Rappler's latest stories on Philippine Constitution
[OPINION | NEWSPOINT] Duterte’s word replaces the Constitution
How did we manage to descend so low?
Duterte ‘resolves’ Speakership race, but is that constitutional?
'The Constitution vests the choice in the members of the two houses not on anyone else. That’s what separation of powers means,' says law professor Ted Te
Not right for Palace to pit two constitutional provisions vs each other – law expert
The charter's order for the government to keep resources in the Philippines' EEZ for exclusive use of Filipinos is not in conflict with the provision requiring the government to 'serve and protect' Filipinos, says law professor Tony La Viña
Nograles: Despite 'verbal deal' with China, PH must still enforce laws
Cabinet Secretary Karlo Nograles, echoing Foreign Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr, says the supposed deal is not yet enforceable since it lacks the necessary terms and conditions
SC reiterates Filipino, Panitikan not required in college
The Supreme Court will no longer accept further pleadings and motions on the case
[OPINION] Last chance
In order to protect our Constitution and sovereignty, we need to keep the strength and independence of our Senate; and the Senate is only as strong and independent as its opposition bloc. If the opposition falls, so does our democracy.
Public officials legally required to be honest, says ex-ombudsman Morales
‘Honesty is, therefore, a matter of oath derived from legal sources, not a matter of option driven by market forces,’ says former ombudsman Conchita Carpio Morales
[OPINION] Constitutional reform in the Philippines is necessary
Most constitutional scholars agree that a constitution is never infallible or immortal. Our very own 1987 Constitution is no exception.
Philconsa asks Supreme Court: Declare BOL unconstitutional
In a 34-page petition, the Philippine Constitution Association also asks the High Court to issue a temporary restraining order on the implementation of the law
Ateneo presidents hit lawmakers for 'railroading' Charter Change process
The 5 Ateneo presidents urge lawmakers to include all sectors in dialogues to establish 'credibility and trust' in federalism debates
Malacañang warns House: Filipinos may reject your draft charter
Presidential Spokesman Salvador Panelo, who says he hasn't read the House's draft constitution, asks the chamber to be more 'open' to suggestions from sectors about controversial provisions in its version
House approves draft federal resolution | Evening wRap
Watch the evening wRap with Ralf Rivas
'Pinakawalanghiya': Opposition hits House's draft charter
Anakpawis Representative Ariel Casilao says the proposed constitution 'represents everything that is wrong with our government'
House approves draft federal constitution
But the draft federal charter's chances of getting signed into law remain bleak, with senators earlier saying it would be 'dead on arrival' at the Senate
Harry Roque: Overhauling Constitution for federalism ‘not realistic’
If he becomes senator, Roque would back only 3 changes to the 1987 Constitution, rather than a sweeping revision as proposed by Duterte's Consultative Committee and House Speaker Gloria Macapagal Arroyo
[ANALYSIS] Deep Dive | Draft constitution: Surgical precision, not blunt force
Resolution of Both Houses No 15, or RBH, is nuanced and quite strategic. It does not look like it's dead in the water.
Arroyo denies charter change railroaded in House
Speaker Gloria Macapagal Arroyo says the House of Representatives' moves to amend the 1987 Constitution are 'part of the democratic process'
LIST: Major constitutional changes the House wants under federalism
No term limits for lawmakers, no anti-dynasty provision, the return of the two-party system – here are the major changes the House included in its draft federal charter
House approves draft federal constitution on 2nd reading
Lawmakers give their nod to Resolution of Both Houses 15 after dedicating only 3 days of plenary sessions for debates
House ends debates on draft federal constitution
Alliance of Concerned Teachers Representative Antonio Tinio fails to block the motion to terminate the debates at the plenary after only 3 session days
College degree requirement for elected officials anti-poor – lawmaker
The House's draft federal constitution adds a college degree among the requirements for those running for president, vice president, senator, and representative
House panel puts Robredo back in line of succession under draft charter
As agreed upon by the plenary in October, the House committee on constitutional amendments holds an executive session to approve the amendment in favor of Vice President Leni Robredo
Duterte creates charter change task force
The task force is in charge of a nationwide information campaign and ordered to coordinate with Congress to 'initiate' the process of changing the Constitution
[ANALYSIS] Duterte's health and disclosure: Finding a middle ground
Information on the President's health is controlled by the Palace and insiders, and there is little to no incentive – politically or legally – for any official to break ranks until the very end
Soldiers in Customs? But Constitution bars civilian assignments for military
Section 5(4), Article XVI specifically says no member of the armed forces shall, at any time, be appointed or designated in any capacity to a civilian position
Highlights of the House's draft federal constitution
(UPDATED) Here are the key provisions under each article of the draft federal charter authored by Speaker Gloria Macapagal Arroyo and 21 other lawmakers
House to put Robredo back in line of succession of draft constitution
The House agrees to return the draft constitution to the constitutional amendments panel, which will make the necessary changes in favor of Vice President Leni Robredo
Robredo: Critics ‘too desperate’ to remove me
Vice President Leni Robredo also slams House committee on constitutional amendments chair Vicente Veloso for his defense of the proposed provision removing her in the line of succession
House aims to pass draft federal charter by early 2019
Speaker Gloria Macapagal Arroyo has given the House committee on constitutional amendments marching orders to finish work on the proposed new charter 'on time'
No set number of federal states under Arroyo’s draft constitution
It leaves it with local government units to group themselves and petition Congress to turn them into autonomous states or regions
'Dead on arrival': Senate leaders reject Arroyo's draft charter
'We don't have time to even talk about it,' says Senate President Vicente Sotto III, who stands to benefit from the House proposal
Robredo camp: 'Outright ridiculous' to remove VP as Duterte's successor
'Since when did a pending election protest become the basis of succession to the highest position of the land?' asks Romulo Macalintal, election lawyer of Vice President Leni Robredo
House draft charter skips VP in line of succession to avoid 'instability'
The chairman of the House panel on constitutional amendments says future developments in the vice presidential electoral protest may encourage 'military adventurists' to attempt a power grab
Arroyo’s draft charter skips VP in transition to federalism
The draft constitution, which has reached the House plenary for deliberations, sets for May 2022 the first elections under a federal system of government
Arroyo's draft constitution removes lawmakers' term limits
Resolution of Both Houses No. 15, authored by Speaker Gloria Macagapal Arroyo and 21 others, also does not regulate political dynasties
Arroyo's proposed constitution reaches House plenary
Speaker Gloria Macapagal Arroyo's draft is different from the draft constitution submitted by President Rodrigo Duterte's 22-member Consultative Committee
Federalism shift to cost only P13B, says Consultative Committee
The figure is much smaller than those given by the National Economic and Development Authority and think tank Philippine Institute for Development Studies
Malacañang asks Filipinos to comment on draft constitution
The public can send their inputs to the Office of the Executive Secretary, Office of the Presidential Spokesperson, and Presidential Communications Operations Office
Con-Com hopes Duterte won't quit before transition to federal government
The presidency of Rodrigo Duterte 'is the best chance we’ve got to shift to a federal system of government,' says Consultative Committee spokesman Ding Generoso
Breaking up Supreme Court into 4 high courts weakens judiciary
Former SC associate justice Vicente Mendoza says it's more important to preserve the role of the High Court in the justice system
Rappler Talk: Retired SC Justice Vicente Mendoza on draft charter and judiciary
On Wednesday, August 15, Rappler editor-at-large Marites Vitug talks to retired SC associate justice Vicente Mendoza on the implications of breaking down the 'single and generalized' high court into 4 federal courts
[ANALYSIS] Why Duterte’s federalism endangers government’s finances
Unless we first fix existing regional economic disparities, Bayanihan Federalism will only leave more poor regions behind
Con-Com appeals to senators ‘sense of patriotism’ in charter change push
(UPDATED) ‘This is the only chance that we’ve had since what, 120 years ago, when we established the first republic in Asia,’ says Presidential Consultative Committee spokesman Ding Generoso
Arroyo to House panel: Stop deliberations on draft federal charter
Speaker Gloria Macapagal Arroyo says the House committee on constitutional amendments should focus on convincing the Senate to convene into a Constituent Assembly, which will then discuss the proposed constitution
House to pass resolution on separate voting for charter change
(2ND UPDATE) Speaker Gloria Macapagal Arroyo files the resolution on Tuesday, August 7, calling for a Constituent Assembly but specifying that the House and the Senate would vote separately
Draft charter downgrades Supreme Court
Creating mini supreme courts has never been advanced as solutions because it is contrary to the idea of One Supreme Court
President's health: Touchy topic for Duterte, public concern for Constitution
The public so far relies only on the word of President Rodrigo Duterte and his spokesmen as to the real state of his health
Con-Com's proposed 4 high courts bad for justice system
The loss of prestige of a single Supreme Court would 'result in the impoverishment of the judicial process,' says former Supreme Court justice Vicente Mendoza
Arroyo OK with separate voting on charter change for House, Senate
'Better to move forward and achieve something than to be very stubborn and achieve nothing,' says Speaker Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, as senators strongly oppose joint voting
Draft constitution 'backward-looking' – economic advocacy group
The Foundation for Economic Freedom calls for the lifting of foreign ownership restrictions and the removal of 'protectionist' provisions in the proposed charter
