1987 Philippine Constitution

• The Philippine Constitution was written in 1987
• National territory


  The Philippine archipelago, with all the islands and waters embraced therein, and all other territories over which the Philippines has sovereignty or jurisdiction, consisting of its terrestrial, fluvial and aerial domains, including its territorial sea, the seabed, the subsoil, the insular shelves, and other submarine areas. The waters around between, the connecting the islands of the archipelago, regardless of their breadth and dimensions, from part of the internal waters of the Philippines.
• The Philippines


  • Democratic and republican State
  • Sovereignty resides in the people and all government authority emanates from them
• 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, equality, justice, freedom, cooperation, and amity with all nations
• Civilian authority


  • 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
• Government


  • Prime duty is to serve and protect the people
  • 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
• The maintenance of peace and order, the protection of life, liberty, and property, and promotion of the general welfare are essential for the enjoyment by all the people of the blessings of democracy
• The separation of Church and State shall be inviolable
• Foreign policy


  • Shall be independent
  • Paramount considerations are national sovereignty, territorial integrity, national interest, and the right to self-determination
• The Philippines, consistent with the national interest, adopts and pursues a policy of freedom from nuclear weapons in its territory
• Social order


  • Shall be just and dynamic
  • Shall 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
• The State shall promote social justice in all phases of national development
• The State values the dignity of every human person and guarantees full respect for human rights
• Family


  • The State shall protect and strengthen the family as a basic autonomous social institution
  • 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 youth for civic efficiency and the development of moral character shall receive the support of the Government
• Youth


  • The State shall promote and protect their physical, moral, spiritual, intellectual, and social well-being
  • Shall inculcate in the youth patriotism and nationalism, and encourage their involvement in public and civic affairs
• The State recognizes the role of women in nation-building, and shall ensure the fundamental equality before the law of women and men
• 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
• Education, science and technology, arts, culture, and sports


  • The State shall give priority to them to foster patriotism and nationalism, accelerate social progress, and promote total human liberation and development
• The State affirms labor as a primary social economic force. It shall protect the rights of workers and promote their welfare
• National economy


  • Shall be self-reliant and independent, effectively controlled by Filipinos
• The State recognizes the indispensable role of the private sector, encourages private enterprise, and provides incentives to needed investments
• The State shall promote comprehensive rural development and agrarian reform
• The State recognizes and promotes the rights of indigenous cultural communities within the framework of national unity and development
• The State shall encourage non-governmental, community-based, or sectoral organizations that promote the welfare of the nation
• The State recognizes the vital role of communication and information in nation-building
• The State shall guarantee equal access to opportunities for public service, and prohibit political dynasties as may be defined by law
• The State shall maintain honesty and integrity in the public service and take positive and effective measures against graft and corruption
• The State adopts and implements a policy of full public disclosure of all its transactions involving public interest
• Bill of Rights

  • 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
  • The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects against unreasonable searches and seizures shall be inviolable
  • 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
  • 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
  • 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
  • The right of the people to information on matters of public concern shall be recognized
  • 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
  • Private property shall not be taken for public use without just compensation
  • No law impairing the obligation of contracts shall be passed
  • Free access to the courts and quasi-judicial bodies and adequate legal assistance shall not be denied to any person by reason of poverty
  • 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
  • No torture, force, violence, threat, intimidation, or any other means which violate the free will shall be used against him. Secret detention places, solitary, incommunicado, or other similar forms of detention are prohibited
  • All persons, except those charged with offenses punishable by reclusion perpetua when evidence of guilt is strong, shall, before conviction, be bailable by sufficient sureties, or be released on recognizance as may be provided by law
  • No person shall be held to answer for a criminal offense without due process of law
  • 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
  • All persons shall have the right to a speedy disposition of their cases before all judicial, quasi-judicial, or administrative bodies
  • No person shall be compelled to be a witness against himself
  • No person shall be detained solely by reason of his political beliefs and aspirations
  • No involuntary servitude in any form shall exist except as a punishment for a crime whereof the party shall have been duly convicted
  • 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
  • No person shall be imprisoned for debt or non-payment of a poll tax
  • No person shall be twice put in jeopardy of punishment for the same offense
  • No ex post facto law or bill of attainder shall be enacted
• Citizenship


  • Citizens of the Philippines are those who are citizens at the time of the adoption of the Constitution, those whose fathers or mothers are citizens, those born before January 17, 1973 of Filipino mothers who elect Philippine citizenship upon reaching majority age, and those naturalized in accordance with law
  • Natural-born citizens are those who are citizens from birth without having to perform any act to acquire or perfect their Philippine citizenship
  • Philippine citizenship may be lost or reacquired in the manner provided by law
  • Citizens of the Philippines who marry aliens shall retain their citizenship, unless by their act or omission they are deemed, under the law, to have renounced it
  • Dual allegiance of citizens is inimical to the national interest and shall be dealt with by law
• Suffrage


  • Exercised by all citizens of the Philippines not otherwise disqualified by law, who are at least eighteen years of age, and who shall have resided in the Philippines for at least one year and in the place wherein they propose to vote for at least six months immediately preceding the election
  • No literacy, property, or other substantive requirement shall be imposed on the exercise of suffrage
  • The Congress shall provide a system for securing the secrecy and sanctity of the ballot as well as a system for absentee voting by qualified Filipinos abroad
  • The Congress shall also design a procedure for the disabled and the illiterates to vote without the assistance of other persons
• Legislative Department


  • The legislative power shall be vested in the Congress of the Philippines which shall consist of a Senate and a House of Representatives
  • The Senate shall be composed of twenty-four Senators who shall be elected at large by the qualified voters of the Philippines
  • No person shall be a Senator unless he is a natural-born citizen of the Philippines and, on the day of the election, is at least thirty-five years of age, able to read and write, a registered voter, and a resident of the Philippines for not less than two years immediately preceding the day of the election
  • The term of office of the Senators shall be six years and shall commence, unless otherwise provided by law, at noon on the thirtieth day of June next following their election. No Senator shall serve for more than two consecutive terms
  • The House of Representatives shall be composed of not more than two hundred and fifty members, unless otherwise fixed by law, who shall be elected from legislative districts apportioned among the provinces, cities, and the Metropolitan Manila area in accordance with the number of their respective inhabitants, and on the basis of a uniform and progressive ratio, and those who, as provided by law, shall be elected through a party-list system of registered national, regional, and sectoral parties or organizations
• Term of Senators


  Six years, commencing at noon on the thirtieth day of June next following their election
• Term limit for Senators

  No more than two consecutive terms
• Voluntary renunciation of the office for any length of time shall not be considered as an interruption in the continuity of his service for the full term for which he was elected
• Composition of House of Representatives

  Not more than 250 members, elected from legislative districts apportioned among the provinces, cities, and the Metropolitan Manila area based on population, and through a party-list system
• Party-list representatives


  Constitute 20% of the total number of representatives, with one-half of the seats allocated to party-list representatives filled by selection or election from labor, peasant, urban poor, indigenous cultural communities, women, youth, and other sectors for three consecutive terms after ratification of the Constitution, except the religious sector
• Legislative districts


  Comprise, as far as practicable, contiguous, compact, and adjacent territory, with each city with a population of at least 250,000 or each province having at least one representative
• Reapportionment of legislative districts

  Congress shall make a reapportionment based on the standards provided in this section within three years following the return of every census
• Qualifications for Members of the House of Representatives

  Natural-born citizen of the Philippines, at least 25 years of age, able to read and write, and a registered voter in the district in which they shall be elected, and a resident thereof for a period of not less than one year immediately preceding the day of the election (except for party-list representatives)