Political Law (Constitutional Law) – Article 1-II

ARTICLE I – THE NATIONAL TERRITORY

The national territory of the Philippines comprises:
1. The Philippine archipelago
2. With all the islands and waters embraced therein
3. And all other territories over which the Philippines has sovereignty or jurisdiction
4. Consisting of its
1. Terrestrial
2. Fluvial; and CODE: TFA
3. Aerial domains
5. Including its
1. Territorial sea
2. The seabed
3. The subsoil CODE: TSSIO
4. The insular shelves; and
5. The other submarine areas
6. The waters
1. Around
2. Between and
3. Connecting
4. The islands of the archipelago CODE: ABCI
Regardless of their breadth and dimension

Form part of the INTERNAL WATERS of the Philippines

Definition of Archipelago

An archipelago is a body of water studded with islands. The Philippine archipelago is that body of water
studded with islands which is delineated in the Treaty of Paris (1898), as amended by the Treaty of
Washington (1900) and the Treaty of Great Britain (1930).
Definition of “all other territories over which the Philippines has sovereignty or jurisdiction”
It includes any territory that presently belongs or might in the future belong to the Philippines through any of
the internationally accepted modes of acquiring territory.

Archipelagic principle

Two elements:
1. The definition of internal waters (as provided above);
2. The straight baseline method of delineating the territorial sea – consists of drawing straight lines
connecting appropriate points on the coast without departing to any appreciable extent from the
general direction of the coast.
Important distances with respect to the waters around the Philippines
1. Territorial sea – 12 nautical miles (n.m.)
2. Contiguous zone – 12 n.m. from the edge of the territorial sea
3. Exclusive economic zone – 200 n.m. from the baseline [includes (1) and (2)]
Political Law (Constitutional Law) – Article 1-II

ARTICLE II – DECLARATION OF PRINCIPLES AND STATE POLICIES

Selected principles
Sec 1. The Philippines is a democratic and republican State. Sovereignty resides in the people and all government authority
emanates from them.

Elements of a State (for municipal law purposes) CODE: PTSG

1. A community of persons, more or less numerous (PEOPLE)
2. Permanently occupying a definite portion of territory (TERRITORY)
3. Independent of external control (SOVEREIGNTY)
4. Possessing an organized government to which the great body of inhabitants render habitual obedience (GOVERNMENT)

Definition of “People” CODE: CNCH

1. A Community of persons;
2. Sufficient in Number;
3. Capable of maintaining the continued existence of the community; and
4. Held together by a common bond of law.

Definition of “Sovereignty”
1. LEGAL sovereignty
1. The supreme power to make law.
2. It is lodged in the people.
1. POLITICAL sovereignty
1. The sum total of all the influences in a state,
2. Legal and non-legal,
3. Which determine the course of law.
1. According to the Principle of AUTO-LIMITATION:

Sovereignty is the property of the state-force due to which it has the exclusive capacity of legal self-determination and self-
restriction.

Definition of “Government”
1. That institution or aggregate of institutions
2. by which an independent society
3. makes and carries out those rules of action
4. which are necessary to enable men to live in a social state
5. or which are imposed upon the people forming that society by those who possess the power or authority of prescribing
them.

Classification of governments
1. De jure – one established by the authority of the legitimate sovereign
2. De facto – one established in defiance of the legitimate sovereign

Classification of de facto governments

1. De facto proper
Political Law (Constitutional Law) – Article 1-II

1. That government that gets possession and control of

2. or usurps by force or by the voice of majority
3. the rightful legal government
4. and maintains itself against the will of the latter.
1. Government of paramount force
1. That which is established and maintained by military forces
2. who invade and occupy a territory of the enemy
3. in the course of war.
1. That established as an independent government by the inhabitants of a country who rise in insurrection against the parent
state.

Definition of “Republican State”

It is one wherein all government authority emanates from the people and is exercised by representatives chosen by the
people.

Definition of Democratic State

This merely emphasizes that the Philippines has some aspects of direct democracy such as initiative and referendum.

Sec. 2. The Philippines renounces war as an instrument of national policy, adopts the generally accepted principles of
international law as part of the law of the land and adheres to the policy of peace, equality, justice, freedom, cooperation,
and amity with all nations.

Kind of war renounced by the Philippines

The Philippines only renounces AGGRESSIVE war as an instrument of national policy. It does not renounce defensive war.
Some “generally accepted principles of international law” recognized by the Court:
1. Right of an alien to be released on bail while awaiting deportation when his failure to leave the country is due to the fact that
no country will accept him (Mejoff v. Director of Prisons, 90 Phil. 70)
2. The right of a country to establish military commissions to try war criminals (Kuroda v. Jalondoni, 83 Phil. 171)
3. The Vienna Convention on Road Signs and Signals (Agustin v. Edu, 88 SCRA 195)

Amity with all nations

This does not mean automatic diplomatic recognition of all nations. Diplomatic recognition remains a matter of executive
discretion.

Sec 3. Civilian authority is, at all times, supreme over the military. The Armed Forces of the Philippines is the protector of
the people and the State. Its goal is to secure the sovereignty of the State and the integrity of the national territory.

Civilian authority/supremacy clause (1st sentence)

1. Civilian authority simply means the supremacy of the law because authority, under our constitutional system, can only come
from law.
2. Under this clause, the soldier renounces political ambition.
Mark of sovereignty (2nd and 3rd sentences)
Political Law (Constitutional Law) – Article 1-II

1. Positively, this clause singles out the military as the guardian of the people and of the integrity of the national territory and
therefore ultimately of the majesty of the law.
2. Negatively, it is an expression of disapproval of military abuses.
Sec 4. The prime duty of the Government is to serve and protect the people. The Government may call upon the people to
defend the State and, in the fulfillment thereof, all citizens may be required, under conditions provided by law, to render
personal, military, or civil service.

Sec. 5. The maintenance of peace and order, the protection of life, liberty and property, and the promotion of the general
welfare are essential for the enjoyment by all the people of the blessings of democracy.

Sec. 6. The separation of Church and State shall be inviolable.

Selected state policies

Sec. 7. The State shall pursue an independent foreign policy. In its relations with other states, the paramount
consideration shall be national sovereignty, territorial integrity, national interest, and the right to self-determination.
Sec. 8. The Philippines, consistent with the national interest, adopts and pursues a policy of freedom from nuclear
weapons in its territory.
Policy of freedom from nuclear weapons
1. The policy PROHIBITS:
1. The possession, control and manufacture of nuclear weapons
2. Nuclear arms tests.
1. The policy does NOT prohibit the peaceful uses of nuclear energy.

Section 9. The State shall promote a just and dynamic social order that will ensure the prosperity and independence of the
nation and free the people from poverty through policies that provide adequate social services, promote full employment,
a rising standard of living, and an improved quality of life for all.cralaw

Section 10. The State shall promote social justice in all phases of national development.cralaw

Section 11. The State values the dignity of every human person and guarantees full respect for human rights.

Sec. 12. The State recognizes the sanctity of family life and shall protect and strengthen the family as a basic autonomous
social institution. It shall equally protect the life of the mother and the life of the unborn from conception. etc.
Principle that the family is not a creature of the state.
Protection for the unborn
1. It is not an assertion that the unborn is a legal person.
2. It is not an assertion that the life of the unborn is placed exactly on the level of the life of the mother. Hence, when it is
necessary to save the life of the mother, the life of the unborn may be sacrificed.
3. Under this provision, the Roe v. Wade doctrine allowing abortion up to the 6 th month of pregnancy cannot be adopted in the
Philippines because the life of the unborn is protected from the time of conception.
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Section 13. The State recognizes the vital role of the youth in nation-building and shall promote and protect their physical, moral,
spiritual, intellectual, and social well-being. It shall inculcate in the youth patriotism and nationalism, and encourage their
involvement in public and civic affairs.cralaw

Section 14. The State recognizes the role of women in nation-building, and shall ensure the fundamental equality before the law of
women and men.cralaw

Section 15. The State shall protect and promote the right to health of the people and instill health consciousness among them.

Sec. 16. The State shall protect and advance the right of the people to a balanced and healthful ecology in accord with the
rhythm and harmony of nature.
1. While the right to a balanced and healthful ecology is found under the declaration of Principle and State Policies and not
under the Bill of Rights, it does not follow that it is less important than any of the civil and political rights enumerated in the
latter. (Oposa v. Factoran)
2. The right to a balanced and healthful ecology carries with it the correlative duty to refrain from impairing the
environment. (Oposa v. Factoran)

Section 17. The State shall give priority to education, science and technology, arts, culture, and sports to foster patriotism and
nationalism, accelerate social progress, and promote total human liberation and development.

Section 18. The State affirms labor as a primary social economic force. It shall protect the rights of workers and promote their
welfare.

Section 19. The State shall develop a self-reliant and independent national economy effectively controlled by Filipinos.cralaw

Section 20. The State recognizes the indispensable role of the private sector, encourages private enterprise, and provides incentives
to needed investments.

Section 21. The State shall promote comprehensive rural development and agrarian reform.

Section 22. The State recognizes and promotes the rights of indigenous cultural communities within the framework of national unity
and development.

Section 23. The State shall encourage non-governmental, community-based, or sectoral organizations that promote the welfare of
the nation.

Section 24. The State recognizes the vital role of communication and information in nation-building.

Section 25. The State shall ensure the autonomy of local governments.

Sec. 26. The State shall guarantee equal access to opportunities for public service, and prohibit political dynasties as may
be defined by law.
Sec. 27. The State shall maintain honesty and integrity in the public service and take positive and effective measures
against graft and corruption.
Sec. 28. Subject to reasonable conditions prescribed by law, the State adopts and implements a policy of full public
disclosure of all its transactions involving public interest.