1. PREAMBLE We, the sovereign Filipino people,imploring the aid of Divine Providence, inorder to establish a Government that shallembody our ideals, promote the generalwelfare, conserve and develop thepatrimony of our Nation, and secure toourselves and our posterity the blessings ofdemocracy under a regime of justice, peace,liberty, and equality, do ordain andpromulgate this Constitution.

2. ARTICLE I : THE NATIONALTERRITORYSECTION 1. The national territory comprisesthe Philippine archipelago, with all theislands and waters embraced therein, andall the other territories belonging to thePhilippines by historic right or legal title,including the territorial sea, the air space,the subsoil, the sea-bed, the insularshelves, and the other submarine areasover which the Philippines hassovereignty or jurisdiction. The watersaround, between, and connecting theislands of the archipelago, irrespective of 3. ARTICLE II : DECLARATION OFPRINCIPLES AND STATE POLICIES SECTION 1. The Philippines is a republicanstate. Sovereignty resides in the people andall governmental authority emanates fromthem. SEC. 2. The defense of the State is a primeduty of the Government and the people,and in the fulfillment of this duty all citizensmay be required by law to render personalmilitary or civil service. SEC. 3. The Philippines renounces war asan instrument of national policy, adopts thegenerally accepted principles ofinternational law as part of the law of the 4. SEC. 4. The State shall strengthen thefamily as a basic social institution. Thenatural right and duty of parents in therearing of the youth for civic efficiency andthe development of moral character shallreceive the aid and support of theGovernment. SEC. 5. The State recognizes the vital roleof the youth in the nation-building and shallpromote their physical, intellectual, andsocial well-being. SEC. 6. The State shall promote socialjustice to ensure the dignity, welfare, andsecurity of all the people. Towards this end,the State shall regulate the acquisition,ownership, use, enjoyment, and dispositionof private property, and equitably diffuseproperty ownership and profits. SEC. 7. The State shall establish, maintain, 5. SEC. 8. Civilian authority is at all timessupreme over the military. SEC. 9. The State shall afford protectionto labor, promote full employment andequality in employment, ensure equalwork opportunities regardless of sex,race, or creed, and regulate the relationsbetween workers and employers. TheState shall assure the rights of workersto self-organization, collectivebargaining, security of tenure, and justand humane conditions of work. TheState may provide for compulsoryarbitration. SEC. 10. The State shall guarantee andpromote the autonomy of local 6. ARTICLE III : CITIZENSHIP SECTION 1. The following arecitizens of the Philippines:(1) Those who are citizens of thePhilippines at the time of theadoption of this Constitution.(2) Those whose fathers or mothersare citizens of the Philippines.(3) Those who elect Philippinecitizenship pursuant to theprovisions of the Constitution ofnineteen hundred and thirty-five. 7. SEC. 2. A female citizen of thePhilippines who marries an alien shallretain her Philippine citizenship,unless by her act or omission she isdeemed, under the law, to haverenounced her citizenship. SEC. 3. Philippine citizenship may belost or reacquired in the mannerprovided by law. SEC. 4. A natural-born citizen is onewho is a citizen of the Philippinesfrom birth without having to performany act to acquire or perfect his 8. ARTICLE IV : BILL OF RIGHTS SECTION 1. No person shall be deprived oflife, liberty, or property without due process oflaw, nor shall any person be denied the equalprotection of the laws. SEC. 2. Private property shall not be taken forpublic use without just compensation. SEC. 3. The right of the people to be secure intheir persons, houses, papers, and effectsagainst unreasonable searches and seizuresof whatever nature and for any purpose shallnot be violated, and no search warrant orwarrant of arrest shall issue except uponprobable cause to be determined by the judge,or such other responsible officer as may be 9. SEC. 4. (1) The privacy of communicationand correspondence shall be inviolableexcept upon lawful order of the court, orwhen public safety and order requireotherwise.(2) Any evidence obtained in violation ofthis or the preceding section shall beinadmissible for any purpose in anyproceeding. SEC. 5. The liberty of abode and of travelshall not, be impaired except upon lawfulorder of the court, or when necessary inthe interest of national security, publicsafety, or public health. SEC. 6. The right of the people toinformation on matters of public concernshall be recognized. Access to officialrecords, and to documents and papers 10. SEC. 7. The right to form associationsor societies for purposes not contraryto law shall not be abridged. SEC. 8. No law shall be maderespecting an establishment ofreligion, or prohibiting the freeexercise thereof. The free exerciseand enjoyment of religious professionand worship, without discriminationor preference, shall forever beallowed. No religious test shall berequired for the exercise of civil orpolitical rights. SEC. 9. No law shall be passedabridging the freedom of speech, orof the press, or the right of the peoplepeaceably to assemble and petition 11. SEC. 10. No law granting a title ofroyalty or nobility shall be enacted. SEC. 11. No law impairing theobligation of contracts shall be passed. SEC. 12. No ex post facto law or bill ofattainder shall be enacted. SEC. 13. No person shall beimprisoned for debt or non-payment ofa poll tax. SEC. 14. No involuntary servitude inany form shall exist except as apunishment for a crime whereof theparty shall have been duty convicted. SEC. 15. The privilege of the writ ofhabeas corpus shall not be suspendedexcept in cases of invasion, 12. SEC. 16. All persons shall have the right to aspeedy disposition of their cases before alljudicial, quasi-judicial, or administrativebodies. SEC. 17. No person shall be held to answer fora criminal offense without due process of law. SEC. 18. All persons, except those chargedwith capital offenses when evidence of guilt isstrong, shall, before conviction, be bailable bysufficient sureties. Excessive bail shall not berequired. SEC. 19. In all criminal prosecutions, theaccused shall be presumed innocent until thecontrary is proved, and shall enjoy the right tobe heard by himself and counsel, to beinformed of the nature and cause of theaccusation against him, to have a speedy,impartial, and public trial, to meet thewitnesses face to face, and to havecompulsory process to secure the attendance 13. SEC. 20. No person shall be compelled tobe a witness against himself. Any personunder investigation for the commission ofan offense shall have the right to remainsilent and to counsel, and to be informedof such right. No force, violence, threat,intimidation, or any other means whichvitiates the free will shall be used againsthim. Any confession obtained in violationof this section shall be inadmissible inevidence. SEC. 21. Excessive fines shall not beimposed, nor cruel or unusual punishmentinflicted. SEC. 22. No person shall be twice put injeopardy of punishment for the sameoffense. If an act is punished by a law andan ordinance, conviction or acquittal undereither shall constitute a bar to another 14. ARTICLE V : DUTIES ANDOBLIGATIONS OF CITIZENS SECTION 1. It shall be the duty of thecitizen to be loyal to the Republicand to honor the Philippine flag, todefend the State and contribute to itsdevelopment and welfare, to upholdthe Constitution and obey the laws,and to cooperate with the dulyconstituted authorities in theattainment and preservation of a justand orderly society. SEC. 2. The rights of the individualimpose upon him the correlative 15. SEC. 3. It shall be the duty ofevery citizen to engage ingainful work to assure himselfand his family a life worthy ofhuman dignity. SEC. 4. It shall be the obligationof every citizen qualified to voteto register and cast his vote. 16. ARTICLE VI : SUFFRAGE SECTION 1. Suffrage shall be exercisedby citizens of the Philippines nototherwise disqualified by law, who areeighteen years of age or over, and whoshall have resided in the Philippinesfor at least one year and in the placewherein they propose to vote for atleast six months preceding theelection. No literacy, property, or othersubstantive requirement shall beimposed on the exercise of suffrage.The Batasang Pambansa shall provide 17. ARTICLE VII : THE PRESIDENT SECTION 1. The President shall be thehead of state and chief executive of theRepublic of the Philippines. SEC. 2. No person may be electedPresident unless he is a natural-borncitizen of the Philippines. a registeredvoter, able to read and write, at least fiftyyears of age on the day of election forPresident, and a resident of thePhilippines for at least ten yearsimmediately preceding such election. SEC. 3. The President shall be elected bydirect vote of the people for a term of six 18. The returns of every election forPresident, duly certified by the boardof canvassers of each province orcity, shall be transmitted to theSpeaker at the Batasang Pambansa,who shall, not later than thirty daysafter the day of the election, and inthe presence of the BatasangPambansa open all the certificates,and the votes shall then be counted.The person having the highestnumber of votes shall be proclaimedelected; but in case two or moreshall have an equal and the highestnumber of votes, one of them shall 19. SEC 4. If, at the time fixed for thebeginning of his term, the President-electshall have died or shall have failed toqualify or if the President shall not havebeen chosen, the Executive Committee,headed by the Prime Minister, ashereinafter provided, shall exercise thepowers and discharge the duties of thePresident until a President shall havebeen elected and qualified. If theBatasang Pambansa withdraws itsconfidence in the Prime Minister, theSpeaker shall preside over the ExecutiveCommittee. In the absence of anExecutive Committee, the Speaker of theBatasang Pambansa shall act asPresident until a President shall havebeen elected and qualified. 20. SEC. 5. The President, on assumingoffice, shall take the following oath oraffirmation:I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that Iwill faithfully and conscientiously fulfillmy duties as President of thePhilippines, preserve and defend itsConstitution, execute its laws, do justiceto every man and consecrate myself tothe service of the Nation. So help meGod. (In case of affirmation, the lastsentence is omitted.) SEC. 6. (1) The President shall have anofficial residence and shall receive acompensation to be fixed by law, whichshall not be increased or decreasedduring his term of office. He shall notreceive during his tenure any otheremolument from the Government or any 21. (2) The President shall not, during his tenure, holdany other office, practice any profession,participate directly or indirectly in themanagement of any business, or be financiallyinterested directly or indirectly in any contractwith, or in any franchise or special privilegegranted by, the Government or any subdivision,agency or instrumentality thereof, including anygovernment-owned or controlled corporation. SEC. 7. In case of permanent disability, death,removal from office or resignation of thePresident, the Executive Committee headed bythe Prime Minister as hereinafter provided shallexercise the powers of the President until aPresident shall have been elected and qualified.If the permanent disability, death, removal fromoffice or resignation of the President occursearlier than eighteen (18) months before theexpiration of his term, the Batasang Pambansashall, within thirty days from the time thevacancy occurs, call a special election to be heldnot earlier than forty-five days nor later thansixty days from the time of such call, to elect a 22. SEC. 8. The President shall have control ofthe ministries. SEC. 9. The President shall be commander-in-chief of all armed forces of the Philippinesand, whenever it becomes necessary, he maycall out such armed forces to prevent orsuppress lawless violence, invasion,insurrection, or rebellion. In case of invasion,insurrection, or rebellion, or imminent dangerthereof, when the public safety requires it, hemay suspend the privilege of the writ ofhabeas corpus, or place the Philippines orany part thereof under martial law. SEC. 10. The President shall appoint theheads of bureaus and offices, the officers ofthe armed forces of the Philippines from therank of brigadier general or commodore, andall other officers of the Government whoseappointments are not otherwise provided for,those whom he may be authorized by law toappoint. However, the Batasang Pambansa 23. SEC. 11. The President may, except in cases ofimpeachment, grant reprieves, commutationsand pardons, remit fines and forfeitures and,with the concurrence of the BatasangPambansa, grant amnesty. SEC. 12. The President may contract andguarantee foreign and domestic loans onbehalf of the Republic of the Philippines,subject to such limitations as may be providedby law. SEC. 13. The President shall formulate theguidelines of national policy. SEC. 14. The President shall address theBatasang Pambansa at the opening of itsregular session. He may also appear before itat any other time. SEC. 15. The President shall be immune fromsuit during his tenure. Thereafter, no suitwhatsoever shall lie for official acts done byhim or by others pursuant to his specificorders during his tenure. 24. SEC. 16. All powers vested in thePresident of the Philippines underthe 1935 Constitution and the laws ofthe land which are not hereinprovided for or conferred upon anyofficial shall be deemed and arehereby vested in the Presidentunless the Batasang Pambansaprovides otherwise. 25. ARTICLE VIII : BATASANGPAMBANSA SECTION 1. The Legislative power shall be vestedin a Batasang Pambansa. SEC. 2. The Batasang Pambansa which shall becomposed of not more than 200 Members unlessotherwise provided by law, shall includerepresentatives elected from the different regionsof the Philippines, those elected or selected fromvarious sectors as may be provided by law, andthose chosen by the President from the membersof the Cabinet. Regional representatives shall beapportioned among the regions in accordance withthe number of their respective inhabitants and onthe basis of a uniform and progressive ratio.The number of representatives from each regionand the manner of their election shall be prescribed 26. SEC. 3. (l) The Members of the BatasangPambansa shall have a term of six yearswhich shall begin; unless otherwise providedby law, at noon on the thirtieth day of Junenext following their election.(2) In case the Batasang Pambansa isdissolved, the newly elected Members shallserve the unexpired portion of the term fromthe time the President convokes theAssembly, which shall not be later than thirtydays immediately following their election. SEC. 4. No person shall be a Member of theBatasang Pambansa as a regionalrepresentative unless he is a natural-borncitizen of the Philippines and, on the day ofthe election, is at least twenty-five years ofage, able to read and write, a registered voterin the Region in which he shall be elected,and a resident thereof for a period of not lessthan one year immediately preceding the dayof the election. 27. SEC. 5. (1) The regular election of theMembers of the Batasang Pambansashall be held on the second Monday ofMay 1984 and every six yearsthereafter.(2) In case a vacancy arises in theBatasang Pambansa eighteen monthsor more before a regular election, theCommission on Elections shall call aspecial election to be held within sixtydays after the vacancy occurs to electthe Member to serve the unexpiredterm. SEC. 6. The Batasang Pambansa shallconvene once every year on the fourthMonday of July for its regular session,unless a different date is fixed by law,and shall continue to be in session for 28. SEC. 7. (1) The BatasangPambansa shall, by a majorityvote of all its Members, elect itsSpeaker from the Membersthereof. It shall choose suchother officers as it may deemnecessary. (2) A majority of all the Membersof the Batasang Pambansa shallconstitute a quorum to dobusiness, but a smaller numbermay adjourn from day to dayand may compel the attendanceof absent Members in such 29. (3) The Batasang Pambansa maydetermine the rules of its proceedings,punish its Members for disorderlybehavior, and with the concurrence oftwo-thirds of all its Members; suspendor expel a Member, but if the penalty issuspension, this shall not exceed sixtydays. (4) The Batasang Pambansa shall keepa Journal of its proceedings, and fromtime to time publish the same,excepting such parts as may, in itsjudgment, effect national security; and 30. SEC. 8. (1) Unless otherwise providedby law, each Member of the BatasangPambansa shall receive an annualsalary of sixty thousand pesos. TheSpeaker of the Batasang Pambansashall receive an annual salary ofseventy-five thousand pesos. Noincrease in salary shall take effect untilafter the expiration of the term of theMembers of the Batasang Pambansaapproving such increase. (2) The records and books of accountsof the Batasang Pambansa shall beopen to the public in accordance withlaw, and such books shall be audited 31. SEC. 9. A Member of the Batasang Pambansa shall, inall offenses punishable by not more than six yearsimprisonment, be privileged from arrest during hisattendance at its sessions, and in going to andreturning from the same; but the Batasang Pambansashall surrender the Member involved to the custody ofthe law within twenty-four hours after its adjournmentfor a recess or for its next session, otherwise suchprivilege shall cease upon its failure to do so. A Membershall not be questioned nor be held liable in any otherplace for any speech or debate in the Batasan or in anycommittee thereof. SEC. 10. A Member of the Batasang Pambansa shall nothold any other office or employment in the Government,or any subdivision, agency, or instrumentality thereof,including government-owned or controlledcorporations, during his tenure except that of PrimeMinister, Deputy Prime Minister, Member of the Cabinetor the Executive Committee, or Deputy Minister. Neither 32. SEC. 11. No Member of the BatasangPambansa shall appear as counsel beforeany court without appellate jurisdiction,before any court in any civil case whereinthe Government, or any subdivision,agency, or instrumentality thereof is theadverse party, or in any criminal casewherein any officer or employee of theGovernment is accused of an offensecommitted in relation to his office, orbefore any administrative body. Neithershall he, directly or indirectly beinterested financially in any contract with,or in any franchise or special privilegegranted by the Government, or anysubdivision, agency or instrumentalitythereof, including any government-owned 33. SEC. 12. (1) There shall be a question hourat least once a month or as often as theRules of the Batasang Pambansa mayprovide, which shall be included in itsagenda, during which the Prime Minister, theDeputy Prime Minister or any Minister maybe required to appear and answer questionsand interpellation by Members of theBatasang Pambansa. Written questionsshall be submitted to the Speaker at leastthree days before a scheduled questionhour. Interpellations shall not be limited tothe written questions, but may covermatters related thereto. The agenda shallspecify the subjects of the question hour.When the security of the State so requiresand the President so states in writing, thequestion hour shall be conducted inexecutive session. (2) The Batasang Pambansa or any of its 34. SEC. 13. (1) The Batasang Pambansamay withdraw its confidence from thePrime Minister by a majority vote of allits Members. The motion for a vote ofno confidence shall be calendared fordebate if it is signed by at least one-fifthof the Members of the BatasangPambansa. No such motion shall bedebated and voted upon until after thelapse of seven days after itssubmission.Within ten days from receipt of thewritten advice of the approval of themotion of no confidence, the President 35. (2) The Prime Minister may advise the Presidentin writing to dissolve the Batasang Pambansawhenever the need arises for a popular vote ofconfidence on fundamental issues, but not on amatter involving his own personal integrity.Whereupon, the President may dissolve theBatasang Pambansa not earlier than seven norlater than fourteen days from his receipt of theadvice, and call for an election on a date set byhim which shall not be earlier than forty-five norlater than sixty days from the date of suchdissolution. However, no dissolution of theBatasang Pambansa shall take place withineighteen months immediately preceding aregular election of the Batasang Pambansa orwithin eighteen months immediately followingsuch election, or during the pendency of 36. SEC. 14. (1) Except as otherwise providedin this Constitution, no treaty shall he validand effective unless concurred in by amajority of all the Members of the BatasangPambansa. (2) The Batasang Pambansa, by a vote oftwo-thirds of all its Members, shall have thesole power to declare the existence of astate of war. SEC. 15. In times of war or other nationalemergency, the Batasang Pambansa mayby law authorize the President for a limitedperiod and subject to such restrictions as itmay prescribe, to exercise powers 37. SEC. 16. (1) The Prime Minister shallsubmit to the Batasang Pambansawithin thirty days from the opening ofeach regular session, as the basis of thegeneral appropriations bill, a budget ofreceipts based on existing andproposed revenue measures, and ofexpenditures. The form, content, andmanner of preparation of the budgetshall be prescribed by law. (2) No provision or enactment shall beembraced in the general appropriationsbill unless it relates specifically to some 38. (3) The procedure in approving appropriations for theBatasang Pambansa shall strictly follow the procedurefor approving appropriations for other departmentsand agencies. (4) A special appropriations bill shall specify thepurpose for which it is intended, and shall besupported by funds actually available as certified to bythe National Treasurer, or to be raised by acorresponding revenue proposal included therein. (5) No law shall be passed authorizing any transfer ofappropriations; however, the President, the PrimeMinister, the Speaker, the Chief Justice of the SupremeCourt, and the heads of Constitutional Commissionsmay by law be authorized to augment any item in thegeneral appropriations law for their respective officesfrom savings in other items of their respectiveappropriations. (6) If, by the end of any fiscal year, the BatasangPambansa shall have failed to pass the general 39. SEC. 17. (1) The rule of taxation shall beuniform and equitable. The BatasangPambansa shall evolve a progressivesystem of taxation. (2) The Batasang Pambansa may by lawauthorize the President to fix withinspecified limits, and subject to suchlimitations and restrictions as it mayimpose, tariff rates, import and exportquotas, tonnage and wharfage dues, andother duties or imposts. (3) Charitable institutions, churches,parsonages or convents appurtenantthereto, mosques, and non-profitcemeteries, and all lands, buildings, andimprovements actually, directly, andexclusively used for religious or charitablepurposes shall be exempt from taxation. (4) No law granting any tax exemption shall 40. SEC. 18 (1) No money shall be paidout of the Treasury except inpursuance of an appropriation madeby law. (2) No public money or property shallever be appropriated, applied, paid, orused, directly or indirectly, for theuse, benefit, or support of any sect,church, denomination, sectarianinstitution, or system of religion, orfor the use, benefit, or support of anypriest, preacher, minister, or otherreligious teacher or dignitary as such,except when such priest, preacher, 41. SEC. 19. (1) Every bill shall embraceonly one subject which shall beexpressed in the title thereof. (2) No bill shall become a law unless ithas passed three readings onseparate days, and printed copiesthereof in its final form have beendistributed to the Members three daysbefore its passage, except when thePrime Minister certifies to thenecessity of its immediate enactmentto meet a public calamity oremergency. Upon the last reading of abill, no amendment thereto shall be 42. SEC. 20. (1) Every bill passed by theBatasang Pambansa shall, before itbecomes a law, be presented to thePresident. If he approves the same, heshall sign it; otherwise, he shall veto itand return the same with his objectionsto the Batasang Pambansa. The bill maybe reconsidered by the BatasangPambansa and, if approved by two-thirdsof all its Members, shall become alaw. The President shall act on every billpassed by the Batasang Pambansawithin thirty days after the date ofreceipt thereof; otherwise it shallbecome a law as if he had signed it. (2) The President shall have the power 43. ARTICLE IX : THE PRIME MINISTER,THE CABINET AND THE EXECUTIVECOMMITTEE SECTION 1 There shall be a Cabinetwhich shall be composed of Ministerswith or without portfolio appointed bythe President. At least a majority of theMembers of the Cabinet who are headsof ministries shall come from theRegional Representatives of theBatasang Pambansa.The Prime Minister shall be the head ofthe Cabinet. He shall, upon thenomination of the President from amongthe Members of the Batasang Pambansa, 44. SEC. 2. The Prime Minister and theCabinet shall be responsible to theBatasang Pambansa for the program ofgovernment approved by the President. SEC. 3. There shall be an ExecutiveCommittee to be designated by thePresident, composed of the PrimeMinister as Chairman, and not more thanfourteen other members, at least half ofwhom shall be Members of the BatasangPambansa. The Executive Committeeshall assist the President in the exerciseof his powers and functions and in theperformance of his duties as he mayprescribe.The Members of the Executive Committee 45. SEC. 4. The term of office of the PrimeMinister shall commence from the date of hiselection by the Batasang Pambansa andshall end on the date that the nomination ofhis successor is submitted by the Presidentto the Batasang Pambansa. Any othermember of the Cabinet or the ExecutiveCommittee may be removed at the discretionof the President. SEC. 5. (1) The President may nominate fromamong the Members of the BatasangPambansa a Deputy Prime Minister who shallbe elected by a majority of the Membersthereof. The Deputy Prime Minister shallperform such functions as may be assignedto him by the Prime Minister. 46. SEC. 6. The Prime Minister, DeputyPrime Minister, the Members of theCabinet, and the Members of theExecutive Committee, on assumingoffice, shall take the following oath oraffirmation:I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I willfaithfully and conscientiously fulfill myduties as (name of position) of thePhilippines, preserve and defend itsConstitution, execute its laws, do justiceto every man and consecrate myself tothe service of the Nation. So help meGod. (In case of affirmation, the last 47. SEC. 7. The salaries and emoluments ofthe Prime Minister, Deputy Prime Minister,Members of the Cabinet and of theExecutive Committee shall be fixed by lawwhich shall not be increased or decreasedduring their tenure of office. Untilotherwise provided by law, the PrimeMinister shall receive the same salary asthat of the President. SEC. 8. The Prime Minister, the Membersof the Cabinet and the Members of theExecutive Committee, shall be subject tothe provisions of Section 11, Article VIIIhereof and may not appear as counsel 48. SEC. 9. The Prime Minister,Deputy Prime Minister, anyMember of the Cabinet or theExecutive Committee may resignfor any cause without vacatinghis seat as Regional or SectoralRepresentative in the BatasangPambansa, or any othergovernment position. SEC. 10. The Prime Minister shallhave supervision of all 49. ARTICLE X : THE JUDICIARY SECTION 1. The Judicial power shall bevested in one Supreme Court and insuch inferior courts as may beestablished by law. The BatasangPambansa shall have the power todefine, prescribe, and apportion thejurisdiction of the various courts, butmay not deprive the Supreme Court ofits jurisdiction over cases enumeratedin Section five hereof. SEC. 2. (1) The Supreme Court shall becomposed of a Chief Justice and 50. (2) All cases involving the constitutionalityof a treaty, executive agreement, or lawshall be heard and decided by the SupremeCourt en banc, and no treaty, executiveagreement, or law may be declaredunconstitutional without the concurrenceof at least ten Members. All other cases,which under its rules are required to beheard en banc, shall be decided with theconcurrence of at least eight Members. (3) Cases heard by a division shall bedecided with the concurrence of at leastfive Members, but if such required numberis not obtained, the case shall be decided 51. SEC. 3. (l) No person shall beappointed Member of the SupremeCourt unless he is a natural-borncitizen of the Philippines, at least fortyyears of age, and has for ten years ormore been a judge of a court ofrecord or engaged in the practice oflaw in the Philippines. (2) The Batasang Pambansa shallprescribe the qualifications of judgesof inferior courts, but no person maybe appointed judge thereof unless he 52. SEC. 4. The Members of the SupremeCourt and judges of inferior courtsshall be appointed by the President. SEC. 5. The Supreme Court shall havethe following powers: (1) Exercise original jurisdiction overcases affecting ambassadors, otherpublic ministers, and consuls, andover petitions for certiorari,prohibition, mandamus quo warranto,and habeas corpus. (2) Review and revise, reverse,modify, or affirm on appeal orcertiorari, as the law or the Rules of 53. (a) All cases in which theconstitutionality or validity of anytreaty, executive agreement, law,ordinance, or executive order orregulation is in question. (b) All cases involving the legality ofany tax, impost, assessment, or toll, orany penalty imposed in relation thereto. (c) All cases in which the jurisdiction ofany inferior court is in issue. (d) All criminal cases in which thepenalty imposed is death or lifeimprisonment. (e) All cases in which only an error or 54. (3) Assign temporarily judges of inferior courtsto other stations as public interest may require.Such temporary assignment shall not lastlonger than six mouths without the consent ofthe judge concerned. (4) Order a change of venue or place of trial toavoid a miscarriage of justice. (5) Promulgate rules concerning pleading,practice, and procedure in all courts, theadmission to the practice of law, and theintegration of the Bar, which, however, may berepealed, altered, or supplemented by theBatasang Pambansa. Such rules shall providea simplified and.inexpensive procedure for thespeedy disposition of cases, shall be uniformfor all courts of the same grade, and shall not 55. SEC. 6. The Supreme Court shall haveadministrative supervision over all courtsand the personnel thereof. SEC. 7. The Members of the Supreme Courtand judges of inferior courts shall holdoffice during good behavior until they reachthe age of seventy years or becomeincapacitated to discharge the duties of theiroffice. The Supreme Court shall have thepower to discipline judges of inferior courtsand, by a vote of at least eight Members,order their dismissal. SEC. 8. The conclusions of the SupremeCourt in any case submitted to it fordecision en banc or in division shall bereached in consultation before the case isassigned to a Member for the writing of the 56. SEC. 9. Every decision of a court ofrecord shall clearly and distinctly statethe facts and the law on which it isbased. The Rules of Court shall governthe promulgation of minute resolutions. SEC. 10. The salary of the Chief Justiceand of the Associate Justices of theSupreme Court, and of judges of inferiorcourts shall be fixed by law, which shallnot be decreased during thecontinuance in office. Until the BatasangPambansa shall provide otherwise, theChief Justice shall receive an annualsalary of seventy-five thousand pesos, 57. SEC.11.(1) Upon the effectivity of thisConstitution, the maximum period within whicha case or matter shall be decided or resolvedfrom the date of its submission, shall beeighteen months for the Supreme Court, and,unless reduced by the Supreme Court, twelvemonths for all inferior collegiate courts, andthree months for all other inferior courts. (2) With respect to the Supreme Court and othercollegiate appellate courts, when the applicablemaximum period shall have lapsed without therendition of the corresponding decision orresolution because the necessary vote cannotbe had, the judgment, order, or resolutionappealed from shall be deemed affirmed, exceptin those cases where a qualified majority isrequired and in appeals from judgments ofconviction in criminal cases; and in originalspecial civil actions and proceedings for habeascorpus, the petition in such cases shall bedeemed dismissed; and a certification to this 58. SEC. 12. The Supreme Court shall,within thirty days from the opening ofeach regular session of the BatasangPambansa, submit to the President, thePrime Minister, and the BatasangPambansa an annual report on theoperations and activities of theJudiciary. 59. ARTICLE I :THENATIONAL TERRITORY ARTICLE IIDECLARATION OFPRINCIPLES ANDSTATE POLICIES ARTICLE IIICITIZENSHIP ARTICLE IV :BILL OFRIGHTS ARTICLE V : DUTIESAND OBLIGATIONS OFCITIZENS ARTICLE VI:SUFFRAGE ARTICLE VII :THEPRESIDENTCOMMITTEE ARTICLE X :THEJUDICIARY ARTICLE XI :LOCALGOVERNMENT ARTICLE XII :THECONSTITUTIONALCOMMISSIONS ARTICLE XIII:ACCOUNTABILITY OFPUBLIC OFFICERS ARTICLE XIV :THENATIONAL ECONOMYAND THE PATRIMONYOF THE NATION ARTICLE XV:GENERAL