THE CONSTITUTION OF THE PHILIPPINES (SALIGANG BATAS NG PILIPINAS) This is the supreme law of the Philippines.

The constitution is Currently in effect, enacted in 1987 during the administration of President Corazon Aquino and is popularly known as the 1987

constitution

The Philippine constitutional experts recognizes three other previous constitutions as having effectively governed the country. These are: 1. The 1935 Commonwealth Constitution 2. The 1973 constitution 3. The 1986 Freedom Constitution Constitutions for the Philippines were also drafted and adopted during the short-lived governments of Presidents Emilio Aguinaldo (1898) and Jos P. Laurel (1943).

In 1986, following the People Power Revolution which ousted Ferdinand Marcos as president, and following on her own inauguration, Corazn 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.[4] President Aquino later issued 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.

In 1986, following the People Power Revolution which ousted Ferdinand Marcos as president, and following on her own inauguration, Corazn 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.[4] President Aquino later issued 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.

The Commission finished the draft charter within four months after it was convened. Several 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. Brocka would walk out of the Commission before its completion, and two other delegates would dissent from the final draft. The ConCom completed their task on 12 October 1986 and presented the draft constitution to President Aquino on October 15, 1986.

After a period of nationwide information campaign, a plebiscite for its ratification was held on February 2, 1987. More than three-fourths of all votes cast, 76.37% (or 17,059,495 voters) favored ratification as against 22.65% (or 5,058,714 voters) who voted against ratification. On 11 February 1987, the new constitution was proclaimed ratified and took effect. On that same day, Aquino, the other government officials, and the Armed Forces of the Philippines pledged allegiance to the Constitution.

A preamble is an introductory and expressionary statement in a document that explains the document's purpose and underlying philosophy. When applied to the opening paragraphs of a statute, it may recite historical facts pertinent to the subject of the statute. It is distinct from the long title or enacting formula of a law.

The Preamble reads: 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.

The Constitution is divided into 18 parts, excluding the Preamble, which are called Articles. The Articles are as follows: Article I - National Territory Article II - Declaration of Principles and State Policies Article III - Bill of Rights Article IV - Citizenship Article V - Suffrage Article VI - Legislative Department Article VII - Executive Department Article VIII - Judicial Department Article IX - Constitutional Commission Article X - Local Government Article XI - Accountability of Public Officers Article XII - National Economy and Patrimony Article XIII - Social Justice and Human Rights Article XIV - Education, Science and Technology, Arts, Culture and Sports Article XV - The Family Article XVI - General Provisions Article XVII - Amendments or Revisions Article XVIII - Transitory Provisions