1987 PHILIPPINE
CONSTITUTION
February 2, 1987
The Preamble
We, the sovereign Filipino people, imploring the aid of
Almighty God, in order to build a just and humane society,
and establish a Government that shall embody our ideals
and aspirations, promote the common good, conserve and
develop our patrimony, and secure to ourselves and our
posterity, the blessings of independence and democracy
under the rule of law and a regime of truth, justice,
freedom, love, equality, and peace, do ordain and
promulgate this Constitution.
Kami, ang nakapangyayaring sambayanang Pilipino, na
humihingi ng tulong sa Makapangyarihang Diyos, upang
bumuo ng isang makatarungan at makataong lipunan at
magtatag ng isang Pamahalaan nakakatawan sa aming
mga mithiin at mga lunggatiin, magtataguyod ng kabutihan
sa bawat isa, mangangalaga at magpapaunlad ng aming
kamanahan, at titiyak para saming sarili at angkanang
susunod ng mga biyaya ng kalayaan at demokrasya sa
ilalim ng pananaig ng batas at ng pamamahalang puspos
ng katotohanan, katarungan, kalayaan, pag-ibig,
pagkakapantay-pantay at kapayapaan, ay naglalagda at
naghahayag ng Konstitusyong ito.
The Preamble is not a source of rights or of obligations.
However, because it sets down the origin, scope, and
purpose of the Constitution, it is useful as an aid in the
construction (interpretation) of the Constitution.
Its origin, or authorship, is the will of the sovereign
Filipino people.
Article I
National Territory
Article II
Declaration of Principles & State Policies
It is a statement of the basic ideological principles and
policies that underlie the Constitution. As such, the
provisions shed light on the meaning of the other provisions
of the Constitution and they are guide for all departments of
the government in the implementation of the Constitution.
Sec 1 - The Philippines is a democratic and republican
State. Sovereignty resides in the people and all
government authority emanates from them.
Sec 2 - The Philippines renounces war as an instrument
of national policy, adopts the generally accepted
principles of international law as part of the law of the
land and adheres to the policy of peace, equally, justice,
freedom, cooperation, and amity with all nations.
Sec 3 - Civilian authority is, at all times, supreme over
the military. The Armed Forces of the Philippines is the
protector of the people and the State. Its goal is to
secure the sovereignty of the State and the integrity of
the national territory.
Sec 4 - The prime duty of the Government is to serve
and protect the people. The Government may call upon
the people to defend the State and, in the fulfillment
thereof, all citizens may be required, under conditions
provided by law, to render personal military or civil
service
Sec 5 - The maintenance of peace and order, the
protection of life, liberty, and property, and the promotion
of the general welfare are essential for the enjoyment by
all the people of the blessings of democracy.
Sec 6 - The separation of Church and State shall be
inviolable.
Sec 7 - The State shall pursue an independent foreign
policy. In its relations with other states the paramount
consideration shall be national sovereignty, territorial
integrity, national interest, and the right to self-
determination.
Sec 8 - The Philippines, consistent with the national
interest, adopts and pursues a policy of freedom from
nuclear weapons in its territory.
Sec 9 - The State shall promote a just and dynamic
social order that will ensure the prosperity and
independence of the nation and free the people from
poverty through policies that provide adequate social
services, promote full employment, a rising standard of
living, and an improved quality of life for all.
Sec 10 - The State shall promote social justice in all
phases of national development.
Sec 11 - The State values the dignity of every human
person and guarantees full respect for human rights.
Sec 12 - The State recognizes the sanctity of family life
and shall protect and strengthen the family as a basic
autonomous social institution. It shall equally protect the
life of the mother and the life of the unborn from
conception. The natural and primary right and duty of
parents in the rearing of the young for civic efficiency
and the development of moral character shall receive the
support of the Government.
Sec 13 - The State recognizes the vital role of the youth
in nation-building and shall promote and protect their
physical, moral, spiritual, intellectual, and social well-
being. It shall inculcate in the youth patriotism and
nationalism, and encourage their involvement in public
and civic affairs.
Sec 14 - The State recognizes the role of women in
nation-building, and shall ensure the fundamental
equality before the law of women and men.
Sec 15 - The State shall protect and promote the right to
health of the people and instill health consciousness
among them
Sec 16 - The State shall protect and advance the right of
the people to a balanced and healthful ecology in accord
with the rhythm and harmony of nature.
Sec 17 - The State shall give priority to education,
science and technology, arts, culture, and sports to
foster patriotism and nationalism, accelerate social
progress, and promote total human liberation and
development.
Sec 18 - The State affirms labor as a primary social
economic force. It shall protect the rights of workers and
promote their welfare.
Sec 19 - The State shall develop a self-reliant and
independent national economy effectively controlled by
Filipinos.
Sec 20 - The State recognizes the indispensable role of
the private sector, encourages private enterprise, and
provides incentives to needed investments.
Sec 21 - The State shall promote comprehensive rural
development and agrarian reform.
Sec 22 - The State recognizes and promotes the rights
of indigenous cultural communities within the framework
of national unity and development.
Sec 23 - The State shall encourage non-governmental,
community-based, or sectoral organizations that promote
the welfare of the nation.
Sec 24 - The State recognizes the vital role of
communication and information in nation-building.
Sec 25 - The State shall ensure the autonomy of local
governments.
Sec 26 - The State shall guarantee equal access to
opportunities for public service, and prohibit political
dynasties as may be defined by law.
Sec 27 - The State shall maintain honesty and integrity in
the public service and take positive and effective
measures against graft and corruption.
Sec 28 - Subject to reasonable conditions prescribed by
law, the State adopts and implements a policy of full
public disclosure of all its transactions involving public
interest.
Article III
Bill of Rights
Government is powerful. When unlimited, it becomes
tyrannical. The Bill of Rights is a guarantee that there are
certain areas of a person’s life, liberty, and property which
governmental power may not touch.
The totality of governmental power is contained in three
great powers: police power, power of eminent
domain, and power of taxation. These powers are
considered inherent powers because they belong to the
very essence of government and without them, no
government can exist. A Constitution can only define and
delimit them and allocate their exercise among various
government agencies. A Constitution does not grant
them.
Police Power
The power vested in the legislature by the constitution to
make, ordain, and establish all manner of wholesome
and reasonable laws, statutes, ordinances, either with
penalties or without, not repugnant to the constitution, as
they shall judge to be for the good and welfare of the
commonwealth, and the subjects of the same.
The power of promoting public welfare by restraining and
regulating the use of liberty and property.
Power of Eminent Domain
The power of the State to take (or expropriate) private
property for public use upon paying to the owner a just
compensation to be ascertained according to law.
Power of Taxation
The power of the State to impose charge or burden upon
persons, property, or property rights, for the use and
support of the government and to enable it to discharge
its appropriate functions.
Section 1
No person shall be deprived of life, liberty, or property
without due process of law, nor shall any person be
denied the equal protection of the laws.
Section 2
The right of the people to be secure in their persons,
houses, papers, and effects against unreasonable
searches and seizures of whatever nature and for any
purpose shall be inviolable, and no search warrant or
warrant of arrest shall issue except upon probable cause
to be determined personally by the judge after
examination under oath or affirmation of the complainant
and the witnesses he may produce, and particularly
describing the place to be searched and the persons or
things to be seized.
Section 3
The privacy of communication and correspondence shall
be inviolable except upon lawful order of the court, or
when public safety or order requires otherwise as
prescribed by law.
Section 4
No law shall be passed abridging the freedom of speech,
of expression, or of the press, or the right of the people
peaceably to assemble 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. The free
exercise and enjoyment of religious profession and
worship, without discrimination or preference, shall
forever be allowed. No religious test shall be required for
the exercise of civil or political rights.
Section 6
The liberty of abode and of changing the same within the
limits prescribed by law shall not be impaired except
upon lawful order of the court. Neither shall the right to
travel be impaired except in the interest of national
security, public safety, or public health, as may be
provided by law.
Section 7
The right of the people to information on matters of
public concern shall be recognized. Access to official
records, and to documents, and papers pertaining to
official acts, transactions, or decisions, as well as to
government research data used as basis for policy
development, shall be afforded the citizen, subject to
such limitations as may be provided by law.
Section 8
The right of the people, including those employed in the
public and private sectors, to form unions, associations,
or societies for purposes not contrary to law shall not be
abridged.
Section 9
Private property shall not be taken for public use
without just compensation
Section 10
No law impairing the obligation of contracts shall
be passed.
Section 11
Free access to the courts and quasi-judicial bodies and
adequate legal assistance shall not be denied to any
person by reason of poverty.
Section 12
1. Any person under investigation for the commission of
an offense shall have the right to be informed of his right
to remain silent and to have competent and independent
counsel preferably of his own choice. If the person
cannot afford the services of counsel, he must be
provided with one. These rights cannot be waived except
in writing and in the presence of counsel.
Section 12
2. No torture, force, violence, threat, intimidation, or any
other means which vitiate the free will shall be used
against him. Secret detention places, solitary,
incommunicado, or other similar forms of detention are
prohibited.
Section 13
All persons, except those charged with offenses
punishable by reclusion perpetua when evidence of guilt
is strong, shall, before conviction, be bailable by
sufficient securities, or be released on recognizance as
may be provided by law. The right to bail shall not be
impaired even when the privilege of the writ of habeas
corpus is suspended. Excessive bail shall not be
required.
Section 14
1. No person shall be held to answer for a
criminal offense without due process of law.
Section 14
2. In all criminal prosecutions, the accused shall be presumed
innocent until the contrary is proved, and shall enjoy the right to be
heard by himself and counsel, to be informed of the nature and
cause of the accusation against him, to have a speedy, impartial,
and public trial, to meet the witnesses face to face, and to have
compulsory process to secure the attendance of witnesses and the
production of evidence in his behalf. However, after arraignment,
trial may proceed notwithstanding the absence of the accused
provided that he has been duly notified and his failure to appear is
unjustifiable.
Section 15
The privilege of the writ of habeas corpus shall
not be suspended except in cases of invasion or
rebellion when the public safety requires it.
Section 16
All persons shall have the right to a speedy
disposition of their cases before all judicial,
quasi-judicial, or administrative bodies.
Section 17
No person shall be compelled to be a witness
against himself.
Section 18
1. No person shall be detained solely by reason of his
political beliefs and aspirations.
2. No involuntary servitude in any form shall exist except
as a punishment for a crime whereof the party shall have
been duly convicted.
Section 19
1. Excessive fines shall not be imposed, nor
cruel, degrading or inhuman punishment
inflicted. Neither shall death penalty be imposed,
unless, for compelling reasons involving heinous
crimes, the Congress hereafter provides for it.
Any death penalty already imposed shall be
reduced to reclusion perpetua.
Section 19
2. The employment of physical, psychological, or
degrading punishment against any prisoner or detainee
or the use of substandard or inadequate penal facilities
under subhuman conditions shall be dealt with by law.
Section 20
No person shall be imprisoned for debt or non-payment
of a poll tax.
Section 21
No person shall be twice put in jeopardy of punishment
for the same offense. If an act is punished by a law and
an ordinance, conviction or acquittal under either shall
constitute a bar to another prosecution for the same act.
Section 22
No ex post facto law or bill of attainder shall be enacted.
