Definition of “Republican State”

It is one wherein all government authority emanates from the people and is exercised by
representatives chosen by the people.

Essence:

representation – the selection by the citizenry of a corps of public functionaries who derive their
mandate from the people and act on their behalf

renovation – the representatives serves for a limited period only, after which they are replaced or
retained at the option of their princial

Purpose:

— promotion of the common welfare according to the will of the people themselves.

Armed Forces of the Philippines

Art. 2

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.

Civilian authority/supremacy clause (1st sentence)

1. Civilian authority simply means the supremacy of the law because authority, under our
constitutional system, can only come from law.

2. Under this clause, the soldier renounces political ambition.

Mark of sovereignty (2nd and 3rd sentences)

1. Positively, this clause singles out the military as the guardian of the people and of the integrity
of the national territory and therefore ultimately of the majesty of the law.

2. Negatively, it is an expression of disapproval of military abuses.

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.

Philippine National Police

INTERGENERATIONAL RESPONSIBILITY

In July 1993 the Supreme Court of the Philippines ruled in favour of a group of children, acting on their
own behalf as well as that of future generations, and supported by the environment NGO ‘Philippines
Ecological Network.’ They had asked the Government to cancel timber licences on the grounds of a
violation to their constitutional rights to a healthy environment but found themselves appealing to the
Supreme Court on a question of legal standing. The Supreme Court recognised the rights of future
generations to a healthy environment.

 Future generations recognised as legal persons by the Supreme Court of the Philippines.

 The plaintiffs had originally requested a cancellation of Timber Licence Agreements (TLA’s)
which had led to excessive deforestation by claiming their constitutional right to a healthy
environment.

 This ruling is highlighted as exemplary for its recognition of intergenerational responsibility.