The History and Evolution of the Philippine Constitution The constitution is the most important part in organizing a state. It contains not only the national territory, but more importantly, it states the set of rules and principles which serve as the fundamental law of the land. Among the guidelines which are set by the constitution are the matters of: form and duties of the government; the distribution of powers of the branches of the government; and the basic rights of t he citizens of the state. The Philippine Constitution has been rewritten seven times starting from the Biak-na-Bato Constitution to the 1987 Constitution. The political evolution and every significant event in the Philippine history resulted a change in the constitution. The first Philippine constitution is the Biyak-na-Bato Constitution that was enacted in 1897. It outlined the revolutionary objectives of independence from Spain. Two years later, the president decreed the creation of the Malolos Constitution. A new central government was set up with executive, legislative and judiciary branches. It governed the First Philippine Republic proclaimed in the Barasoain Church in the same year. Due to the turbulent t imes of the early governments, the first two constitution were not fully enforced. What is considered the first Philippine Constitution to be fully enforced was drafted by the virtue of the Tydings-McDuffie Law in 1934 during the Commonwealth Period. It was enforced from 1935 - 1943. During World War II, a short lived constitution (The 1943 Constitution) was sponsored by the Japanese invaders within their own program of Japanization. When the political independence was granted by the United States in 1946, the constitution was revised and was enforced from 1946 to 1973. Eventually considered inadequate against the changing needs of Filipinos, t he 1935 Constitution was replaced with a new one rati fied in 1973. The 1973 Constitution was approved for ratification two months after the imposition of the martial law on November 29, 1972. When Ferdinand E. Marcos was ousted in 1986, the new government led by Corazon C. Aquino promulgated what is now know as the Freedom Constitution. This 1987 Constitution restored the presidential form of government.
To date, the 1987 Constitution still stands, although some sectors have started to lobby for change in certain provisions as well as the change of the whole constitution.
Major Political Parties
Party name
Acronym
Founding year
Chairperson
Together Everyone Achieves More Unity (TEAM Unity) Kabalikat ng Malayang Pilipino
KAMPI
1997
Luis Villafuerte, Sr. (President)
Laban ng Demokratikong Pilipino
LDP
1988
Edgardo Angara (President)
Lakas-Christian Muslim Democrats
LakasCMD
1991
Prospero Nograles (President)
Nationalist People's Coalition
NPC
1991
Eduardo Cojuangco, Jr. (Chairman)
Philippine Democratic Socialist Party
PDSP
1973
Norberto B. Gonzalez (Chairman)
Geniuine Opposition (GO) Aksyon Demokratiko
AD
Kilusang Bagong Lipunan (Marcos Wing)
KBL
Liberal Party
LP
Nacionalista Party
NP
1997
1978/2007 1946 1907/2004
Sonia Roco (Chairperson)
Ferdinand Marcos Jr (President) Mar Roxas (President) Manuel Villar (President)
1991
Eduardo Cojuangco, Jr. (Chairman)
PDPLABAN
1984
Aquilino Pimentel, Jr. (Chairman)
Puwersa ng Masang Pilipino
PMP
1987
Joseph Estrada (Chairman)
United Opposition
UNO
2005
Jejomar Binay {President}
Nationalist People's Coalition
NPC
Partido ng Demokratikong Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan
Unaffiliated parties Ang Kapatiran
AKP
Kilusang Bagong Lipunan (Lozano Wing)
KBL
People's Reform Party
PRP
2004
1978/2007
1991
Nandy Pacheco (Chairman)
Oliver Lozano Miriam Defensor-Santiago (Head)
Minor political parties and party-list groups Next to the main political parties in the Philippines there are other parties represented in the House of Representatives of the Philippines. Most of these parties are elected through the party list system.
Party name
Acronym
Founding year
Chairperson
Regional Parties elected through the constituency system One Cebu
ONE CEBU
Partido Magdalo
N/A
N/A
Juanito Remulla
Sarangani Reconciliation and Reformation Organization
SARRO
N/A
Priscilla Chiongbian
2007
Gwendolyn Garcia
Party-list organizations Akbayan Citizens' Action Party
Akbayan
Alagad
N/A
1998
Ronaldo Llamas
N/A
N/A
N/A
John Henry Osmeña
Alang sa Kalambu-an ug Kalinaw
Alayon
Alliance for Barangay Concerns
ABC
Alliance of Volunteer Educators
AVE
N/A
N/A
Anak Mindanao
AMIN
N/A
N/A
2007
James Marty Lim
Anakpawis
AP
N/A
Crispin Beltran
Ang Laban ng Indiginong Filipino
ALIF
N/A
Acmad Tomawis
An Waray
N/A
2001
Association of Philippine Electric Cooperatives
APEC
N/A
Florencio "Bem" Noel N/A
Bagong Alyansang Tagapagtaguyod na Adhikaing Sambayanan
BATAS
2004
Daniel Soriano Razon
Bayan Muna
N/A
1999
Satur Ocampo
Buhay Hayaan Yumabong
Buhay
1998
Mike Velarde (founder)
2001
Emmanuel Joel Villanueva
1998
Cresente Paez
Citizen's Battle Against Corruption
Cibac
Cooperative NATCCO Network Party
Coop NATCCO
Gabriela Women's Party
GABRIELA
N/A
Liza Maza
Luzon Farmers Party
Butil
N/A
N/A
Partido ng Manggagawa
PM
N/A
Renato Magtubo
Sandigan ng Lakas at Demokrasya ng Sambayanan
SANLAKA S
N/A
N/A
Veterans Freedom Party
VFP
N/A
N/A
Foundin g year
Chairperson
Other parties Party name
Acronym
Ang Ladlad
N/A
2003
Danton Remoto
Bangon Pilipinas Movement
BPM
2004
Eddie Villanueva
Green Party of the Philippines
GP
Partido Isang Bansa Isang Diwa
PIBID
1990s 2004
Felizardo Colambo Eddie Gil
Philippine Green Republic Party
PGRP
Progressive Party (Defunct)
PP
N/A
Felix Cantal
1957
Raul Manglapus
BRIEF BACKGROUND
The Constitution The Constitution of the Philippines ordains that judicial judic ial power shall be vested in one Supreme Court and such lower courts c ourts as may be established by law.[Section 1, Art. VIII, 1987 Constitution). The Law Under Philippine laws [Judiciary Reorganization Act of 1980 (Batas Pambansa Bilang 129) which took effect on January 18, 1983 and other laws] the Philippine judicial system consists of the following courts: chanroblesvirtuallawlibrary
Lower Courts I. Municipal Trial Courts and Municipal Circuit Trial Courts Every municipality in the the Philippines has its own Municipal Trial Court. Court. It is referred to as such if it covers only one municipality; otherwise, it is called Municipal Circuit Trial Court if it covers two or more municipalities. II. Metropolitan Trial Courts and Municipal Trial Courts in Cities Municipal Trial Courts in the towns and cities in the Metropolitan Manila area, as distinguished from the other political subdivisions in the Philippines, are referred to as Metropolitan Trial Courts. In cities outside Metropolitan Manila, the equivalent of the Municipal Trial Courts are referred to as Municipal Trial Courts in Cities. III. Regional Trial Courts Regional Trial Courts were established among the thirteen regions in the Philippines consisting of Regions I to XII and the National Capital Region (NCR). There are as many Regional Trial Courts in each region as the law
mandates. IV. Shari'a Courts Equivalent to the Regional Trial Courts in rank is the Shari'a District Courts which were established in certain specified provinces in Mindanao where the Muslim Code on Personal Laws is being enforced. Equivalent to the Municipal Circuit Trial Courts are the Shari'a Circuit Courts which were established in certain municipalities in Mindanao. There are five Shari'a District Courts and fifty one Shari'a Circuit Courts in existence. V. Court of Tax Appeals A special court, the Court of Tax Appeals, composed of a Presiding Judge and two Associate Judges, is vested with the exclusive appellate jurisdiction over appeals from the decisions of the Commissioner of Internal Revenue and the Commissioner of Customs on certain specific issues. VI. Sandiganbayan A special court, the Sandiganbayan, composed of a Presiding Justice and eight Associate Justices, has exclusive jurisdiction over violations of the AntiGraft and Corrupt Practices Act [Republic Act No. 3019], the Unexplained Wealth Act [Republic Act No. 1379] 137 9] and other crimes or felonies committed by public officials and employees in relation to their office, including those employees in government-owned or controlled corporations. VII. Court of Appeals The Court of Appeals, composed of one Presiding Justice and sixty eight Associate Justices is vested with jurisdiction over over appeals from the decisions of the Regional Trial Courts and certain quasi-judicial agencies, boards or commissions. The Highest Court - Supreme Court
