2005 EDITION

Philippine Copyright, 2005

by

ISBN 971-23-4207-7

No portion of this book may be copied or reproduced in

books, pamphlets, outlines or notes, whether printed, mimeo-
graphed, typewritten, copied in different electronic devices or in
any other form, for distribution or sale, without the written
permission ofthe author except briefpassages in books, articles,
reviews, legal papers, and judicial or other official proceedings
with proper citation.

Any copy of this book without the corresponding number

and the signature of the author on this page either proceeds
from an illegitimate source or is in possession of one who has no
authority to dispose of the same.

ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

BY THE AUTHOR

N. ( 1tl. .1.J-
j :; .

PREFACE

As the supreme law of the land, the Constitution is by no means self-

explanatory. Yet it is so important a document with which every citizen
should be fa milia r as it directly and constantly touches every aspect of h is
everyday life; indeed, to be r espect ed, obeyed and defended if our nation
must grow and survive. This is the reason for the requirement that "all
educational institutions shall include the study of the Constitution as part
of the curricula." (Art. XIV, Sec. 3[1].)

To help fill the need for a book on the subj ect, particularly on the
college level, this modest volume, now on its eighth edition, has been
written.

In an attempt to make it easily understandable, the author avoids

legal details and elabor ate citations of cases. The provisions are discussed
section by section, amplified and explained in relatively nontechnical lan-
guage for both the beginning student and the layman.

The comments on the more important provisions, especially the new

ones, occupy m ore space, s etting forth when deemed necessary, th e reasons
for their adoption as wall as t heir practical s;gnificance. Also, much needE>d
emphasis is given to the provisions on the rights of the citizens as it is
imperatively desirable that they have adequate knowledge of them so that
they may bett.er exercise their rights and discharge t heir corresponding
obligations to others as responsible m embers of a democratic society.

HECTOR S. DE LEON

May 2005

iii

OFFICERS OF THE 1986

CONSTITUTIONAL COMMISSION

President Cecilia Muiioz-Palma

Vice-President Ambrosio B. Padilla
Napoleon G. Rama
Floor Leader Jose D. Calderon
Assistant Floor Leaders
and
Ahmad Domacao Alonto

Committee Chairmen and Vice-Chairmen

PREAMBLE, NATIONAL TERRITORY

AND DECLARATION OF PRINCIPLES

Chairman Decoroso R. Rosales

Vice-Chairman Gregorio J. Tingson

CITIZENSHIP, BILL OF RIGHTS

POLITICAL RIGHTS AND OBLIGATIONS

AND HUMAN RIGHTS

Chairman Jose B. Laurel, Jr.
Vice-Chairman Joaquin G. Bernas

Chairman LEGISLATIVE
Vice-Chairman
Hilario G. Davi de, Jr.
Adol fo S. Azcuna

Chairman EXECUTIVE
Vice-Chairman
Lorenzo M. Sumulong

Florenz D. Regalado

Chairman JUDICIARY
Vice-Chairman
Roberto C. Concepcion
Ricardo J. Romulo

iv

CONSTITUTIONAL COMMISSIONS AND AGENCIES

Chairman Vicente B. Foz

Vice-Chairman Cirilo A. Rigos

LOCAL GOVERNMENT

Chairman Jose N. Nolledo

Vi ce -C h a i r m a n Jose D. Calderon

ACCOUNTABILITY OF PUBLIC OFFICERS

Chairman Christian S. Monsod

Vice-Chairman Jose C. Colayco

NATIONAL ECONOMY AND PATRIMONY

Chairman Bernardo M. Villegas

Vice-Chairman Jaime S.L. Tadeo

HUMAN RESOURCES
Chairman Wilfredo V. Villacorta
Vice-Chairman Lugum L. Uka

GENERAL PROVISIONS

Chairman Florangel Rosario Braid

Vice-Chairman 'J.'eodoro C. Bacani

AMENDMENTS AND TRANSITORY PROVISIONS

Chairman Jose E. Suarez

Vice-Chairman Bias F. Ople

STEERING

Chairman Jose F.S. Bengzon, Jr.

Vi ce-C h a i r m a n Napoleon G. Rama

PRIVILEGES

Chairman Yusuf R. Abubakar

Vice-Chairman Minda Luz M. Quesada

SOCIAL JUSTICE AND SOCIAL SERVICES

Chairman Teresa F. Nieva

Vice-Chairman Jose Luis Martin C. Gascon

STYLE

Chairman Francisco A. Rodrigo

Vice-Chairman Efrain B. Trefias

SPONSORSIDP

Chairman Ser afin V.C. Guingona

Vice-Chairman Edmundo G. Garcia
PUBLIC HEARINGS

Chairman E dmundo G. Garcia

Vice-Chairman Jose Luis Martin C. Gascon

NON-DELEGATE OFFICERS

Secretary-General Flerida Ruth Romero

Sergeant-at-Arms Roberto M. San Andres

-oOo-

vi

THE 48 MEMBERS OF THE 1986

CONSTITUTIONAL COMMISSION

Commissioners Natividad, Teodulo C.

Nieva, Teresa Maria F.
Abubakar , Yusuf R.
Alonto, Ahmad Domacao Nolledo, .Jose N.
Aquino, Felicitas S. Ople, Blas F.
Azcuna, Adolfo S. Padilla, Ambrogio B.
Bacani, Teodoro C. Palma, Cecilia Munoz
Bengzon, Jose, J r. F.S.
Bennagen, Ponciano L. QueRada, Mi nda Luz M.
Bernas, S.J., ,Joaquin G.
Braid Rosario, Florangel Rama, Napol eon G.
Brocka, Lino 0 . (Resigned) Regal ado, Florenz D.
Calderon, .Jose D. Reyes, Jr. , Rusti co F. de los
Castro, Cris pino M . de Rigor, Ciri lo A.
Colayco, Jose C. Rodrigo, Francisco A.
Concepeion, Roberto C. Romulo, Ricardo J .
Davide, Hilario, Jr. G. Rosales, Oecoroso R.
Foz, Vicente B. Sarmiento. Rene V.
Garcia, Edmundo G. Suarez, Jose E.
Gascon, Jose Luis Martin C. Sumulong, Lorenzo M.
Guingona, Serafin V.C. Tadeo, J aime S.L.
Jamir, Alberto, Jr. B. Tan, Christine 0.
Laurel, Jose B. Tingson, Gregorio J .
Lerum , Eulogio R. Trefias, Efrain B.
Maambong, Regalado E. Uka, Lugum L.
Monsod, ChristianS. Villacorta, Wilfreda V.
Villegas, B{!rnardo M.

- oOo-

vii

PAMBANSANG AWIT NG PILIPINAS

Bayang magiliw,
Perlas ng silanganan,

Alab ng puso
sa dibdib mo'y buhay,

Lupang hinirang,
duyan ka ng magiting
Sa manlulupig di ka pasisiil
Sa dagat at bundok, sa simoy
at sa langit mong bughaw,
May dilag ang tula at awit sa
paglayang mina.mahal
Ang kislap ng watawat mo'y
tagumpay na nagniningning,
Ang bituin at araw niya,
Kailan pa ma~y di magdidilim.
Lupa ng araw ng luwalhati't

pagsinta