Rodrigo C.

Awit II BSN IV-P

Evolution of Philippine Constitution

Malolos Convention
(1898)

Commonwealth
(1935)

Ferdinand Marcos Constitution

(1973)

Freedom Constitution
(1987)

known as the Constitucin Poltica

de Malolos and it was written in
Spanish
Following the declaration of
independence from Spain on June
12, 1898 and transformation of the
dictatorial government to a
revolutionary government on 23
June
convened in Barasoain Church in
Malolos (now Malolos City,
Bulacan)
Pedro Paterno as president and
Gregorio Araneta as vice president
opposed by Apolinario Mabini,
the Prime Minister of the
revolutionary government.
ratified on November 29, 1898,
signed into law on December 23,
approved on January 20, 1899
sanctioned by President Emilio
Aguinaldo on January 21, and
promulgated on January 22

written with an eye to meeting the

approval of the United States
Government as well, so as to
ensure that the U.S. would live up
to its promise to grant the
Philippines independence and not
have a premise to hold onto its
possession on the grounds that it
was too politically immature and
hence unready for full, real
independence and shall be known
as the Republic of the Philippines..
provided for unicameral National
Assembly and the President was
elected to a six-year term without
re-election.
adopts the Regalian Doctrine or
the Principle of State ownership
for all its natural wealth and
provides for the proper utilization
of such wealth by its citizens
ratified on 14 May 1935. amended
in 1940 and in 1947. This version

On 24 August 1970, Congress

enacted RA No. 6132, otherwise
known as the Constitutional
Convention Act, for the purpose of
convening a Constitutional
Convention.
While in the process of drafting a
new Constitution, President
Ferdinand Marcos declared Martial
Law on 21 September 1972.
The draft constitution was
submitted to the Citizen's
Assemblies from January 10 to 17,
1973 for ratification. On 17 January
1973, President Marcos issued
Proclamation No. 1102,
announcing the ratification of the
Constitution of the Republic of the
Philippines.
composed of a preamble and 17
articles, provides for the shift from
presidential to parliamentary
system of government

following the People Power

Revolution which ousted
Ferdinand Marcos as president
Corazon Aquino issued
Proclamation No. 3, declaring a
national policy to implement the
reforms mandated by the people,
protecting their basic rights,
adopting a provisional constitution,
and providing for an orderly
translation to a government under a
new constitution.
Proclamation No. 9, creating a
Constitutional Commission
(popularly abbreviated "Con Com"
in the Philippines) to frame a new
constitution to replace the 1973
Constitution which took effect
during the Marcos martial law
regime
appointed 50 members to the
Commission, including several
former congressmen, a former

 anchored in democratic traditions

that ultimately had their roots in
American soil, modeled on the
constitutions of France, Belgium,
and Latin American countries
states that the people have
exclusive sovereignty
It states basic civil rights,
separated the church from the
state, and called for the creation of
an Assembly of Representatives
which would act as the legislative
body.
It also calls for a Presidential form
of government with the president
elected for a term of four years by
a majority of the Assembly
the authentic and official
constitution of La Republica
Filipina (Philippine Republic).
"Nosotros los Representantes del
Pueblo Filipino, convocados
legtimamente para establecer la
justicia, proveer a la defensa
comn, promover el bien general
y asegurar los beneficios de la
libertad, implorando el auxili del
Soberano Legislador del Universo
para alcanzar estos fines, hemos
votado, decretado y sancionado la
siguiente"

incorporates all the amendments.

was submitted to US President
Franklin D. Roosevelt on 18
March 1935. He, in turn, certified
that it conforms with Public Act
No. 127 which was passed by the
U.S. Congress on 23 March 1935
and forwarded the same to the
Governor General of the Philippine
Islands for ratification of the
Filipino people
The Filipino people, imploring
the aid of Divine Providence, in
order to establish a government
that shall embody their ideals,
conserve and develop the
patrimony of the nation, promote
the general welfare, and secure to
themselves and their posterity the
blessings of independence under a
regime of justice, liberty, and
democracy, do ordain and
promulgate this constitution.

retains the independence of the

Commission on Elections and
establishes two independent
constitutional bodies [Civil Service
Commission and the Commission
on Audit] as well as the National
Economic Development Authority
[NEDA].
constitution was further amended in
1980 and 1981. In the 1980
amendment, the retirement age of
the members of the Judiciary was
extended to 70 years

Supreme Court Chief Justice

(Roberto Concepcion), a Catholic
bishop (Teodoro Bacani) and film
director (Lino Brocka)
finished the draft charter within
four months after it was convened
issues were heatedly debated
during the sessions, including on
the form of government to adopt,
the abolition of the death penalty,
the continued retention of the Clark
and Subic American military bases,
and the integration of economic
policies into the Constitution
ConCom completed their task on
October 12, 1986 and presented the
draft constitution to President
Aquino on October 15, 1986
On February 11, 1987, the new
constitution was proclaimed
ratified and took effect.
establishes the Philippines as a
"democratic and republican State",
where "sovereignty resides in the
people and all government
authority emanates from them".