures
indirectly, from or through the necessary to improve their effectiveness
Government, which are required by law and efficiency. It shall submit such other
or the granting institution to submit to reports as may be required by law.
such audit as a condition of subsidy or
equity. However, where the internal ARTICLE X
control system of the audited agencies
is inadequate, the Commission may LOCAL GOVERNMENT
adopt such measures, including
temporary or special pre-audit, as are GENERAL PROVISIONS
necessary and appropriate to correct the
deficiencies. It shall keep the general Section 1. The territorial and political
accounts of the Government and, for subdivisions of the Republic of the
such period as may be provided by law, Philippines are the provinces, cities,
preserve the vouchers and other municipalities, and barangays. There
supporting papers pertaining thereto. shall be autonomous regions in Muslim
Mindanao and the Cordilleras as
(2) The Commission shall have hereinafter provided.
exclusive authority, subject to the
limitations in this Article, to define the Section 2. The territorial and political
scope of its audit and examination, subdivisions shall enjoy local autonomy.
establish the techniques and methods
required therefor, and promulgate Section 3. The Congress shall enact a
accounting and auditing rules and local government code which shall
regulations, including those for the provide for a more responsive and
prevention and disallowance of irregular, accountable local government structure
unnecessary, excessive, extravagant, or instituted through a system of
unconscionable expenditures or uses of decentralization with effective
government funds and properties. mechanisms of recall, initiative, and
referendum, allocate among the different
Section 3. No law shall be passed local government units their powers,
exempting any entity of the Government responsibilities, and resources, and
or its subsidiaries in any guise whatever, provide for the qualifications, election,
or any investment of public funds, from appointment and removal, term,
salaries, powers and functions and office for any length of time shall not be
duties of local officials, and all other considered as an interruption in the
matters relating to the organization and continuity of his service for the full term
operation of the local units. for which he was elected.

Section 4. The President of the Section 9. Legislative bodies of local

Philippines shall exercise general governments shall have sectoral
supervision over local governments. representation as may be prescribed by
Provinces with respect to component law.
cities and municipalities, and cities and
municipalities with respect to component Section 10. No province, city,
barangays, shall ensure that the acts of municipality, or barangay may be
their component units are within the created, divided, merged, abolished, or
scope of their prescribed powers and its boundary substantially altered,
functions. except in accordance with the criteria
established in the local government
Section 5. Each local government unit code and subject to approval by a
shall have the power to create its own majority of the votes cast in a plebiscite
sources of revenues and to levy taxes, in the political units directly affected.
fees and charges subject to such
guidelines and limitations as the Section 11. The Congress may, by law,
Congress may provide, consistent with create special metropolitan political
the basic policy of local autonomy. Such subdivisions, subject to a plebiscite as
taxes, fees, and charges shall accrue set forth in Section 10 hereof. The
exclusively to the local governments. component cities and municipalities
shall retain their basic autonomy and
Section 6. Local government units shall shall be entitled to their own local
have a just share, as determined by law, executive and legislative assemblies.
in the national taxes which shall be The jurisdiction of the metropolitan
automatically released to them. authority that will thereby be created
shall be limited to basic services
Section 7. Local governments shall be requiring coordination.
entitled to an equitable share in the
proceeds of the utilization and Section 12. Cities that are highly
development of the national wealth urbanized, as determined by law, and
within their respective areas, in the component cities whose charters
manner provided by law, including prohibit their voters from voting for
sharing the same with the inhabitants by provincial elective officials, shall be
way of direct benefits. independent of the province. The voters
of component cities within a province,
Section 8. The term of office of elective whose charters contain no such
local officials, except barangay officials, prohibition, shall not be deprived of their
which shall be determined by law, shall right to vote for elective provincial
be three years and no such official shall officials.
serve for more than three consecutive
terms. Voluntary renunciation of the
Section 13. Local government units may autonomous regions shall be vested in
group themselves, consolidate or the National Government.
coordinate their efforts, services, and
resources for purposes commonly Section 18. The Congress shall enact an
beneficial to them in accordance with organic act for each autonomous region
law. with the assistance and participation of
the regional consultative commission
Section 14. The President shall provide composed of representatives appointed
for regional development councils or by the President from a list of nominees
other similar bodies composed of local from multisectoral bodies. The organic
government officials, regional heads of act shall define the basic structure of
departments and other government government for the region consisting of
offices, and representatives from non- the executive department and legislative
governmental organizations within the assembly, both of which shall be
regions for purposes of administrative elective and representative of the
decentralization to strengthen the constituent political units. The organic
autonomy of the units therein and to acts shall likewise provide for special
accelerate the economic and social courts with personal, family, and
growth and development of the units in property law jurisdiction consistent with
the region. the provisions of this Constitution and
national laws.
AUTONOMOUS REGIONS
The creation of the autonomous region
Section 15. There shall be created shall be effective when approved by
autonomous regions in Muslim majority of the votes cast by the
Mindanao and in the Cordilleras constituent units in a plebiscite called for
consisting of provinces, cities, the purpose, provided that only
municipalities, and geographical areas provinces, cities, and geographic areas
sharing common and distinctive voting favorably in such plebiscite shall
historical and cultural heritage, be included in the autonomous region.
economic and social structures, and
other relevant characteristics within the Section 19. The first Congress elected
framework of this Constitution and the under this Constitution shall, within
national sovereignty as well as territorial eighteen months from the time of
integrity of the Republic of the organization of both Houses, pass the
Philippines. organic acts for the autonomous regions
in Muslim Mindanao and the Cordilleras.
Section 16. The President shall exercise
general supervision over autonomous Section 20. Within its territorial
regions to ensure that laws are faithfully jurisdiction and subject to the provisions
executed. of this Constitution and national laws,
the organic act of autonomous regions
Section 17. All powers, functions, and shall provide for legislative powers over:
responsibilities not granted by this
Constitution or by law to the (1) Administrative organization;
(2) Creation of sources of revenues; Section 2. The President, the Vice-
President, the Members of the Supreme
(3) Ancestral domain and natural Court, the Members of the Constitutional
resources; Commissions, and the Ombudsman
may be removed from office on
(4) Personal, family, and property impeachment for, and conviction of,
relations; culpable violation of the Constitution,
treason, bribery, graft and corruption,
(5) Regional urban and rural planning other high crimes, or betrayal of public
development; trust. All other public officers and
employees may be removed from office
(6) Economic, social, and tourism as provided by law, but not by
development; impeachment.

(7) Educational policies; Section 3. (1) The House of

Representatives shall have the
(8) Preservation and development of the exclusive power to initiate all cases of
cultural heritage; and impeachment.

(9) Such other matters as may be (2) A verified complaint for impeachment
authorized by law for the promotion of may be filed by any Member of the
the general welfare of the people of the House of Representatives or by any
region. citizen upon a resolution or
endorsement by any Member thereof,
Section 21. The preservation of peace which shall be included in the Order of
and order within the regions shall be the Business within ten session days, and
responsibility of the local police referred to the proper Committee within
agencies which shall be organized, three session days thereafter. The
maintained, supervised, and utilized in Committee, after hearing, and by a
accordance with applicable laws. The majority vote of all its Members, shall
defense and security of the regions shall submit its report to the House within
be the responsibility of the National sixty session days from such referral,
Government. together with the corresponding
resolution. The resolution shall be
ARTICLE XI calendared for consideration by the
House within ten session days from
ACCOUNTABILITY OF PUBLIC receipt thereof.
OFFICERS
(3) A vote of at least one-third of all the
Section 1. Public office is a public trust. Members of the House shall be
Public officers and employees must, at necessary either to affirm a favorable
all times, be accountable to the people, resolution with the Articles of
serve them with utmost responsibility, Impeachment of the Committee, or
integrity, loyalty, and efficiency; act with override its contrary resolution. The vote
patriotism and justice, and lead modest of each Member shall be recorded.
lives.
(4) In case the verified complaint or known as Tanodbayan, one overall
resolution of impeachment is filed by at Deputy and at least one Deputy each for
least one-third of all the Members of the Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao. A
House, the same shall constitute the separate Deputy for the military
Articles of Impeachment, and trial by the establishment may likewise be
Senate shall forthwith proceed. appointed.

(5) No impeachment proceedings shall Section 6. The officials and employees

be initiated against the same official of the Office of the Ombudsman, other
more than once within a period of one than the Deputies, shall be appointed by
year. the Ombudsman, according to the Civil
Service Law.
(6) The Senate shall have the sole
power to try and decide all cases of Section 7. The existing Tanodbayan
impeachment. When sitting for that shall hereafter be known as the Office of
purpose, the Senators shall be on oath the Special Prosecutor. It shall continue
or affirmation. When the President of the to function and exercise its powers as
Philippines is on trial, the Chief Justice now or hereafter may be provided by
of the Supreme Court shall preside, but law, except those conferred on the
shall not vote. No person shall be Office of the Ombudsman created under
convicted without the concurrence of this Constitution.
two-thirds of all the Members of the
Senate. Section 8. The Ombudsman and his
Deputies shall be natural-born citizens
(7) Judgment in cases of impeachment of the Philippines, and at the time of
shall not extend further than removal their appointment, at least forty years
from office and disqualification to hold old, of recognized probity and
any office under the Republic of the independence, and members of the
Philippines, but the party convicted shall Philippine Bar, and must not have been
nevertheless be liable and subject to candidates for any elective office in the
prosecution, trial, and punishment, immediately preceding election. The
according to law. Ombudsman must have, for ten years or
more, been a judge or engaged in the
(8) The Congress shall promulgate its practice of law in the Philippines.
rules on impeachment to effectively
carry out the purpose of this section. During their tenure, they shall be subject
to the same disqualifications and
Section 4. The present anti-graft court prohibitions as provided for in Section 2
known as the Sandiganbayan shall of Article IX-A of this Constitution.
continue to function and exercise its
jurisdiction as now or hereafter may be Section 9. The Ombudsman and his
provided by law. Deputies shall be appointed by the
President from a list of at least six
Section 5. There is hereby created the nominees prepared by the Judicial and
independent Office of the Ombudsman, Bar Council, and from a list of three
composed of the Ombudsman to be nominees for every vacancy thereafter.
Such appointments shall require no well as of any government-owned or
confirmation. All vacancies shall be filled controlled corporation with original
within three months after they occur. charter, to perform and expedite any act
or duty required by law, or to stop,
Section 10. The Ombudsman and his prevent, and correct any abuse or
Deputies shall have the rank of impropriety in the performance of duties.
Chairman and Members, respectively, of
the Constitutional Commissions, and (3) Direct the officer concerned to take
they shall receive the same salary which appropriate action against a public
shall not be decreased during their term official or employee at fault, and
of office. recommend his removal, suspension,
demotion, fine, censure, or prosecution,
Section 11. The Ombudsman and his and ensure compliance therewith.
Deputies shall serve for a term of seven
years without reappointment. They shall (4) Direct the officer concerned, in any
not be qualified to run for any office in appropriate case, and subject to such
the election immediately succeeding limitations as may be provided by law, to
their cessation from office. furnish it with copies of documents
relating to contracts or transactions
Section 12. The Ombudsman and his entered into by his office involving the
Deputies, as protectors of the people, disbursement or use of public funds or
shall act promptly on complaints filed in properties, and report any irregularity to
any form or manner against public the Commission on Audit for appropriate
officials or employees of the action.
Government, or any subdivision, agency
or instrumentality thereof, including (5) Request any government agency for
government-owned or controlled assistance and information necessary in
corporations, and shall, in appropriate the discharge of its responsibilities, and
cases, notify the complainants of the to examine, if necessary, pertinent
action taken and the result thereof. records and documents.

Section 13. The Office of the (6) Publicize matters covered by its
Ombudsman shall have the following investigation when circumstances so
powers, functions, and duties: warrant and with due prudence.

(1) Investigate on its own, or on (7) Determine the causes of inefficiency,

complaint by any person, any act or red tape, mismanagement, fraud, and
omission of any public official, corruption in the Government and make
employee, office or agency, when such recommendations for their elimination
act or omission appears to be illegal, and the observance of high standards of
unjust, improper, or inefficient. ethics and efficiency.

(2) Direct, upon complaint or at its own (8) Promulgate its rules of procedure
instance, any public official or employee and exercise such other powers or
of the Government, or any subdivision, perform such functions or duties as may
agency or instrumentality thereof, as be provided by law.
Section 14. The Office of the another country during his tenure shall
Ombudsman shall enjoy fiscal be dealt with by law.
autonomy. Its approved annual
appropriations shall be automatically ARTICLE XII
and regularly released.
NATIONAL ECONOMY AND
Section 15. The right of the State to PATRIMONY
recover properties unlawfully acquired
by public officials or employees, from Section 1. The goals of the national
them or from their nominees or economy are a more equitable
transferees, shall not be barred by distribution of opportunities, income, and
prescription, laches, or estoppel. wealth; a sustained increase in the
amount of goods and services produced
Section 16. No loan, guaranty, or other by the nation for the benefit of the
form of financial accommodation for any people; and an expanding productivity
business purpose may be granted, as the key to raising the quality of life for
directly or indirectly, by any government- all, especially the underprivileged.
owned or controlled bank or financial
institution to the President, the Vice- The State shall promote industrialization
President, the Members of the Cabinet, and full employment based on sound
the Congress, the Supreme Court, and agricultural development and agrarian
the Constitutional Commissions, the reform, through industries that make full
Ombudsman, or to any firm or entity in and efficient use of human and natural
which they have controlling interest, resources, and which are competitive in
during their tenure. both domestic and foreign markets.
However, the State shall protect Filipino
Section 17. A public officer or employee enterprises against unfair foreign
shall, upon assumption of office and as competition and trade practices.
often thereafter as may be required by
law, submit a declaration under oath of In the pursuit of these goals, all sectors
his assets, liabilities, and net worth. In of the economy and all regions of the
the case of the President, the Vice- country shall be given optimum
President, the Members of the Cabinet, opportunity to develop. Private
the Congress, the Supreme Court, the enterprises, including corporations,
Constitutional Commissions and other cooperatives, and similar collective
constitutional offices, and officers of the organizations, shall be encouraged to
armed forces with general or flag rank, broaden the base of their ownership.
the declaration shall be disclosed to the
public in the manner provided by law. Section 2. All lands of the public domain,
waters, minerals, coal, petroleum, and
Section 18. Public officers and other mineral oils, all forces of potential
employees owe the State and this energy, fisheries, forests or timber,
Constitution allegiance at all times and wildlife, flora and fauna, and other
any public officer or employee who natural resources are owned by the
seeks to change his citizenship or State. With the exception of agricultural
acquire the status of an immigrant of lands, all other natural resources shall
not be alienated. The exploration, State shall promote the development
development, and utilization of natural and use of local scientific and technical
resources shall be under the full control resources.
and supervision of the State. The State
may directly undertake such activities, or The President shall notify the Congress
it may enter into co-production, joint of every contract entered into in
venture, or production-sharing accordance with this provision, within
agreements with Filipino citizens, or thirty days from its execution.
corporations or associations at least
sixty per centum of whose capital is Section 3. Lands of the public domain
owned by such citizens. Such are classified into agricultural, forest or
agreements may be for a period not timber, mineral lands and national parks.
exceeding twenty-five years, renewable Agricultural lands of the public domain
for not more than twenty-five years, and may be further classified by law
under such terms and conditions as may according to the uses to which they may
be provided by law. In cases of water be devoted. Alienable lands of the public
rights for irrigation, water supply domain shall be limited to agricultural
fisheries, or industrial uses other than lands. Private corporations or
the development of water power, associations may not hold such
beneficial use may be the measure and alienable lands of the public domain
limit of the grant. except by lease, for a period not
exceeding twenty-five years, renewable
The State shall protect the nation’s for not more than twenty-five years, and
marine wealth in its archipelagic waters, not to exceed one thousand hectares in
territorial sea, and exclusive economic area. Citizens of the Philippines may
zone, and reserve its use and enjoyment lease not more than five hundred
exclusively to Filipino citizens. hectares, or acquire not more than
twelve hectares thereof, by purchase,
The Congress may, by law, allow small- homestead, or grant.
scale utilization of natural resources by
Filipino citizens, as well as cooperative Taking into account the requirements of
fish farming, with priority to subsistence conservation, ecology, and
fishermen and fishworkers in rivers, development, and subject to the
lakes, bays, and lagoons. requirements of agrarian reform, the
Congress shall determine, by law, the
The President may enter into size of lands of the public domain which
agreements with foreign-owned may be acquired, developed, held, or
corporations involving either technical or leased and the conditions therefor.
financial assistance for large-scale
exploration, development, and utilization Section 4. The Congress shall, as soon
of minerals, petroleum, and other as possible, determine, by law, the
mineral oils according to the general specific limits of forest lands and
terms and conditions provided by law, national parks, marking clearly their
based on real contributions to the boundaries on the ground. Thereafter,
economic growth and general welfare of such forest lands and national parks
the country. In such agreements, the shall be conserved and may not be
increased nor diminished, except by law. Section 9. The Congress may establish
The Congress shall provide for such an independent economic and planning
period as it may determine, measures to agency headed by the President, which
prohibit logging in endangered forests shall, after consultations with the
and watershed areas. appropriate public agencies, various
private sectors, and local government
Section 5. The State, subject to the units, recommend to Congress, and
provisions of this Constitution and implement continuing integrated and
national development policies and coordinated programs and policies for
programs, shall protect the rights of national development.
indigenous cultural communities to their
ancestral lands to ensure their Until the Congress provides otherwise,
economic, social, and cultural well- the National Economic and
being. Development Authority shall function as
the independent planning agency of the
The Congress may provide for the government.
applicability of customary laws
governing property rights or relations in Section 10. The Congress shall, upon
determining the ownership and extent of recommendation of the economic and
ancestral domain. planning agency, when the national
interest dictates, reserve to citizens of
Section 6. The use of property bears a the Philippines or to corporations or
social function, and all economic agents associations at least sixty per centum of
shall contribute to the common good. whose capital is owned by such citizens,
Individuals and private groups, including or such higher percentage as Congress
corporations, cooperatives, and similar may prescribe, certain areas of
collective organizations, shall have the investments. The Congress shall enact
right to own, establish, and operate measures that will encourage the
economic enterprises, subject to the formation and operation of enterprises
duty of the State to promote distributive whose capital is wholly owned by
justice and to intervene when the Filipinos.
common good so demands.
In the grant of rights, privileges, and
Section 7. Save in cases of hereditary concessions covering the national
succession, no private lands shall be economy and patrimony, the State shall
transferred or conveyed except to give preference to qualified Filipinos.
individuals, corporations, or associations
qualified to acquire or hold lands of the The State shall regulate and exercise
public domain. authority over foreign investments within
its national jurisdiction and in
Section 8. Notwithstanding the accordance with its national goals and
provisions of Section 7 of this Article, a priorities.
natural-born citizen of the Philippines
who has lost his Philippine citizenship Section 11. No franchise, certificate, or
may be a transferee of private lands, any other form of authorization for the
subject to limitations provided by law. operation of a public utility shall be
granted except to citizens of the The practice of all professions in the
Philippines or to corporations or Philippines shall be limited to Filipino
associations organized under the laws citizens, save in cases prescribed by
of the Philippines, at least sixty per law.
centum of whose capital is owned by
such citizens; nor shall such franchise, Section 15. The Congress shall create
certificate, or authorization be exclusive an agency to promote the viability and
in character or for a longer period than growth of cooperatives as instruments
fifty years. Neither shall any such for social justice and economic
franchise or right be granted except development.
under the condition that it shall be
subject to amendment, alteration, or Section 16. The Congress shall not,
repeal by the Congress when the except by general law, provide for the
common good so requires. The State formation, organization, or regulation of
shall encourage equity participation in private corporations. Government-
public utilities by the general public. The owned or controlled corporations may
participation of foreign investors in the be created or established by special
governing body of any public utility charters in the interest of the common
enterprise shall be limited to their good and subject to the test of economic
proportionate share in its capital, and all viability.
the executive and managing officers of
such corporation or association must be Section 17. In times of national
citizens of the Philippines. emergency, when the public interest so
requires, the State may, during the
Section 12. The State shall promote the emergency and under reasonable terms
preferential use of Filipino labor, prescribed by it, temporarily take over or
domestic materials and locally produced direct the operation of any privately-
goods, and adopt measures that help owned public utility or business affected
make them competitive. with public interest.

Section 13. The State shall pursue a Section 18. The State may, in the
trade policy that serves the general interest of national welfare or defense,
welfare and utilizes all forms and establish and operate vital industries
arrangements of exchange on the basis and, upon payment of just
of equality and reciprocity. compensation, transfer to public
ownership utilities and other private
Section 14. The sustained development enterprises to be operated by the
of a reservoir of national talents Government.
consisting of Filipino scientists,
entrepreneurs, professionals, managers, Section 19. The State shall regulate or
high-level technical manpower and prohibit monopolies when the public
skilled workers and craftsmen in all interest so requires. No combinations in
fields shall be promoted by the State. restraint of trade or unfair competition
The State shall encourage appropriate shall be allowed.
technology and regulate its transfer for
the national benefit.
Section 20. The Congress shall measures that protect and enhance the
establish an independent central right of all the people to human dignity,
monetary authority, the members of reduce social, economic, and political
whose governing board must be natural- inequalities, and remove cultural
born Filipino citizens, of known probity, inequities by equitably diffusing wealth
integrity, and patriotism, the majority of and political power for the common
whom shall come from the private good.
sector. They shall also be subject to
such other qualifications and disabilities To this end, the State shall regulate the
as may be prescribed by law. The acquisition, ownership, use, and
authority shall provide policy direction in disposition of property and its
the areas of money, banking, and credit. increments.
It shall have supervision over the
operations of banks and exercise such Section 2. The promotion of social
regulatory powers as may be provided justice shall include the commitment to
by law over the operations of finance create economic opportunities based on
companies and other institutions freedom of initiative and self-reliance.
performing similar functions.
LABOR
Until the Congress otherwise provides,
the Central Bank of the Philippines Section 3. The State shall afford full
operating under existing laws, shall protection to labor, local and overseas,
function as the central monetary organized and unorganized,
authority. and promote full employment and
equality of employment opportunities for
Section 21. Foreign loans may only be all.
incurred in accordance with law and the
regulation of the monetary authority. It shall guarantee the rights of all
Information on foreign loans obtained or workers to self-organization, collective
guaranteed by the Government shall be bargaining and negotiations, and
made available to the public. peaceful concerted activities, including
the right to strike in accordance with law.
Section 22. Acts which circumvent or They shall be entitled to security of
negate any of the provisions of this tenure, humane conditions of work, and
Article shall be considered inimical to a living wage. They shall also participate
the national interest and subject to in policy and decision-making processes
criminal and civil sanctions, as may be affecting their rights and benefits as may
provided by law. be provided by law.

ARTICLE XIII The State shall promote the principle of

shared responsibility between workers
SOCIAL JUSTICE AND HUMAN and employers and the preferential use
RIGHTS of voluntary modes in settling disputes,
including conciliation, and shall enforce
Section 1. The Congress shall give their mutual compliance therewith to
highest priority to the enactment of foster industrial peace.
The State shall regulate the relations stewardship, whenever applicable in
between workers and employers, accordance with law, in the disposition
recognizing the right of labor to its just or utilization of other natural resources,
share in the fruits of production and the including lands of the public domain
right of enterprises to reasonable returns under lease or concession suitable to
to investments, and to expansion and agriculture, subject to prior rights,
growth. homestead rights of small settlers, and
the rights of indigenous communities to
AGRARIAN AND NATURAL their ancestral lands.
RESOURCES REFORM
The State may resettle landless farmers
Section 4. The State shall, by law, and farmworkers in its own agricultural
undertake an agrarian reform program estates which shall be distributed to
founded on the right of farmers and them in the manner provided by law.
regular farmworkers who are landless,
to own directly or collectively the lands Section 7. The State shall protect the
they till or, in the case of other rights of subsistence fishermen,
farmworkers, to receive a just share of especially of local communities, to the
the fruits thereof. To this end, the State preferential use of the communal marine
shall encourage and undertake the just and fishing resources, both inland and
distribution of all agricultural lands, offshore. It shall provide support to such
subject to such priorities and reasonable fishermen through appropriate
retention limits as the Congress may technology and research, adequate
prescribe, taking into account ecological, financial, production, and marketing
developmental, or equity considerations, assistance, and other services. The
and subject to the payment of just State shall also protect, develop, and
compensation. In determining retention conserve such resources. The
limits, the State shall respect the right of protection shall extend to offshore
small landowners. The State shall fishing grounds of subsistence
further provide incentives for voluntary fishermen against foreign intrusion.
land-sharing. Fishworkers shall receive a just share
from their labor in the utilization of
Section 5. The State shall recognize the marine and fishing resources.
right of farmers, farmworkers, and
landowners, as well as cooperatives, Section 8. The State shall provide
and other independent farmers’ incentives to landowners to invest the
organizations to participate in the proceeds of the agrarian reform program
planning, organization, and to promote industrialization, employment
management of the program, and shall creation, and privatization of public
provide support to agriculture through sector enterprises. Financial instruments
appropriate technology and research, used as payment for their lands shall be
and adequate financial, production, honored as equity in enterprises of their
marketing, and other support services. choice.

Section 6. The State shall apply the URBAN LAND REFORM AND
principles of agrarian reform or HOUSING
Section 9. The State shall, by law, and Section 13. The State shall establish a
for the common good, undertake, in special agency for disabled persons for
cooperation with the private sector, a their rehabilitation, self-development,
continuing program of urban land reform and self-reliance, and their integration
and housing which will make available at into the mainstream of society.
affordable cost, decent housing and
basic services to underprivileged and WOMEN
homeless citizens in urban centers and
resettlement areas. It shall also promote Section 14. The State shall protect
adequate employment opportunities to working women by providing safe and
such citizens. In the implementation of healthful working conditions, taking into
such program the State shall respect the account their maternal functions, and
rights of small property owners. such facilities and opportunities that will
enhance their welfare and enable them
Section 10. Urban or rural poor dwellers to realize their full potential in the
shall not be evicted nor their dwelling service of the nation.
demolished, except in accordance with
law and in a just and humane manner. ROLE AND RIGHTS OF PEOPLE’S
ORGANIZATIONS
No resettlement of urban or rural
dwellers shall be undertaken without Section 15. The State shall respect the
adequate consultation with them and the role of independent people’s
communities where they are to be organizations to enable the people to
relocated. pursue and protect, within the
democratic framework, their legitimate
HEALTH and collective interests and aspirations
through peaceful and lawful means.
Section 11. The State shall adopt an
integrated and comprehensive approach People’s organizations are bona
to health development which shall fide associations of citizens with
endeavor to make essential goods, demonstrated capacity to promote the
health and other social services public interest and with identifiable
available to all the people at affordable leadership, membership, and structure.
cost. There shall be priority for the
needs of the underprivileged, sick, Section 16. The right of the people and
elderly, disabled, women, and children. their organizations to effective and
The State shall endeavor to provide free reasonable participation at all levels of
medical care to paupers. social, political, and economic decision-
making shall not be abridged. The State
Section 12. The State shall establish shall, by law, facilitate the establishment
and maintain an effective food and drug of adequate consultation mechanisms.
regulatory system and undertake
appropriate health, manpower HUMAN RIGHTS
development, and research, responsive
to the country’s health needs and
problems.
Section 17. (1) There is hereby created (4) Exercise visitorial powers over jails,
an independent office called the prisons, or detention facilities;
Commission on Human Rights.
(5) Establish a continuing program of
(2) The Commission shall be composed research, education, and information to
of a Chairman and four Members who enhance respect for the primacy of
must be natural-born citizens of the human rights;
Philippines and a majority of whom shall
be members of the Bar. The term of (6) Recommend to Congress effective
office and other qualifications and measures to promote human rights and
disabilities of the Members of the to provide for compensation to victims of
Commission shall be provided by law. violations of human rights, or their
families;
(3) Until this Commission is constituted,
the existing Presidential Committee on (7) Monitor the Philippine Government’s
Human Rights shall continue to exercise compliance with international treaty
its present functions and powers. obligations on human rights;

(4) The approved annual appropriations (8) Grant immunity from prosecution to
of the Commission shall be any person whose testimony or whose
automatically and regularly released. possession of documents or other
evidence is necessary or convenient to
Section 18. The Commission on Human determine the truth in any investigation
Rights shall have the following powers conducted by it or under its authority;
and functions:
(9) Request the assistance of any
(1) Investigate, on its own or on department, bureau, office, or agency in
complaint by any party, all forms of the performance of its functions;
human rights violations involving civil
and political rights; (10) Appoint its officers and employees
in accordance with law; and
(2) Adopt its operational guidelines and
rules of procedure, and cite for contempt (11) Perform such other duties and
for violations thereof in accordance with functions as may be provided by law.
the Rules of Court;
Section 19. The Congress may provide
(3) Provide appropriate legal measures for other cases of violations of human
for the protection of human rights of all rights that should fall within the authority
persons within the Philippines, as well of the Commission, taking into account
as Filipinos residing abroad, and provide its recommendations.
for preventive measures and legal aid
services to the underprivileged whose ARTICLE XIV
human rights have been violated or
need protection; EDUCATION, SCIENCE AND
TECHNOLOGY, ARTS, CULTURE
AND SPORTS
 EDUCATION (2) They shall inculcate patriotism and
nationalism, foster love of humanity,
Section 1. The State shall protect and respect for human rights, appreciation of
promote the right of all citizens to quality the role of national heroes in the
education at all levels, and shall take historical development of the country,
appropriate steps to make such teach the rights and duties of
education accessible to all. citizenship, strengthen ethical and
spiritual values, develop moral character
Section 2. The State shall: and personal discipline, encourage
critical and creative thinking, broaden
(1) Establish, maintain, and support a scientific and technological knowledge,
complete, adequate, and integrated and promote vocational efficiency.
system of education relevant to the
needs of the people and society; (3) At the option expressed in writing by
the parents or guardians, religion shall
(2) Establish and maintain a system of be allowed to be taught to their children
free public education in the elementary or wards in public elementary and high
and high school levels. Without limiting schools within the regular class hours by
the natural right of parents to rear their instructors designated or approved by
children, elementary education is the religious authorities of the religion to
compulsory for all children of school which the children or wards belong,
age; without additional cost to the
Government.
(3) Establish and maintain a system of
scholarship grants, student loan Section 4.(1) The State recognizes the
programs, subsidies, and other complementary roles of public and
incentives which shall be available to private institutions in the educational
deserving students in both public and system and shall exercise reasonable
private schools, especially to the supervision and regulation of all
underprivileged; educational institutions.

(4) Encourage non-formal, informal, and (2) Educational institutions, other than
indigenous learning systems, as well as those established by religious groups
self-learning, independent, and out-of- and mission boards, shall be owned
school study programs particularly those solely by citizens of the Philippines or
that respond to community needs; and corporations or associations at least
sixty per centum of the capital of which
(5) Provide adult citizens, the disabled, is owned by such citizens. The
and out-of-school youth with training in Congress may, however, require
civics, vocational efficiency, and other increased Filipino equity participation in
skills. all educational institutions.

Section 3. (1) All educational institutions The control and administration of

shall include the study of the educational institutions shall be vested
Constitution as part of the curricula. in citizens of the Philippines.
No educational institution shall be fair, reasonable, and equitable
established exclusively for aliens and no admission and academic requirements.
group of aliens shall comprise more than
one-third of the enrollment in any (4) The State shall enhance the right of
school. The provisions of this subsection teachers to professional advancement.
shall not apply to schools established for Non-teaching academic and non-
foreign diplomatic personnel and their academic personnel shall enjoy the
dependents and, unless otherwise protection of the State.
provided by law, for other foreign
temporary residents. (5) The State shall assign the highest
budgetary priority to education and
(3) All revenues and assets of non- ensure that teaching will attract and
stock, non-profit educational institutions retain its rightful share of the best
used actually, directly, and exclusively available talents through adequate
for educational purposes shall be remuneration and other means of job
exempt from taxes and duties. Upon the satisfaction and fulfillment.
dissolution or cessation of the corporate
existence of such institutions, their LANGUAGE
assets shall be disposed of in the
manner provided by law. Section 6. The national language of the
Philippines is Filipino. As it evolves, it
Proprietary educational institutions, shall be further developed and enriched
including those cooperatively owned, on the basis of existing Philippine and
may likewise be entitled to such other languages.
exemptions, subject to the limitations
provided by law, including restrictions on Subject to provisions of law and as the
dividends and provisions for Congress may deem appropriate, the
reinvestment. Government shall take steps to initiate
and sustain the use of Filipino as a
(4) Subject to conditions prescribed by medium of official communication and
law, all grants, endowments, donations, as language of instruction in the
or contributions used actually, directly, educational system.
and exclusively for educational purposes
shall be exempt from tax. Section 7. For purposes of
communication and instruction, the
Section 5. (1) the State shall take into official languages of the Philippines are
account regional and sectoral needs and Filipino and, until otherwise provided by
conditions and shall encourage local law, English.
planning in the development of
educational policies and programs. The regional languages are the auxiliary
official languages in the regions and
(2) Academic freedom shall be enjoyed shall serve as auxiliary media of
in all institutions of higher learning. instruction therein.

(3) Every citizen has a right to select a Spanish and Arabic shall be promoted
profession or course of study, subject to on a voluntary and optional basis.
Section 8. This Constitution shall be and utilization of science and
promulgated in Filipino and English and technology.
shall be translated into major regional
languages, Arabic, and Spanish. Section 13. The State shall protect and
secure the exclusive rights of scientists,
Section 9. The Congress shall establish inventors, artists, and other gifted
a national language commission citizens to their intellectual property and
composed of representatives of various creations, particularly when beneficial to
regions and disciplines which shall the people, for such period as may be
undertake, coordinate, and promote provided by law.
researches for the development,
propagation, and preservation of Filipino ARTS AND CULTURE
and other languages.
Section 14. The State shall foster the
SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY preservation, enrichment, and dynamic
evolution of a Filipino national culture
Section 10. Science and technology are based on the principle of unity in
essential for national development and diversity in a climate of free artistic and
progress. The State shall give priority to intellectual expression.
research and development, invention,
innovation, and their utilization; and to Section 15. Arts and letters shall enjoy
science and technology education, the patronage of the State. The State
training, and services. It shall support shall conserve, promote, and popularize
indigenous, appropriate, and self-reliant the nation’s historical and cultural
scientific and technological capabilities, heritage and resources, as well as
and their application to the country’s artistic creations.
productive systems and national life.
Section 16. All the country’s artistic and
Section 11. The Congress may provide historic wealth constitutes the cultural
for incentives, including tax deductions, treasure of the nation and shall be under
to encourage private participation in the protection of the State which may
programs of basic and applied scientific regulate its disposition.
research. Scholarships, grants-in-aid, or
other forms of incentives shall be Section 17. The State shall recognize,
provided to deserving science students, respect, and protect the rights of
researchers, scientists, inventors, indigenous cultural communities to
technologists, and specially gifted preserve and develop their cultures,
citizens. traditions, and institutions. It shall
consider these rights in the formulation
Section 12. The State shall regulate the of national plans and policies.
transfer and promote the adaptation of
technology from all sources for the Section 18. (1) The State shall ensure
national benefit. It shall encourage the equal access to cultural opportunities
widest participation of private groups, through the educational system, public
local governments, and community- or private cultural entities, scholarships,
based organizations in the generation grants and other incentives, and
community cultural centers, and other (2) The right of children to assistance,
public venues. including proper care and nutrition, and
special protection from all forms of
(2) The State shall encourage and neglect, abuse, cruelty, exploitation and
support researches and studies on the other conditions prejudicial to their
arts and culture. development;

SPORTS (3) The right of the family to a family

living wage and income; and
Section 19. (1) The State shall promote
physical education and encourage (4) The right of families or family
sports programs, league competitions, associations to participate in the
and amateur sports, including training planning and implementation of policies
for international competitions, to foster and programs that affect them.
self-discipline, teamwork, and
excellence for the development of a Section 4. The family has the duty to
healthy and alert citizenry. care for its elderly members but the
State may also do so through just
(2) All educational institutions shall programs of social security.
undertake regular sports activities
throughout the country in cooperation ARTICLE XVI
with athletic clubs and other sectors.
GENERAL PROVISIONS
ARTICLE XV
Section 1. The flag of the Philippines
THE FAMILY shall be red, white, and blue, with a sun
and three stars, as consecrated and
Section 1. The State recognizes the honored by the people and recognized
Filipino family as the foundation of the by law.
nation. Accordingly, it shall strengthen
its solidarity and actively promote its Section 2. The Congress may, by law,
total development. adopt a new name for the country, a
national anthem, or a national seal,
Section 2. Marriage, as an inviolable which shall all be truly reflective and
social institution, is the foundation of the symbolic of the ideals, history, and
family and shall be protected by the traditions of the people. Such law shall
State. take effect only upon its ratification by
the people in a national referendum.
Section 3. The State shall defend:
Section 3. The State may not be sued
(1) The right of spouses to found a without its consent.
family in accordance with their religious
convictions and the demands of Section 4. The Armed Forces of the
responsible parenthood; Philippines shall be composed of a
citizen armed force which shall undergo
military training and serve as may be
provided by law. It shall keep a regular the Congress, the President may extend
force necessary for the security of the such tour of duty.
State.
Section 6. The State shall establish and
Section 5. (1) All members of the armed maintain one police force, which shall be
forces shall take an oath or affirmation national in scope and civilian in
to uphold and defend this Constitution. character, to be administered and
controlled by a national police
(2) The State shall strengthen the commission. The authority of local
patriotic spirit and nationalist executives over the police units in their
consciousness of the military, and jurisdiction shall be provided by law.
respect for people’s rights in the
performance of their duty. Section 7. The State shall provide
immediate and adequate care, benefits,
(3) Professionalism in the armed forces and other forms of assistance to war
and adequate remuneration and benefits veterans and veterans of military
of its members shall be a prime concern campaigns, their surviving spouses and
of the State. The armed forces shall be orphans. Funds shall be provided
insulated from partisan politics. therefor and due consideration shall be
given them in the disposition of
No member of the military shall engage, agricultural lands of the public domain
directly or indirectly, in any partisan and, in appropriate cases, in the
political activity, except to vote. utilization of natural resources.

(4) No member of the armed forces in Section 8. The State shall, from time to
the active service shall, at any time, be time, review to increase the pensions
appointed or designated in any capacity and other benefits due to retirees of both
to a civilian position in the Government, the government and the private sectors.
including government-owned or
controlled corporations or any of their Section 9. The State shall protect
subsidiaries. consumers from trade malpractices and
from substandard or hazardous
(5) Laws on retirement of military products.
officers shall not allow extension of their
service. Section 10. The State shall provide the
policy environment for the full
(6) The officers and men of the regular development of Filipino capability and
force of the armed forces shall be the emergence of communication
recruited proportionately from all structures suitable to the needs and
provinces and cities as far as aspirations of the nation and the
practicable. balanced flow of information into, out of,
and across the country, in accordance
(7) The tour of duty of the Chief of Staff with a policy that respects the freedom
of the armed forces shall not exceed of speech and of the press.
three years. However, in times of war or
other national emergency declared by
Section 11. (1) The ownership and Section 1. Any amendment to, or
management of mass media shall be revision of, this Constitution may be
limited to citizens of the Philippines, or proposed by:
to corporations, cooperatives or
associations, wholly-owned and (1) The Congress, upon a vote of three-
managed by such citizens. fourths of all its Members; or

The Congress shall regulate or prohibit (2) A constitutional convention.

monopolies in commercial mass media
when the public interest so requires. No Section 2. Amendments to this
combinations in restraint of trade or Constitution may likewise be directly
unfair competition therein shall be proposed by the people through initiative
allowed. upon a petition of at least twelve per
centum of the total number of registered
(2) The advertising industry is impressed voters, of which every legislative district
with public interest, and shall be must be represented by at least
regulated by law for the protection of three per centum of the registered
consumers and the promotion of the voters therein. No amendment under
general welfare. this section shall be authorized within
five years following the ratification of this
Only Filipino citizens or corporations or Constitution nor oftener than once every
associations at least seventy per five years thereafter.
centum of the capital of which is owned
by such citizens shall be allowed to The Congress shall provide for the
engage in the advertising industry. implementation of the exercise of this
right.
The participation of foreign investors in
the governing body of entities in such Section 3. The Congress may, by a vote
industry shall be limited to their of two-thirds of all its Members, call a
proportionate share in the capital constitutional convention, or by a
thereof, and all the executive and majority vote of all its Members, submit
managing officers of such entities must to the electorate the question of calling
be citizens of the Philippines. such a convention.

Section 12. The Congress may create a Section 4. Any amendment to, or
consultative body to advise the revision of, this Constitution under
President on policies affecting Section 1 hereof shall be valid when
indigenous cultural communities, the ratified by a majority of the votes cast in
majority of the members of which shall a plebiscite which shall be held not
come from such communities. earlier than sixty days nor later than
ninety days after the approval of such
ARTICLE XVII amendment or revision.

AMENDMENTS OR REVISIONS Any amendment under Section 2 hereof

shall be valid when ratified by a majority
of the votes cast in a plebiscite which
shall be held not earlier than sixty days least two-thirds of all the Members of the
nor later than ninety days after the Senate.
certification by the Commission on
Elections of the sufficiency of the Section 5. The six-year term of the
petition. incumbent President and Vice-President
elected in the February 7, 1986 election
ARTICLE XVIII is, for purposes of synchronization of
elections, hereby extended to noon of
TRANSITORY PROVISIONS June 30, 1992.

Section 1. The first elections of The first regular elections for the
Members of the Congress under this President and Vice-President under this
Constitution shall be held on the second Constitution shall be held on the second
Monday of May, 1987. Monday of May, 1992.

The first local elections shall be held on Section 6. The incumbent President
a date to be determined by the shall continue to exercise legislative
President, which may be simultaneous powers until the first Congress is
with the election of the Members of the convened.
Congress. It shall include the election of
all Members of the city or municipal Section 7. Until a law is passed, the
councils in the Metropolitan Manila area. President may fill by appointment from a
list of nominees by the respective
Section 2. The Senators, Members of sectors, the seats reserved for sectoral
the House of Representatives, and the representation in paragraph (2), Section
local officials first elected under this 5 of Article VI of this Constitution.
Constitution shall serve until noon of
June 30, 1992. Section 8. Until otherwise provided by
the Congress, the President may
Of the Senators elected in the elections constitute the Metropolitan Manila
in 1992, the first twelve obtaining the Authority to be composed of the heads
highest number of votes shall serve for of all local government units comprising
six years and the remaining twelve for the Metropolitan Manila area.
three years.
Section 9. A sub-province shall continue
Section 3. All existing laws, decrees, to exist and operate until it is converted
executive orders, proclamations, letters into a regular province or until its
of instructions, and other executive component municipalities are reverted to
issuances not inconsistent with this the mother province.
Constitution shall remain operative until
amended, repealed, or revoked. Section 10. All courts existing at the time
of the ratification of this Constitution
Section 4. All existing treaties or shall continue to exercise their
international agreements which have not jurisdiction, until otherwise provided by
been ratified shall not be renewed or law. The provisions of the existing Rules
extended without the concurrence of at of Court, judiciary acts, and procedural
laws not inconsistent with this their office or appointed to a new term
Constitution shall remain operative thereunder. In no case shall any
unless amended or repealed by the Member serve longer than seven years
Supreme Court or the Congress. including service before the ratification
of this Constitution.
Section 11. The incumbent Members of
the Judiciary shall continue in office until Section 16. Career civil service
they reach the age of seventy years or employees separated from the service
become incapacitated to discharge the not for cause but as a result of the
duties of their office or are removed for reorganization pursuant to Proclamation
cause. No. 3 dated March 25, 1986 and the
reorganization following the ratification
Section 12. The Supreme Court shall, of this Constitution shall be entitled to
within one year after the ratification of appropriate separation pay and to
this Constitution, adopt a systematic retirement and other benefits accruing to
plan to expedite the decision or them under the laws of general
resolution of cases or matters pending in application in force at the time of their
the Supreme Court or the lower courts separation. In lieu thereof, at the option
prior to the effectivity of this Constitution. of the employees, they may be
A similar plan shall be adopted for all considered for employment in the
special courts and quasi-judicial bodies. Government or in any of its subdivisions,
instrumentalities, or agencies, including
Section 13. The legal effect of the lapse, government-owned or controlled
before the ratification of this corporations and their subsidiaries. This
Constitution, of the applicable period for provision also applies to career officers
the decision or resolution of the cases or whose resignation, tendered in line with
matters submitted for adjudication by the the existing policy, had been accepted.
courts, shall be determined by the
Supreme Court as soon as practicable. Section 17. Until the Congress provides
otherwise, the President shall receive an
Section 14. The provisions of annual salary of three hundred thousand
paragraphs (3) and (4), Section 15 of pesos; the Vice-President, the President
Article VIII of this Constitution shall of the Senate, the Speaker of the House
apply to cases or matters filed before of Representatives, and the Chief
the ratification of this Constitution, when Justice of the Supreme Court, two
the applicable period lapses after such hundred forty thousand pesos each; the
ratification. Senators, the Members of the House of
Representatives, the Associate Justices
Section 15. The incumbent Members of of the Supreme Court, and the
the Civil Service Commission, the Chairmen of the Constitutional
Commission on Elections, and the Commissions, two hundred four
Commission on Audit shall continue in thousand pesos each; and the Members
office for one year after the ratification of of the Constitutional Commissions, one
this Constitution, unless they are sooner hundred eighty thousand pesos each.
removed for cause or become
incapacitated to discharge the duties of
Section 18. At the earliest possible time, the minimum Filipino ownership
the Government shall increase the requirement therein.
salary scales of the other officials and
employees of the National Government. Section 24. Private armies and other
armed groups not recognized by duly
Section 19. All properties, records, constituted authority shall be
equipment, buildings, facilities, and dismantled. All paramilitary forces
other assets of any office or body including Civilian Home Defense Forces
abolished or reorganized under not consistent with the citizen armed
Proclamation No. 3 dated March 25, force established in this Constitution,
1986 or this Constitution shall be shall be dissolved or, where appropriate,
transferred to the office or body to which converted into the regular force.
its powers, functions, and
responsibilities substantially pertain. Section 25. After the expiration in 1991
of the Agreement between the Republic
Section 20. The first Congress shall give of the Philippines and the United States
priority to the determination of the period of America concerning military bases,
for the full implementation of free public foreign military bases, troops, or
secondary education. facilities shall not be allowed in the
Philippines except under a treaty duly
Section 21. The Congress shall provide concurred in by the Senate and, when
efficacious procedures and adequate the Congress so requires, ratified by a
remedies for the reversion to the State majority of the votes cast by the people
of all lands of the public domain and real in a national referendum held for that
rights connected therewith which were purpose, and recognized as a treaty by
acquired in violation of the Constitution the other contracting State.
or the public land laws, or through
corrupt practices. No transfer or Section 26. The authority to issue
disposition of such lands or real rights sequestration or freeze orders under
shall be allowed until after the lapse of Proclamation No. 3 dated March 25,
one year from the ratification of this 1986 in relation to the recovery of ill-
Constitution. gotten wealth shall remain operative for
not more than eighteen months after the
Section 22. At the earliest possible time, ratification of this Constitution. However,
the Government shall expropriate idle or in the national interest, as certified by
abandoned agricultural lands as may be the President, the Congress may extend
defined by law, for distribution to the such period.
beneficiaries of the agrarian reform
program. A sequestration or freeze order shall be
issued only upon showing of a prima
Section 23. Advertising entities affected facie case. The order and the list of the
by paragraph (2), Section 11 of Article sequestered or frozen properties shall
XVI of this Constitution shall have five forthwith be registered with the proper
years from its ratification to comply on a court. For orders issued before the
graduated and proportionate basis with ratification of this Constitution, the
corresponding judicial action or
proceeding shall be filed within six Representatives of the First Congress of
months from its ratification. For those the Philippines under the Constitution
issued after such ratification, the judicial proposed by the 1986 Constitutional
action or proceeding shall be Commission and subsequent elections,
commenced within six months from the and until otherwise provided by law, the
issuance thereof. Members thereof shall be elected from
legislative districts apportioned among
The sequestration or freeze order is the provinces, cities, and the
deemed automatically lifted if no judicial Metropolitan Manila Area as follows:
action or proceeding is commenced as
herein provided. Metropolitan Manila Area

Section 27. This Constitution shall take MANILA, six (6) – First District:
effect immediately upon its ratification by Barangays Nos. 1-146, N-City Boundary
a majority of the votes cast in a between Manila and Caloocan; E –
plebiscite held for the purpose and shall From Estero de Sunog Apog going
supersede all previous Constitutions. South to Estero de Vitas up to the bridge
spanning Juan Luna Street, eastward to
The foregoing proposed Constitution of Tayuman Street up to the Railroad
the Republic of the Philippines was Tracks along Dagupan Street, thence
approved by the Constitutional southward to Claro M. Recto Avenue;
Commission of 1986 on the twelfth day SE – From point Claro M. Recto Avenue
of October, Nineteen hundred and extending westward to Manila Bay; W –
eighty-six, and accordingly signed on Manila Bay northward to City boundary
the fifteenth day of October, Nineteen between Manila and Caloocan. Second
hundred and eighty-six at the Plenary District: Barangays Nos. 147-267, N –
Hall, National Government Center, City boundary between Manila and
Quezon City, by the Commissioners Caloocan; E – From end of Rizal
whose signatures are hereunder affixed. Avenue Extension extending southward
to Railroad Tracks at Antipolo Street;
THE 1987 PHILIPPINE from corner Antipolo Street and Rizal
CONSTITUTION REPUBLIC OF THE Avenue on southern side of Railroad
PHILIPPINES-ORDINANCE Tracks extending westward to Estero de
San Lazaro, southward along Estero de
ORDINANCE San Lazaro up to corner of C. M. Recto
Avenue westward to bridge spanning
APPORTIONING THE SEATS OF THE Claro M. Recto at Estero de la Reina; W
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF – Estero de la Reina to Estero de Vitas
THE CONGRESS OF THE to Estero Sunog Apog to City boundary
PHILIPPINES TO THE DIFFERENT between Manila and Caloocan; Third
LEGISLATIVE DISTRICTS IN District: Barangays Nos. 268-394, N –
PROVINCES AND CITIES AND THE City boundary between Manila and
METROPOLITAN MANILA AREA Caloocan; E – A. Bonifacio Street
extending southward to Dimasalang, to
Section 1. For purposes of the election Anda-lucia, Claro M. Recto Avenue
of Members of the House of eastward to Estero de San Miguel
ending at Pasig River; S – Mouth of and Quezon City; E – Manila-San Juan-
Estero de San Miguel at Pasig River, Mandaluyong-Makati boundaries up to
westward to Del Pan Bridge, thence to Tejeron Street; SE – Tejeron Street to
Del Pan Street; W – Del Pan Street Pedro Gil Street up to bridge spanning
northward up to Claro M. Recto Estero de Pandacan; SW & W – Estero
Extension to Estero de San Lazaro, de Pandacan going northward to Paz M.
northward to Antipolo Street, eastward Guanzon Street, then northward on Paz
to Rizal Avenue Extension, northward to M. Guazon Street up to Pasig River to
boundary between Manila and mouth of Estero de San Miguel on Pasig
Caloocan; Fourth District: Barangays River.
Nos. 395 – 586 SW – Estero de San
Miguel up to Mendiola Bridge, thence to QUEZON CITY, four (4) – First District :
C. M. Recto Avenue to Quezon Barangays Del Monte, Paltok, Bungad,
Boulevard; W – Quezon Boulevard, San Antonio, Katipunan, Veterans
Andalucia, Dimasalang up to boundary Village, Talayan, Damayan, Mariblo,
between Manila and Quezon City; NE – Paraiso, Sta. Cruz, Nayong Kanluran,
City boundary between Manila and Philam, West Triangle, N.S. Amoranto,
Quezon City up to Ramon Magsaysay Paang Bundok, San Isidro Labrador,
Boulevard; SE – Ramon Magsaysay Sta. Teresita, Salvacion, Maharlika, St.
Boulevard up to V. Mapa Street; S – Peter, Lourdes, Sto. Domingo, Sienna,
Ramon Magsaysay Boulevard up to San Jose, Manresa, Pag-ibig sa Nayon,
point Estero de San Miguel where Balingasa, Masambong, Damar, Bahay
Ramon Magsaysay Boulevard spans Toro, St. Cristo, Ramon Magsaysay,
Estero de San Miguel; Fifth District: Project 6, Vasra, Alicia, and Bagong
Barangays Nos. 649-828 N – Mouth of Pag-asa; Second District: Barangays
Pasig River inland to point Paz M. Fairview, New Era, Holy Spirit, Batasan
Guanzon Street extending to Estero de Hills, Commonwealth, Payatas, Bagong
Pandacan; NE – Estero de Pandacan up Silangan, Sauyo, Talipapa, Bagbag, San
to Pedro Gil Street to Tejeron Street up Bartolome, Sta. Lucia, Gulod,
to boundary of Manila and Makati; SE – Novaliches Proper, San Agustin,
City boundary between Manila and Nagkaisang Nayon, Sta. Monica,
Makati up to Estero de Tripa de Gallina; Kaligayahan, Pasong Putik, Apolonio
S – City boundary between Pasay and Samson, Unang Sigaw, Tandang Sora,
Manila down to Roxas Boulevard up to Pasong Tamo, Culiat, Baesa, Capri,
edge of reclaimed areas westward to Balumbato, and Sangandaan: Third
Manila Bay; W – Manila Bay up to District : Barangays E. Rodriguez,
mouth of Pasig River, Sixth District: Silangan, Quirino 3-A, Duyan-Duyan,
Barangays Nos. 587-648; and 829-905 Quirino 3-B, Amihan, Socorro, San
N – Starting from point which is mouth of Roque, Manga, Zobel Dioquino,
Estero de San Miguel going eastward to Tagumpay, Aguinaldo, Escopa 1,
Mendiola Bridge, following line along Escopa 2, Escopa 3, Escopa 4, West
Estero de San Miguel up to point where Kamias, East Kamias, Quirino 2 A,
Ramon Magsaysay Boulevard eastward Quririno 2 B, Quirino 2 C, Ugong Norte,
to City boundary between Manila and Bagumbayan, Libis, Villa Maria Clara,
Quezon Cityl; NE – City boundary up to Masagana, Milagrosa, Marilag,
point city boundary of Manila, San Juan Bagumbayan, Loyola Heights, Pansol,
and Matandang Balara; Fourth District: BENGUET, with the City of Baguio, two
Barangays Bagong Lipunan, Kaunlaran, (2) – First District: Baguio City; Second
San Martin, Immaculate Concepcion, District: all the Municipalities of Benguet.
South Triangle, Sacred Heart, Laging
Handa, Paligsahan, Obrero, Roxas, ILOCOS NORTE, with Laog City, two (2)
Kamuning, Kanluran, Kamuning – First District: Laoag City and the
Silangan, Tatalon, Don Manuel, Dona Municipalities of Bacarra, Bangui,
Josefa, San Isidro, Dona Aurora, Santo Burgos, Pagud-Pagud, Pasuquin,
Nino, Santol, Dona Imelda, Kristong Piddig, Sarrat, Vintar, Adams, Carasi,
Hari, Kalusugan, Damayang Lagi, and Dumalneg; Second District:
Mariana, Valencia, Horseshoe, Municipalities of Badoc, Batac,
Pinagkaisahan, San Vicente, U.P. Currimao, Dingras, Espiritu, Marcos,
Campus, Krus Na Ligas, Central, Old Nueva Era, Paoay, Pinili, San Nicolas,
Capital Site, U.P. Village, Teacher’s and Solsona.
East, Teacher’s West, Sikatuna, Malaya,
Pinahan, and Botocan. ILOCOS SUR, two (2) – First District:
Municipalities of Bantay, Cabugao,
CALOOCAN CITY, two (2) – First Caoayan, Magsingal, San Ildefonso,
District : 70 Barangays; All of Caloocan San Juan, San Vicente, San Catalina,
North EDSA; Second District: 118 Santo Domingo, Sinait, and Vigan;
Barangays; All of Caloocan South Second District: Municipalities of Alilem,
EDSA. Banayoyo, Burgos, Candon, Cervantes,
Galimuyod, Gregorio del Pilar, Lidlidda,
PASAY CITY, one (1) Nagbukel, Narvacan, Quirino, Salcedo,
San Emilio, San Esteban, Santa, Santa
MALABON and NAVOTAS, one (1) Cruz, Santa Lucia, Santa Maria,
Santiago, Suyo, Tagudin, Sigay, and
SAN JUAN and MANDALUYONG, one Sugpon.
(1)
LA UNION, two (2) – First District :
MARIKINA, one (1) Municipalities of Bacnotan, Balaoan,
Bangar, Luna, San Fernando, San
MAKATI, one (1) Gabriel, San Juan, Santol, and Sudipen;
Second District: Municipalities of Agoo,
PASIG, one (1) PARANAQUE, one (1) Aringay, Bagulin, Bauang, Burgos,
Caba, Naguilian, Pugo, Rosario, Santo
LAS PINAS and MUNTINGLUPA, one Tomas, and Tubao.
(1)
MOUNTAIN PROVINCE, one (1)
PATEROS and TAGUIG, one (1)
PANGASINAN, with the Cities of
VALENZUELA, one (1) Dagupan and San Carlos, six (6) – First
District: Municipalities of Bolinao, Bani,
REGION I Agno, Burgos, Dasol, Infanta, Mabini,
Alaminos, Anda and Sual; Second
ABRA, one (1) District: Municipalities of Labrador,
Lingayen, Bugallon, Aguilar, Cabatuan, San Mateo, Alicia,
Mangatarem, Binmaley, Urbiztondo, and Angadanan, and San Guillermo; Fourth
Basista; Third District: San Carlos City, District: Municipalities Cordon,
and the Municipalities of Malasiqui, Santiango, Ramon, San Isidro,
Bayambang, Calasiao, Mapandan, and Echague, Jones, San Agustin, and
Sta. Barbara; Fourth District: Dagupan Dinapigui.
City and the Municipalities of
Mangaldan, San Fabian, San Jacinto, KALINGA-APAYAO, one (1)
and Manaoag; Fifth District:
Municipalities of Binalonan, Laoac, NUEVA VIZCAYA, one (1)
Urdaneta, Villasis, Sison, Pozorrubio,
Bautista, Alcala, and Sto. Tomas; Sixth QUIRINO, one (1)
District: Municipalities of Rosales,
Asingan, Balungao, Sta. Maria, REGION III
Umingan, San Quintin, Natividad,
Tayug, San Nicolas, and San Manuel. BATAAN, two (2) – First District:
Municipalities of Dinalupihan, Hermosa,
REGION II Orani, Samal, Abucay, and Morong,
Second District: Municipalities of Pilar,
BATANES, one (1) Orion, Limay, Bagac, Mariveles, and
Balanga.
CAGAYAN, three (3) – First District:
Municipalities of Aparri, Camalaniugan, BULACAN, four (4) – First District :
Lallo, Buguey, Sta. Teresita, Gonzaga, Municipalities of Hagonoy, Paombong,
Sta. Ana, Gattaran, Baggao, and Alcala; Malolos, Calumpit, Pulilan, and Bulacan;
Second District: Municipalities of Sta. Second Distict: Municipalities Baliuag,
Praxedes, Sanchez Mira, Claveria, Bustos, Plaridel, Guiguinto, Balagtas,
Pamplona, Abulug, Ballesteros, Pandi, and Bocaue; Third District:
Allacapan, Lasam, Sto. Nino, Rizal, Piat, Municipalities of San Miguel, San
and Calayan; Third District: Ildefonso, San Rafael, Angat,
Municipalities of Tuguegarao, Solana, Norzagaray, and Remedios Trinidad;
Enrile, Penablanca, Iguig, Amulung, and Fourth District: Municipalities of San
Tuao. Jose del Monte, Sta. Maria, Marilao,
Meycauayan,, and Obando.
IFUGAO, one (1)
NUEVA ECIJA, with the Cities of
ISABELA, four (4) – First District: Cabanatuan, Palayan and San Jose,
Municipalities of Sta. Maria,San Pablo, four (4) – First District: Municipalities of
Cabagan, Sto. Tomas, Albano, Nampicuan, Cuyapo, Guimba, Quezon,
Tumauini, Ilagan, Divilican, Maconacon, Talavera, Licab, Sto. Domingo, Aliaga,
and Palanan; Second District: and Zaragoza, Second District: San
Municipalities of Aurora, San Manuel, Jose City and the Municipalities of
Roxas, Mallig, Quezon, Quirino, Burgos, Lupao, Munoz, Talugtog, Caranglan,
Gamu, Naguilian, Benito Soliven, An Pantabangan, Lanera, and Rizal; Third
Mariano; Third District: Municipalities of District: Cabanatuan City; Palayan City,
Reina Mercedes, Cauayan, Luna, and the Municipalities of General
Natividad, Bongabong, Laur, Gabaldon, Batangas City and the Municipalities of
and Sta. Rosa, Fourth District: Lobo, San Pascual, Bauan, Mabini, San
Municipalities of San Leonardo, General Luis, and Tingloy; Third District:
Tinio, Penaranda, Gapan, San Isidro, Municipalities of Balete, Malvar, Sto.
Cabiao, San Antonio, and Jaen. Tomas, Tanauan, Talisay, Laurel,
Agoncillo, San Nicolas, Sta. Teresita,
PAMPANGA, with Angeles City, four (4) Alitagtag, Cuenca, and Mataas na
– First District : Angeles City and the Kahoy; Fourth District : Lipa City and the
Municipalities of Mabalacat and Municipalities of San Juan, Taysan,
Magalang; Second District: Rosario, P. Garcia, Ibaan, and San
Municipalities of Lubao, Guagua, Jose.
Floridablanca, Porac, Sta. Rita, and
Sexmoan; Third District: Municipalities CAVITE, with the Cities of Tagaytay,
of San Fernando, Arayat,Mexico, Cavite and Trece Martires, three (30 –
Bacolor, and Sta. ana; Fourth District: First District: Cavite City and the
Municipalities of Candaba, Apalit, Municipalities of Bacoor, Kawit,
Macabebe, Masantol, Minalin, Sto. Noveleta, and Rosario; Second District:
Tomas, San Luis, and San Simon. Trece Martires City and the
Municipalities of Imus, Dasmarinas,
TARLAC, three (3) – First District: Carmona, Gen. Mariano Alvarez,
Municipalities of Mayantoc, Sta. Ignacia, General Trias, and Tanza; Third District:
Camiling, Moncada, San Manuel, Anao, Tagaytay City and the Municipalities of
Paniqui, Ramos, San Clemente, and Alfonso, Amadeo, General Aguinaldo,
Pura; Second District: Municipalities of Indang, Magallanes, Maragondon,
Tarlac, Gerona, and Victoria; Third Mendez-Nunez, Naic, Silang, and
District: Municipalities of Bamban, Ternate.
Capas, Concepcion, and La Paz.
LAGUNA, with San Pablo City, four (4) –
ZAMBALES, with Olongapo City, two (2) First District: Municipalities of Binan,
– First District: Olongapo City and the San Pedro and Sta. Rosa; Second
Municipalities of Subic, Castillejos, and District: Municipalities of Bay, Cabuyao,
San Marcelino, Second District: Calamba, and Los Banos; Third District:
Municipalities of Botolan, Cabangan, San Pablo City and the Municipalities of
Candelaria, Iba, Masinloc, Palauig, San Calauan, Alaminos, Rizal, Nagcarlan,
Antonio, San Felipe, San Narciso, and Liliw, and Victoria: Fourth District:
Sta. Cruz. Municipalities of Sta. Cruz, Pila,
Lumban, Pagsanjan, Cavinti, Kalayaan,
REGION IV Paete, Pakil, Pangil, Siniloan, Famy,
Mabitac, Sta. Maria, Magdalena,
AURORA, one (1) Luisiana, and Majayjay.

BATANGAS, with the Cities of Batangas MARINDUQUE, one (1)

and Lipa, four (4) – First District:
Municipalities of Nasugbu, Lian, OCCIDENTAL MINDORO, one (1)
Calatagan, Balayan, Tuy, Calaca,
Lemery, and Taal; Second District:
ORIENTAL MINDORO, two (2) – First REGION V
District: Municipalities of Baco, Calapan,
Naujan, Puerto Galera, San ALBAY, with Legazpi City, three (3) –
Teodoro,Victoria, Pola, and Socorro; First District: Municipalities of Bacacay,
Second District: Municipalities of Malinao, Malilipot, Santo Domingo,
Bansud, Bongabon, Bulalakao, Gloria, Tabaco, and Tiwi, Second District:
Mansalay, Pinamalayan, and Roxas. Legazpi City and the Municipalities of
Camalig, Daraga, Manito, and Rapu-
PALAWAN, with Puerto Princesa City, Rapu; Third District: Municipalities of
two (2) – First District: Municipalities of Guinobatan, Jovellar, Libon, Ligao, Oas,
Agutaya, Araceli, Busuanga, Pio Duran, and Polangui.
Cagayancillo, Coron, Cuyo, Dumaran, El
Nido, Linapacan, Magsaysay, Roxas, CAMARINES NORTE, one (1)
San Vicente, Taytay, and Kalayaan;
Second District: Puerto Princesa City CAMARINES SUR, including the Cities
and the Municipalities of Aborlan, of Naga and Iriga, four (4) – First
Balabac, Batarasa, Brooke’s Point, District: Municipalities of Del Gallego,
Narra, Quezon, and Marcos. Ragay, Lupi, Sipocot, Libmanan,
Cabusao, Pamplona, Pasacao,
QUEZON, with Lucena City, four (4) – Minalabac, and San Fernando, Second
First District: Municipalities of Burdeos, District : Naga City and the
Gen. Nakar, Infanta, Jumalig, Municipalities of Bonbon, Calabanga,
Panukulan, Patnanungan, Polilio, Real, Camaligan, Canaman, Gainza,
Sampaloc, Mauban, Pagbilao, Lucban, Magarao, Milaor, Ocampo, and Pili;
and Tayabas; Second District: Lucena Third District: Municipalities of
city and Municipalities of Candelaria, Caramoan, Garchitorena, Goa,
Dolores, San Antonio, Sariaya, and Lagonoy, Presentacion, Sangay, San
Tiaong; Third District: Municipalities of Jose, Tigaon, Tinambac, and Siruma;
Catanauan, Gen. Luna, Macalelon, Fourth District: Iriga City and the
Mulanay, Pitogo, San Andres, San Municipalities of Baao, Balatan, Bato,
Francisco, San Narciso, Buenavista, Buhi, Bula, and Nabua.
Padre Burgos, Agdangan, and Unisan;
Fourth District: Municipalities of CATANDUANES, one (1)
Calauag, Guinayangan, Gumaca,
Lopez, Tagkawayan, Atimonan, Plaridel, MASBATE, three (3) – First District
Alabat, Perez, and Quezon Municipalities of San Pascual, Claveria,
Monreal, San Jacinto, San Fernando,
RIZAL, two (2) – First District: and Batuan; Second District:
Municipalities of Antipolo, Taytay, Municipalities of Masbate, Mobo,
Cainta, Angono, and Binangonan; Milagros, Aroroy, Baleno, Balud, and
Second District: Municipalities of E. Mandaon; Third District: Municipalities of
Rodriguez,San Mateo, Morong, Uson, Dimasalang, Palanas, Cataingan,
Cardona, Teresa, Baras, Tanay, Pililla, Pio V. Corpuz, Esperanza, Placer, and
and Jala-Jala. Cawayan.

ROMBLON, one (1)

SORSOGON, two (2) – First District: and Silay, six (6) – First District: San
Municipalities of Sorsogon, Pilar, Carlos City and the Municipalities of
Donsol, Castilla, Bacon, Casiguran, and Toboso, Calatrava, Escalante, and S.
Magallanes; Second District: Benedicto; Second District: Cadiz City
Municipalities of Barcelona, Prieto Diaz, and the Municipalities of Sagay and
Gubat, Juban, Bulusan, Irosin, Sta. Manapla; Third District: Silay City and
Magdalena, Matnog, and Bulan. the Municipalities of Victorias, Enrique
B. Magalona, Talisay, and Murcia;
REGION VI Fourth District: Bago City and the
Municipalities of Valladolid, San
AKLAN, one (1) Enrique, Pontevedra, Pulupandan, and
La Carlota; Fifth District: Municipalities
ANTIQUE, one (1) of La Castellana, Moises Padilla,
Isabela, Binalbagan, Himamaylan, and
CAPIZ, including Roxas City, two (2) – Hinigaran; Sixth District: Municipalities
First District: Roxas City and the of Kabankalan, Ilog, Cauayan, Candoni,
Municipalities of Panay, Pilar, Sipalay, and Hinobaan.
Pontevedra, President Roxas, Ma-ayon,
and Panitan; Second District: BACOLOD CITY, one (1)
Municipalities of Dumalag, Jamindan,
Mambusao, Sapian, Sigma, Tapaz, REGION VII
Cuartero, Dao, Dumarao, and Ivisan.
BOHOL, with Tagbilaran City, three (3) –
ILOILO, five (5) – First District: First District: Tagbilaran City and the
Municipalities of Guimbal, Igbaras, San Municipalities of Alburquerque,
Joaquin, Tigbauan, Tubungan, Miagao, Antequera, Baclayon, Balilihan, Calape,
and Oton; Second District; Municipalities Catigbian, Corella, Cortes, Dauis, Loon,
of Jordan, Nueva Valencia, Buenavista, Maribojoc, Panglao, Sikatuna, and
Pavia, Leganes, Sta. Barbara, New Tubigon; Second District: Municipalities
Lucena, Zarraga, Alimodian, Leon, and of Clarin, Inabangan, Sagbayan,
San Miguel; Third District: Municipalities Buenavista, Jetafe, Dagohoy, Danao,
of Maasin, Cabatuan, Janiuay, San Miguel, Trinidad, Talibon, Ubay,
Badiangan, Mina, Pototan, Calinog, Bien Unido, San Isidro, and Pres. C. P.
Lambunao, and Bingawan; Fourth Garcia; Third District: Municipalities of
District: Municipalities of Passi, San Loay, Loboc, Bilar, Batuan, Carmen,
Enrique, Duenas, Dingle, Barotac Sevilla, Lila, Dimiao, Valencia, Garcia-
Nuevo, Dumangas, Anilao, and Banate; Hernandez, Jagna, Duero, Guindulman,
Fifth District: Municipalities of Barotac Candijay, Mabini, Alicia, Anda, Sierra
Viejo, San Rafael, Ajuy, Lemery, Bullones, and Pilar.
Concepcion, Sara, San Dionisio, Batad,
Estancia, Balasan, and Carles. CEBU, with the Cities of Danao, Lapu-
Lapu, Mandaue, and Toledo, six (6) –
ILOILO CITY, one (1) First District: Municipalities of Talisay,
Minglanilla, Naga, San Fernando,
NEGROS OCCIDENTAL, with the Cities Carcar, and Sibongan; Second District:
of San Carlos, Cadiz, Bago, La Carlota, Municipalities of Argao, Dalaguete,
Alcoy, Boljoon, Oslob, Santander, NEGROS ORIENTAL, with the Cities of
Samboan, Ginatilan, Malabuyoc, Bais, Canlaon, and Dumaguete, three
Alegria, Badian, Moal- boal, Alcantara, (3) – First District: Canlaon City and the
Ronda, and Dumanjug; Third District: Municipalities of Vallehermoso,
Toledo City and the Municipalities of Guihulngan, La Libertad, Jimalalud,
Barili, Alonguinsan, Pinamungajan, Tayasan, Ayungon, Bindoy, and
Balamban, Asturias, and Tuburan; Manjuyod; Second District: Bais City,
Fourth District: Municipalities of Dumaguete City, and the Municipalities
Tabuelan, San Remigio, Sta. Fe, of Mabinay, Tanjay, Pamplona, Amlan,
Bantayan, Madridejos, Daan- bantayan, San Jose, and Sibulan; Third District:
Medellin, Bogo, and Tabogon; Fifth Municipalities of Valencia, Bacong,
District: Danao City and the Dauin, Zamboanguita, Siaton, Sta.
Municipalities of Borbon, Sogod, Catalina, Bayawan, and Basay.
Catmon, Carmen, Compostela, Liloan,
San Francisco, Poro, Tudela, and Pilar; SIQUIJOR, one (1)
Sixth District: Lapu-lapu City, Mandanue
City, and the Municipalities of Cordova REGION VIII
and Consolacion.
LEYTE, with the Cities of Tacloban and
CEBU CITY, two (2) – First District: Ormoc, five (5) – First District: Tacloban
Barangays of Adlawon, Agsungot, Apas, City and the municipalities of
Bacayan, Banilad, Binaliw, Budla-an, Alangalang, Babatngon, Palo, San
Busay, Cmbinocot, Camputhaw, Capitol Miguel, Sta. Fe, Tanauan, and Talosa;
Site, Carreta, Central Proper, Cogon- Second District: Municipalities of
Ramos, Day-as, Ermita, Guba, Barugo, Barauen, Capoocan, Carigara,
Hipodromo, Kalubihan, Kamagayan, Dagami, Dulag, Jaro, Julita, La Paz,
Kasambagan, Lahug, Lorega, Lusaran, Mayorga, MacArcthur, Pastrana,
Luz, Mabini, Mabolo, Malubog, Pahina Tabontabon, and Tunga; Third District:
Central, Parian, Paril, Pit-os, Pulang Municipalities of Almeria, Biliran,
Bato, Sambag 1, Sambag 11, San Cabucgayan, Caibiran, Calubian,
Antonio, San Jose, San Roque, Sta. Culaba, Kawayan, Leyte, Maripipi,
Cruz, Sirao, T. Padilla, Talamban, Naval, San Isidro, Tabango, and Villaba;
Taptap, Tejero, Tinago, and Zapatera; Fourth District: Ormoc city and the
Second District: Barangays of Babag, Municipalities of Albuera, Isabel,
Basak Pardo, Basak San Nicolas, Kananga, Matagob, Merida, and
Bonbon, Buhisan, Bulacao pardo, Bout- Palompon; Fifth District: Municipalities of
Taup, Calamba, Cogon Pardo, Duljo Abuyog, Bato, Baybay, Hilongos,
Fatima, Guadalupe, Inayawan, Hindang, Inopacan, Javier, Mahaplag,
Kalunasan, Kinasang-an Pardo, and Matalom.
Labangon, Mambaling, Pahina San
Nicolas, Pamutan, Pardo, Pasil Abuno, SOUTHERN LEYTE, one (1)
Sibugay, Punta Princesa, Quiot, San
Nicolas, Sawang Calero, Sinsin, Suba EASTERN SAMAR, one (1)
Pasil, Sudlon, Sapangdako, Tabunan,
Tigbao, Tisa, and Toong. NORTHERN SAMAR, two (2) – First
District: Municipalities of Allen, Biri,
Bobon, Capul, Catarman, Lavezares, of Salug; Godod, Liloy, Tampilisan,
Lope de Vega, Rosario, San Antonio, Labason, Gutalac, Siocon, Baliquian,
San Isidro, San Jose, San Vicente, Siraway, Bacungan, and Sibuco.
Victoria, and Mondragon; Second
District: Municipalities of Silvino Lobos, ZAMBOANGA DEL SUR, with Pagadian
San Roque, Pambuyan, Las Navas, City, three (3) – First District: Pagadian
Catubig, Laoang, Palapag, Mapanas, City and the Municipalities of Dumingag,
Gamay, and Lapinig. Mahayag, Molave, Tambulig, Midsalip,
R. Magsaysay, Labangan, Aurora,
SAMAR, with Calbayog City, two (2) – Tukuran, Josefina, and Don Mariano
First District: Calbayog City and the Marcos; Second District: Municipalities
Municipalities of almagro, Gandara, of Dumalinao, San Pablo, Tabina, Dima-
Matuguinao, Pag- sanghan, San Jorge, taling, Dinas, San Miguel, Margosatubig,
Santa Margarita, Sto. Nino, Tagapul-an, Lapuyan, Kumalarang, Bayog,
and Tarangnan; Second District: Lakewood, Pitogo, and Vincenzo A.
Municipalities of Basey, Calbiga, Sagun; Third District: Municipalities of
Catbalogan, Daram, Hinabangan, San Malangas, Alicia, Olutanga, Mabuhay,
Jose de Buan, Jiabong, Marabut, Siay, Kabasalan, Naga, Ipil, Titay,
Motiong, Pinabacadao, San Sebastian, Tungawan, Buug, Imelda, Payao,
Sta. Rita, Talalora, Villareal, Wright, and Talusan, Diplahan, and Roseller Lim.
Zumarraga.
ZAMBOANGA CITY, one (1)
REGION IX
REGION X
BASILAN, one (1)
AGUSAN DEL NORTE, with the City
SULU, two (2) – First District: ofButuan, two (2) – First District: Butuan
Municipalities of Jolo, Marungas, City and the Municipality of Las Nieves,
Indanan, Pangutaran, Parang, Talipao, Second District: Municipalities of
Maimbung, and Patikul; Second District: Buenavista, Cabadbaran, Carmen,
Municipalities of Siasi, Pandami, Pata, Jabonga, Kitcharao, Magallanes,
Luuk, K. Culuang, Panamao, New Nasipit,Santiago, Tubay, and Remedios
Panamao, Tapul, Lungus, and Tongkil. T. Romualdez.

TAWI-TAWI, one (1) AGUSAN DEL SUR, one (1)

ZAMBOANGA DEL NORTE, with the BUKIDNON, three (3) – First District:
Cities of Dapitan and Dipolog, three (3) Municipalities of Talakag, Baungon,
– First District: Dapitan City and the Malitbog, Libona, Manolo Fortich,
Municipalities of Sibutad, Rizal, La Sumialo, Panganto-can, and Kalilangan;
Libertad, Mutia, Pinan, Sergio Osmena, Second District: Municipalities of Malay-
Sr., and Polanco; Second District: balay, Lantapan, Cabanglasan,
Dipolog City and the Municipalities of Valencia, San Fernando, and
Katipunan, Pres. Manuel A. Roxas, Impasugong; Third District:
Manukan, Ponot, Siayan, and Municipalities of Maramag, Quezon,
Sindangan; Third District: Municipalities
Don Carlos, Kitaotao, Dangcagan, DAVAO DEL NORTE, three (3) – First
Kibawe, Damulog, and Kadingilan. District: Municipalities of Moncayo,
Montevista, Compostela, Nabunturan,
CAMIGUIN, one (1) New Bataan, Mawab, and San Mariano;
Second District: Municipalities of San
MISAMIS OCCIDENTAL, with the Cities Vicente, Capalong,Asuncion, New
of Oroquieta, Ozamiz and Tangub, two Corella, Tagum, Maco, Mabini, and
(2) – First District: Oroquieta City and Pantukan; Third District: Municipalities
the Municipalities of Baliangao, Plaridel, of Sto. Tomas, Carmen, Panabo, Babak,
Calamba, Sapang Dalaga, Lopez Jaena, Samal, and Kaputian.
Aloran, Concepcion, Panaon, and
Jimenez; Second District: Ozamiz City, DAVAO ORIENTAL, two (2) – First
Tangub City, and the Municipalities of District: Municipalities ofBoston, Cateel,
Bonifacio, Tudela, Clarin, Sinacaban, Baganga, Caraga, Manay,
and Don Mariano Marcos. andTarragona; Second District:
Municipalities of Mati, Banaybanay,
MISAMIS ORIENTAL, with Gingoog Lupon,San Isidro, and Governor
City, two (2) – First District: Gingoog Generoso.
City and the Municipalities of
Magsaysay, Talisayan, Balingoan, DAVAO DEL SUR, two (2) – First
Medina, Kinogitan, Sugbongcogon, District: Municipalities of Magsaysay,
Binuangan, Salay, Lagonglong, and Bansalan, Sta. Cruz, Matanao, Digos,
Balingasag; Second District: Hagonoy, and Padada; Second District:
Municipalities of Claveria, Jasaan, Municipalities of Kiblawan, Sulop,
Villanueva, Tagoloan, Alubijid, El Malalag, Sta. Maria, Malita, Jose Abad
Salvador, Gitagum, Initao, Santos, Don Marcelino, and Saranggani.
Laguindingan, Libertad, Lugait,
Manticao, Naawan, and Opol. DAVAO CITY, three (3) – First District:
Districts of
CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY, one (1) Poblacion and Talomo; Second District:
Districts of
SURIGAO DEL NORTE, with the City of Buhangin, Bunawan, and Paquibato;
Surigao, two (2) – First District: Third District: Districts of Toril, Tugbok,
Municipalities of Sta. Monica, San Isidro, Calinan, andBaguio.
Del Carme, Pilar, General Luna, Dapa,
Socorro, Burgos, San Benito, Loreto, SOUTH COTABATO, with General
Libjo, Dinagat, Cagdianao, Tubajon, and Santos City, three (3) – First District:
Basilisa; Second District: Surigao City General Santos City, and the
and the Municipalities of San Francisco, Municipalities of Polomolok, Tampakan,
Tagana-an, Sison, Placer, Malimono, and Tupi; Second District: Municipalities
Bacauag, Gigaquit, Tubod, Mainit, of Tantangan, Norala, Banga, Sto. Nino,
Alegria, and Claver. Surallah, Koronadal, Tiboli,
andLakeSebu; Third District:
REGION XI Municipalities of Alabel, Malapatan,
Glan, Maasim, Kiamba, Maitum, and
Malungon.
SURIGAO DEL SUR, two (2) – First Talaya, South Upi, Datu Piang, Datu
District: Municipalities of Bayabas, Paglas, and Ampatuan.
Cantilan, Carrascal, Cortes, Lanuza,
Madrid, San Miguel, Tago, Tandag, NORTH COTABATO, two (2) – First
Cagwit, Marihatag, San Agustin, District: Municipalities of Carmen,
Carmen, and Lianga; Second District: Kabacan, Libungan, Midsayap,
Municipalities of Barobo, Bislig, Pigkawayan, Pikit, Aleosan, Banisilan,
Hinatuan, Lingig, and Tagbina. and Alamada; Second District:
Municipalities of Kidapawan, Makilala,
REGION XII Matalam, Antipas, Mlang, Pres. Roxas
Tulunan, and Magpet.
LANAO DEL NORTE, with Iligan City,
two (2) – First District: Iligan City, SULTAN KUDARAT, one (1)
Linamon, Kauswagan,Bacolod, Maigo,
Kolambugan, Tubod, and Baroy; Section 2. The Commission on Elections
Second District: Baloi, Pantar, Tagoloan, is hereby empowered to make minor
Poona-Piagapo, Pantao-Ragat, adjustments of the reapportionment
Matungao, Tangkal, Munai, Nunungan, herein made.
Magsaysay,Salvador, Kapatagan,
Karomatan. Sapad, and Lala. Section 3. Any province that may
hereafter be created, or any city whose
LANAO DEL SUR, with Marawi City, (2) population may hereafter increase to
– First District: Marawi City and the more than two hundred fifty thousand
Municipalities of Marantao, Piagapo, shall be entitiled in the immediately
Saguiaran, Tagoloan, Kapai, Ditsaan – following election to at least one
Ramain, Bubong, Buadiposo-Buntong, Member or such number of Members as
Bumbaran, Maguing, Wao, Molundo, it may be entitled to on the basis of the
Taraka, Lumba-Bayabao, Poona- number of its inhabitants and according
Bayabao, Masiu and Tamparan; Second to the standards setforth in paragraph
District: Municipalities of Balindong, (3), Section 5 of Article VI of the
Tugaya, Bacolod Grande, Madalum, Constitution. The number of Members
Madamba, Pualas, Ganassi, apportioned to the province out of which
Pagayawan, Sultan Gumander, such new province was created or
Malabang, Balabagan, Kapatagan, where the city, whose population has so
Marogong, Tubaran, Binidayan, increased, is geographically located
Lumbatan, Lumbayanague, Butig, shall be correspondingly adjusted by the
Bayang and Calanogas. Commission on Elections but such
adjustment shall not be made within one
MAGUINDANAO, with Cotabato City, hundred and twenty days before the
two (2) – First District: Cotabato City and election.
the Municipalities of Parang, Sultan
Kudarat, Buldon, Barira, Dinaig, Section 4. This Ordinance shall be
Kabuntalan, Matanog and Upi; Second appended to the Constitution proposed
District: Municipalities of Pagalunga, by the 1986 Constitutional Commission,
Buluan, Sultan sa Barongis, Maganoy, and shall be submitted to a plebiscite
simultaneously with such Constitution,
and shall take effect upon its ratification
by a majority of the votes cast in such
plebiscite.