In 1965 Ferdinand E.
Marcos was elected as
president, and in 1967, Philippine Congress
passed a resolution calling for a Constitutional
Convention to change the 1935 Constitution.
Elections of the delegates to the CONCON were
held on November 20, 1970 but formally began
on June 1, 1971, with former president Carlos P,
Garcia being elected as convention
president(succeeded by Diosdado Macapagal).
Before the convention finished its work,
Martial Law was declared(September 23,
1972,) which give way to:
a) Some delegates of the ongoing
convention were placed behind bars.
b) Other delegates went into hiding or
voluntary exile.
c) Allegations that some of the provisions of
the constitution were dictated by
President Marcos.
On November 29, 1972 the convention
approved its proposed constitution.
The constitution was supposed to
introduce a parliamentary-style
government, where legislative power
was vested in a unicameral National
Assembly, with members being elected
to a six year term.
The president was to be elected as the
symbolic and ceremonial head of state
chosen from the members of the National
Assembly.
The president would serve a six-year
term and could be re-elected to an
unlimited number of terms.
Executive power was relegated to the
prime minister, who was also the head
of the government and commander- in-
chief of the Armed Force who will also
be elected from the National Assembly.
Presidential Decree No. 73 was issued
by President Marcos which set the date
of the plebiscite to ratify or reject the
proposed constitution on November 30,
1973.
The plebiscite was postponed, instead
a Citizen Assemblies were held from
January 10 to 15, 1973.
On January 17, 1973 the president
issued a proclamation announcing that
the proposed constitution had been
ratified by an overwhelming vote of the
Citizen Assemblies.
The constitution was amended several
times through Citizen Assemblies
during the early part among the
changes include:
Continuation of Martial Law
Interim batasang Pambansa to substitute for
the Interim National Assembly.
The President also became the Prime
Minister and continue to exercise legislative
powers until Martial Law was lifted and
authorized the prident to make laws on an
emergency basis.
The retirement age of members of the
judiciary was extended to 70 years old.
The parliamentary system was formally
modified to a French-style, semi-
presidential system, where executive power
was restored to the president, who was
once again to be directly elected.
Executive Committee was to be created
composed of the Prime Minister and 14
others. That served as the cabinets.
Some electoral reforms were instituted.
The executive Committee was abolished
and the position of the vice president was
restored.
The situation in the 1980’s had been
turbulent. As Marcos amassed power,
discount has also been escalating.
The tide turned swiftly when in August
21, 1983 Benigno Aquino Jr. was
assassinated.
Marcos was then forced to hold “snap”
election.
Marcos won the election despite wide
protests of massive cheating.
EDSA People power revolution of 1986
took place. Which forced the Marcos
family to fled into exile.
Also referred as the 1987 Constitution of the
Philippines Following the EDSA People Power
the new President, Corazon C. Aquino issued
Proclamation No.3 as provisional
constitution. It adopted certain provisions
from the 1973 constitution and granted the
President broad powers to reorganize the
government and remove officials from office,
and mandated that the president would
appoint a commission to draft a new
constitution.
Parts of the 1987 Constitution the
Constitution is divided into 18 parts,
excluding the Preamble, which are called
Article I – National Territory
Article II – Declaration of Principles and State
Policies
Article III – Bill of Rights
Article IV – Citizenship
Article V – Suffrage
Article VI – Legislative Department
Article VII – Executive Department
Article VIII – Judicial Department
Article IX – Constitutional Commission
Article X – Local Government
Article XII – Accountability of Public Officers
Article XIII – Social Justice and Human Rights
Article XIV – Education, Science and
Technology, Arts, Culture and Sports
Article XV – The Family
Article XVI – General Provisions
Article XVII – Amendments or Revisions
Article XVIII – Transitory Provisions
