1897 BIAK-NA-BATO
o General Auditing Office
Oct. 1897: Pres. Aguinaldo convened an assembly of
revolutionary generals and leaders
o They established the Biak-na-bato Republic
Patterned closely to the Cuban Consti of 1985
Vested the government in a supreme council composed of:
o President
o VP
o 4 Secretaries
Council could giver orders with the force of law, impose and
collect taxes and supervise and direct military operations
Executive power: President
Judicial power: Supreme Court of Grace and Justice
Contained an enumeration of rights and a provision obliging
every Filipino to serve the Revolution with his services and
property
FIRST REVOLUTIONARY GOVERNMENT IN ASIA AT
THAT TIME
PRELUDE TO THE DECLARATION OF PH INDPENDENCE
Founding of the First Republic of the PH in Malolos, Bulacan
First time a colonized people in Asia sought formal 1973 CONSTITUTION
independence from a foreign power and laid down ground
work for the birth of the first Asian republic
1899 MALOLOS
September 1898: Malolos Congress was inaugurated at the
Barasoain Church
Pres. Aguinaldo acknowledged the patriotism of the people
and called on history to witness the work of the delegates
who would write a new constitution
Calderon plan (based on constitutions of France, Belgium,
Mexico, Costa Rica, Guatemala, Nicaragua and Brazil) was
chosen and submitted to the Malolos Congress for approval
November 1898: Malolos Constitution was approves and
forwarded to Pres. Aguinaldo
January 1899: Malolos Constitution proclaimed as
fundamental law of the land
Considered as the first democratic constitution in Asia
Provided for parliamentary form of government
o President shall be elected by absolute majority of
votes by the Assembly of Representatives
Constitution established tripartite separation of powers
o Legislative
o Executive
o Judicial
1935 CONSTITUTION
US Congress passed in 1934 Tydings-Mcduffie Law 1987 CONSTITUTION
signed by Pres. Roosevelt
o Authorized the PH legislature to call a
constitutional convention to draft the
Constitution of the PH
May 1934: PH legislature passed an act providing for the
election of 202 delegates to the convention
Tydings-Mcduffie Law required that the Constitution, after its
approval by the President of the US be submitted to the
Filipino people for their ratification
May 1935: plebiscite on the Constitution was held and
ratified by the electorate
Provided for the establishment of:
o Presidential form of government
o Bicameral legislature
o Separation of executive, legislative and judicial
powers
Contained:
o Declaration of Principles
o Bill of Rights
o Provisions on Impeachment
Three constitutional offices:
o COMELEC
o Civil Service
1943 CONSTITUTION
KALIBAPI held a convention in Manila and elected 20
members of the Preparatory Commission for PH
Independence
o Tasked to frame a constitution for the Japanese-
sponsored republic
Sept 1943: the constitution was ratified by 117 KALIBAPI
delegates to the general assemnly
Provided for a Republic of the Philippines
o With executive, judicial and legislative branches of
government
o Form of government: presidential and legislature is
unicameral
Contained duties and rights of citizens
According to its Article 12, within 1 year after the
termination of war the Filipino people would draft a new
constitution
Pres. Marcos signed RA 6132: 1970 Constitutional
Convention Act
o Provided for the election on November 10, 1970 of
the delegates to the Constitutional Convention
which would convene in Manila
320 delegates elected
1972: Pres. Marcos formally announced Martial Law
o Shortly after, the delegates reassembled and
finished the new constitution and signed it the
following day
Constitution was submitted to the people for ratification
o Pres. Marcos signed the Constitution
1986 FREEDOM CONSTITUTION
Provisional constitution pending the drafting of a new
constitution and its ratification by the electorate
Gave revolutionary powers to Pres. Corazon Aquino
Guaranteed that the government under Pres. Aquino would
respect basic human rights and fundamental freedoms
during the period of transition to a New Constitution
Did not totally do away with the 1973 Constitution
Provided for the creation of a commission whose members
are to be appointed by the president whose main task is the
drafting of a new Constitution that would hasten the return of
normal constitutional government
June 1986: Pres. Aquino appointed an independent
Constitutional Commission (48 members)
The Constitutional Commission approved the draft of the
new constitution by a vote of 45 to 2; Feb. 2, 1987: people
ratified the Constitution
Provides for a presidential form of government
o Bicameral legislature
o Judiciary with expanded powers
o Bill of rights with new civil and political rights
o Article on Social Justice and Human Rights
ConComm President Muoz-Palma: called the Constitution
as pro-people, pro-human rights and pro-God
Human rights constitution long list of civil and political
rights, economic, social and cultural rights found
Remains unaltered by way of amendment or revision
Remains a towering sentinel of peoples freedom, rule of law,
democracy and republicanism in the country