1896 AND 1897

CONSTITUTION

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The Rise of People Power: From Aquino's Assassination to the Edsa
Revolution (1983-1986)
A political crisis in the Philippines began
after the assassination of Benigno Aquino Jr.
on August 21, 1983, which intensified
demonstrations against Ferdinand Marcos's
authoritarian regime. In an attempt to
legitimize his presidency, Marcos called for
snap elections in February 1986, but the
results were marred by claims of massive
fraud and violence.
· Feb. 1986 - snap elections was held.
Ferdinand Marcos Sr. was proclaimed
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winner by the Batasang Pambansa
· Mrs. Corazon Aquino - together with
her supporters, they opposed to the result,
saying that there is a massive cheating
committed. She went around the country and
called for civil disobedience

· Juan Ponce Enrile and Fidel Ramos - 2

of Marcos men who staged a coup d'etat,
resulting to the Edsa People Power which
toppled down the Marcos Government and
later installed Mrs. Aquino as president on
February 25,1896.
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The Freedom Constitution (1986)

On March 23, 1986, President Corazon

Aquino issued Proclamation No. 3,
establishing the "Freedom Constitution" as
a temporary replacement for the 1973
Constitution. This interim constitution granted
the President legislative powers until a new
legislature convened under a new
constitution. It also created a Constitutional
CONCOM),
Commission formally appointed by Proclamation No. 9 on April 23,
1986, tasked with drafting a new charter reflecting Filipino ideals. They
were charged with finalizing a new constitution by September 2, 1986.
The Freedom Constitution essentially adopted some provisions of the
1973 Constitution, notably the Bill of Rights. 4
CONCOM Commisioners qualifications:
Proclamation No.9 appointed 48 Con-Com
Commisioners and based on it, CONCOM commissioners
had to meet the following qualifications
o A natural-born citizen of the Philippines
o A qualified voter
o A person with recognized probity, independence,
nationalism, and patriotism
Only 47 commissioners are qualified. Former Chief
Justice Roberto Concepcion was the oldest member
(84 yrs. old) with Chito Gascon the youngest (22 yrs. 5
The 1987 Constitution: A Foundation for Philippine
Democracy
· June 2, 1896
The Constitutional Commission (CONCOM), inaugurated on June 2, 1986,
with Vice President Salvador H. Laurel presiding, finalized a draft
constitution after approximately 111 days of often contentious debate on
issues including the death penalty, economic policies, land reform,
government structure, and the presence of American military bases.
· October 12, 1896
On October 12, 1986, 45 of the 47 members (six had briefly walked out)
voted to approve the draft. Two members, Jose Suarez and Jaime
Tadeo, voted against it.
· October 15, 1986 & February 2, 1987
The signed constitution was submitted to President Aquino on October 15,
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1986, and ratified by the Filipino people in a February 2, 1987 plebiscite
Proclamation of the Constitution

President Aquino issued Proclamation No.

58 proclaiming the Constitution on February 11,
1987. The Supreme Court, however, ruled that
the date of the proclamation was February 2,
1987 when the people ratified it, which was in
conformity with Article XVIII of the Constitution
which states that the Constitution shall take
upon the
effect ratification by a majority of the votes and shall
immediately
supersedes all previous constitutions .On that same day,
President Aquino, government officials, and the military pledged
allegiance to the New Constitution. 7
Key Provisions of the 1987 Constitution

The 1987 Constitution consists of 18 articles with a preamble. Among

its significant provisions are:

1. A presidential system of government restores the bicameral Congress

of the Philippines, composed of a Senate and a House of Representatives.

2. A modified Bill of Rights (Article III) details the rights of every Filipino
citizen. Much emphasis was placed on the writing of this provision after
the violations committed during the Marcos dictatorship. In addition, the
constitution includes the abolition of death penalty, except when Congress
provides otherwise with regard to "heinous crimes." (Article III, Section 19)
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3. The creation of a Commission on Human Rights which,
under Section 18, Article XIII, is tasked to investigate all forms of
human rights violations involving civil and political rights. It
provides appropriate legal measures for the protection of human
rights of all persons within the Philippines, and several other
powers in relation to the protection of human rights.

4. The recognition of an Autonomous Region of Muslim

Mindanao and the Cordilleras.

5. Limited political autonomy for local government units like the

provinces, cities, municipalities and barangays and instructing
the Congress to establish a Local Government Code. 9
 The complete provisions with summarized key details are as
follows:

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12
The Preamble of the 1987 Constitution

"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." 13
The Structure of the Philippine Government

The Philippine government is administered by a presidential system of

government with a bicameral legislature and an independent judiciary. It
has three branches of government:

· The Executive: Headed by the President and Cabinet

· The Legislative: Composed of the Senate headed by the Senate

President and the House of Representatives headed by the Speaker of the
House

· The Judiciary: Composed of the Supreme Court headed by the Chief

Justice, and the lower courts
Key Individuals and Institutions

• House of Representatives: Composed of

congressmen/women (officially called Representatives)
with a three-year term (limited to three consecutive
terms). Sectoral representatives are members of party-
list organizations for marginalized groups.

• Senate: Composed of 24 senators serving six-year

terms (half the senators elected every three years).
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Defining Citizenship and Territory

The 1987 Philippine Constitution defines citizens as

those who were citizens at its adoption, those with Filipino
parents, those born before January 17, 1973, to Filipino mothers
who elect Philippine citizenship upon reaching adulthood, and
those naturalized according to law. Philippine territory
encompasses the archipelago's islands and waters, all areas
under Philippine sovereignty or jurisdiction (including territorial
sea, seabed, subsoil, insular shelves, and other submarine
areas), and the waters connecting the islands, considered
internal waters regardless of breadth. 16
The Fifth Philippine Republic: Presidents Under the 1987
Constitution
1. Corazon Aquino (1986-1992)

- First female president of the Philippines

- Rose to power after the People Power

Revolution, which overthrew Ferdinand Marcos.

- Known for restoring democratic processes and

-institutions
Faced challenges such
after years as coup attempts and economic difficulties
of dictatorship.
during her term.
- Remembered
Convened a asConstitutional
a symbol of democracy
Commission and an advocate for human
that
rights.
drafted the 1987 Constitution.
 2. Fidel V. Ramos (1992-1998)

- Served as the 12th president of the

Philippines.

- A key player in the 1986 People Power

Revolution, supporting Corazon Aquino.

- His presidency focused on economic

- Oversaw significant economic
reforms, growth, with
deregulation, and an average
political GNP
stability.
growth of 5%.
- Achieved peace agreements with various18
- Known for his commitment to national reconciliation and
rebel groups, enhancing national security.
 3. Joseph "Erap" Estrada (1998-2001)
- Elected president with a campaign focused
on anti-poverty initiatives.
- His term was characterized by reliance on
patronage and dole-out programs.
- Faced increasing poverty rates, exacerbated
by the Asian currency crisis.
- Impeached in 2000 for corruption, leading
to widespread protests (EDSA II).
- Resigned in 2001 after military and public support dwindled.
- Convicted for plunder but was later pardoned after over six years
in detention.
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 4. Gloria Macapagal Arroyo (2001-
2010)
- Served as the 14th president of the
Philippines.
- Took office following the ousting of Joseph
Estrada amid corruption allegations.
- Focused on economic growth,
implementing policies that led to increased
GDP.
- Faced numerous controversies and
accusations of electoral
- Known for her efforts infraud during herdevelopment and foreign
infrastructure
presidency.
investment.
- Her administration was marked by political turmoil and multiple coup
attempts. 20
 5. Benigno Aquino III (2010-2016)
- Served as the 15th president of the
Philippines.
- Elected on an anti-corruption platform,
promoting transparency and good
governance.
- Oversaw significant economic growth and
improved credit ratings during his term.
- Known for the "Daang Matuwid" (Straight
Path) governance approach.

- Faced challenges such as the Mamasapano incident and Typhoon Haiyan

disaster.
- His administration was noted for advancing social programs and
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infrastructure projects.
6. Rodrigo Duterte (2016-2022)
- Elected as the 16th president of the
Philippines.
- Known for his controversial anti-drug
campaign, which drew international criticism.
- Focused on infrastructure development
through the "Build, Build, Build" program.
- Advocated for a shift to a federal
government structure to decentralize power.
- His presidency was marked by a strongman image and policies
promoting law and order.
- Faced various human rights concerns and allegations of extrajudicial
killings during his term.
 7. Ferdinand Marcos Jr. (2022-Present)
- Elected as the 17th president of the
Philippines, following a controversial political
legacy.
- Son of former dictator Ferdinand Marcos, he
campaigned on promises of unity and economic
recovery.
- His administration has focused on agriculture,
infrastructure, and job creation.
- Faces challenges related to historical
- Advocated for stronger ties with and
revisionism boththe
Western
legacyand Asian countries.
of martial law.
- Continues to navigate the complexities of Philippine politics and
public sentiment regarding his family's past.
1973 VS. 1987 CONSTITUTION

Similarities
Both the 1973 and 1987 Philippine Constitutions establish
a democratic, sovereign state with a separation of powers,
a Bill of Rights, and commitments to social justice and
human rights.
Common Differences

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Generalization:

The 1986 Provisional Constitution and the 1987 Constitution of the

Philippines are both significant documents in the country's history,
marking a transition from authoritarian rule to a democratic system.
The 1986 Constitution, also known as the "Freedom Constitution,"
was a temporary measure implemented after the People Power
Revolution that ousted Ferdinand Marcos. It served as a bridge between
the Marcos regime and the establishment of a more permanent
constitution. The 1987 Constitution, which remains in effect today, was
drafted by a Constitutional Commission and ratified through a
nationwide plebiscite. The 1986 Provisional Constitution served as a26
bridge to democracy, while the 1987 Constitution provides a framework
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