Crafting The 1987 Constitution: Meet The Framers

who are the framers of the 1987 constitution

The 1987 Constitution of the Philippines was drafted by a Constitutional Commission appointed by President Corazon C. Aquino following the 1986 People Power Revolution that ousted Marcos. The commission was chaired by Christian Monsod and included retired Supreme Court Associate Justice Adolfo Azcuna, who served as vice chair of the legislative committee. The final draft was completed on October 12, 1986, and presented to Aquino on October 15. It was ratified by a nationwide plebiscite on February 2, 1987, and proclaimed in force on February 11, 1987. Since its ratification, there have been multiple attempts to amend the 1987 Constitution, including efforts led by then-Secretary of National Security Council Jose Almonte in 1995 and Speaker of the House Feliciano Belmonte Jr. during President Benigno Aquino III's administration.

Characteristics Values
Country Philippines
Year 1987
Date of approval October 12, 1986
Date presented to President Corazon C. Aquino October 15, 1986
Date of ratification February 2, 1987
Date proclaimed in force February 11, 1987
Form of government Three branches: executive, legislative, and judicial
Notable framers Christian Monsod, Adolfo/Adolf Azcuna, Lino Brocka, Ramon Rodrigo Gutierrez
Amendments Several attempts made to amend or change the constitution since 1995

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The 1987 Constitution of the Philippines was drafted by a commission appointed by President Corazon C. Aquino

The 1987 Constitution was the result of this process, and it was ratified by a nationwide plebiscite on February 2, 1987. It provided for three branches of government: the executive, legislative, and judicial, with the executive headed by the president and their appointed cabinet members. Each branch of government was designed to have limited powers.

The commission that drafted the 1987 Constitution included members such as Lino Brocka, a film director and political activist, and Christian Monsod, a former Commission on Elections Chairman. Adolf Azcuna, a retired Supreme Court Associate Justice, was also part of the body that crafted the constitution and served as the vice chair of the legislative committee.

The process of drafting the 1987 Constitution involved debates and discussions on several key issues. These included the form of government to adopt, the abolition of the death penalty, the retention of US military bases, and the inclusion of economic policies within the constitution. Despite some dissent, the final draft was completed and presented to President Aquino, marking a significant step in the country's constitutional evolution.

Following the administration of Corazon Aquino, there have been multiple attempts to amend or change the 1987 Constitution. However, the 1987 Constitution remains a pivotal document in the Philippines' history, shaping the nation's governance and legal framework.

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The commission was headed by former Commission on Elections Chairman Christian Monsod

The 1987 Constitution of the Republic of the Philippines was drafted by a commission formed by President Corazon C. Aquino. This commission was a direct result of the 1986 People Power Revolution that overthrew the Marcos regime. The commission was headed by former Commission on Elections Chairman Christian Monsod.

The 1987 Constitution was approved by the 1986 Constitutional Commission on October 12, 1986, and presented to President Aquino on October 15, 1986. It was ratified by a nationwide plebiscite on February 2, 1987, and came into force on February 11, 1987. The constitution provided for three governmental branches: the executive, legislative, and judicial, with the executive headed by the president and their appointed cabinet members. Each branch of government was designed to have limited powers.

Christian Monsod, as the head of the commission, played a pivotal role in shaping the 1987 Constitution. In recent years, Monsod has publicly shared his insights and opinions on the intent and interpretation of the Constitution. For instance, in 2024, Monsod explained the deliberate exclusion of the phrase "imminent danger" as a basis for declaring martial law in the 1987 Constitution. He attributed this decision to the historical context of the country's experience with authoritarian rule and the abuse of martial law powers by a previous president.

The commission that drafted the 1987 Constitution included other notable members, such as retired Supreme Court Associate Justice Adolfo Azcuna and film director and political activist Lino Brocka. Azcuna has expressed support for amending the economic provisions of the Constitution to make them more flexible and responsive to the evolving economic landscape. Brocka, on the other hand, walked out before the constitution's completion due to disagreements over its content.

Since its enactment, there have been several attempts to amend or change the 1987 Constitution. These efforts underscore the ongoing evolution of the Philippines' constitutional framework and the desire to ensure that the nation's supreme law remains adaptable to the changing needs and circumstances of the country.

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Retired Supreme Court Associate Justice Adolfo Azcuna was also part of the body that crafted the constitution

The 1987 Constitution of the Republic of the Philippines was approved by the 1986 Constitutional Commission on October 12, 1986, and presented to President Corazon C. Aquino on October 15, 1986. It was ratified by a nationwide plebiscite on February 2, 1987, and proclaimed in force on February 11, 1987. The constitution provided for three governmental branches: the executive, legislative, and judicial.

Retired Supreme Court Associate Justice Adolfo Azcuna was part of the body that crafted the 1987 Constitution. Azcuna, who was the vice chair of the legislative committee of the Constitutional Commission that drafted the Constitution in 1986, has expressed his support for amending the economic provisions of the constitution. He argued that economic provisions should be flexible and responsive to the fast-changing economic conditions, rather than being cast in stone. Azcuna and other framers of the 1987 Constitution have also shared differing views on the inclusion of the phrase "imminent danger" as a basis for declaring martial law. While some framers intentionally removed the phrase due to historical abuses of power, Azcuna suggested re-examining its incorporation considering advancing warfare technology and the existence of safeguards in the present Constitution.

The 1987 Constitution of the Philippines has been subject to multiple attempts to amend or change it. The first attempt was in 1995, but it was exposed to the media by non-government organizations concerned about the protection of people's interests. In recent years, there have been renewed efforts to amend the economic provisions and explore implementing federalism in the country. However, despite these attempts, the 1987 Constitution remains the foundational legal framework for the Philippines.

Retired Supreme Court Associate Justice Adolfo Azcuna's involvement in crafting the 1987 Constitution is significant as it showcases his contribution to the country's legal framework. As a member of the Constitutional Commission, he played a role in shaping the principles and provisions that govern the Philippines. His support for flexible economic provisions demonstrates his recognition of the need for the constitution to adapt to evolving economic conditions. Additionally, his views on declaring martial law highlight the complex considerations involved in balancing national security with checks and balances on presidential power.

Overall, Retired Supreme Court Associate Justice Adolfo Azcuna's participation in the creation of the 1987 Constitution of the Philippines had a lasting impact on the country's governance and legal system. His insights and contributions helped shape the constitution, and his subsequent reflections on potential amendments demonstrate his ongoing engagement with the country's legal and political landscape.

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The constitution was ratified by a nationwide plebiscite on February 2, 1987, and proclaimed in force on February 11, 1987

The 1987 Constitution of the Republic of the Philippines was ratified by a nationwide plebiscite on February 2, 1987, and came into force on February 11, 1987. This was following its approval by the 1986 Constitutional Commission on October 12, 1986, and its presentation to President Corazon C. Aquino on October 15, 1986. The 1987 Constitution was a significant development in the country's history, providing for three governmental branches: the executive, legislative, and judicial. Each branch has limited powers, with the executive branch headed by the president and their appointed cabinet members.

The process of drafting the 1987 Constitution was influenced by several factors. Firstly, it followed the 1986 People Power Revolution, which resulted in the ousting of Marcos and the issuance of Proclamation No. 3 by President Aquino as a provisional constitution. This transitional constitution, known as the "Freedom Constitution," lasted a year and adopted and amended certain provisions from the 1973 Constitution. It granted the president broad powers to reorganise the government and remove officials, as well as the mandate to appoint a commission to draft a new constitution.

The 1987 Constitution was crafted by a body that included retired Supreme Court Associate Justice Adolfo Azcuna and former Commission on Elections Chairman Christian Monsod. They have since expressed differing views on potential amendments to the constitution, particularly regarding the declaration of martial law and the inclusion of the phrase "imminent danger". Azcuna has also advocated for amending the economic provisions of the constitution to make them more responsive to the fast-changing economic conditions.

Since its ratification, there have been several attempts to amend or change the 1987 Constitution. The first attempt was in 1995, but it was never completed due to intervention from non-government organisations. In 1997, an initiative by the Pedrosa couple, called PIRMA, sought to change the constitution through a People's Initiative by gathering signatures from voters. More recently, there have been efforts during the administrations of President Benigno Aquino III and President Rodrigo Duterte to introduce amendments, particularly focusing on economic liberalisation and the implementation of federalism, respectively.

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It replaced the 1986 Freedom Constitution, which served as a transitional constitution after the 1986 People Power Revolution that ousted Marcos

The 1987 Constitution of the Republic of the Philippines replaced the 1986 Freedom Constitution, a transitional constitution that was in place for a year. This followed the 1986 People Power Revolution, which overthrew Marcos. The 1986 Freedom Constitution was promulgated by presidential proclamation in March 1986 and granted the President, Corazon C. Aquino, broad powers to reorganise the government and remove officials. Aquino issued Proclamation No. 3 as a provisional constitution, adopting certain provisions from the 1973 Constitution while abolishing others.

The 1987 Constitution was drafted by the 1986 Constitutional Commission, approved by them on October 12, 1986, and presented to President Aquino on October 15, 1986. It was ratified by a nationwide plebiscite on February 2, 1987, and came into force on February 11, 1987. The Commission was mandated with the task of drafting a new constitution by President Aquino, and it included members such as Lino Brocka, a film director and political activist, and former Supreme Court Associate Justice Adolf Azcuna.

The 1987 Constitution has been the subject of several attempts to amend or change it, with the first attempt occurring in 1995. The constitution provides for three branches of government: the executive, legislative, and judicial, with the executive headed by the President and their appointed cabinet members. Each branch of government has limited powers.

The 1987 Constitution is significant as it outlines the fundamental laws and principles of the Philippines and provides a framework for the country's governance. It replaced the 1986 Freedom Constitution, which served as a transitional document to ensure stability and continuity after the People Power Revolution. The 1987 Constitution aimed to address the issues and challenges faced by the country at the time and provided a more permanent and comprehensive framework for the nation's future.

The framers of the 1987 Constitution, such as Adolf Azcuna, have expressed support for amending the economic provisions to make them more flexible and responsive to the fast-changing economic conditions. There have been various attempts to amend the constitution, with some focusing on economic provisions to promote liberalisation and the potential for implementing federalism.

Frequently asked questions

The 1987 Constitution of the Philippines was drafted by the 1986 Constitutional Commission. It was presented to President Corazon C. Aquino on October 15, 1986, and ratified by a plebiscite on February 2, 1987.

Some key members of the commission included Christian Monsod, Adolfo/Adolf Azcuna, Lino Brocka, and Ramon Rodrigo Gutierrez.

The commission debated several issues, including the form of government, the abolition of the death penalty, the retention of US military bases, and the inclusion of economic policies in the constitution.

There have been several attempts to amend the 1987 Constitution, but none have succeeded. The first attempt was made in 1995 by then-Secretary of National Security Council Jose Almonte, but it was exposed by non-government organizations.

In 2023, legislators from the House of Representatives discussed renewing efforts to change the 1987 charter to regulate economic sectors open to foreign investors through a People's Initiative. Additionally, some framers of the constitution have recently expressed opposing views on the inclusion of the phrase "imminent danger" as a basis for declaring martial law.

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