Philippine Politics

The Philippines has a representative democracy modeled on the United States system. The 1987 constitution, adopted during the Corazon Aquino administration, reestablished a presidential system of government with a bicameral legislature and an independent judiciary. The President serves a term of six years and may no longer run for re-election, unless he/she becomes president through constitutional succession and has served for no more than 4 years as president. Provision also was made in the constitution for autonomous regions in Muslim areas of Mindanao and in the Cordillera region of northern Luzon.

The Senate is elected at large. There are currently 24 senators, 13 of whom were elected in May 2001. Of a possible 250 members of the House of Representatives, 206 are elected from the single-member districts. The remainder of the House seats are designated for sectoral representatives elected at large through a complex "party list" system, hinging on the party receiving at least 3% to 5% of the national vote total.

When Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo assumed the Presidency, her LAKAS-CMD party also regained its dominant position in Congress. The party leads the 187 member Sunshine Coalition composed of several major and minor parties. In the Senate, the pro-administration coalition controls 13 of the 24 seats. Members of the Philippine Congress tend to have weak party loyalties and change party affiliation easily. In October 2002, the Sunshine Coalition dissolved over Pres. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo's decision to seek election for the presidency which she came into by succeeding Joseph Estrada during the EDSA 2 Revolution of 2001.

The government is pursuing corruption-related criminal cases against former President Estrada, who is currently under detention. The terrorist Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG), which recently gained international notoriety with its kidnappings of foreign tourists in the southern islands, is a major problem for the government. In May 2001, the ASG kidnapped several Americans that it still holds. Efforts to track down and destroy the ASG have been unsuccessful. Rising crime and concerns about the security situation have begun to have a negative impact on tourism and foreign investment. The government continues to face threats from both Muslim separatist groups and communist insurgents and is pursuing peace talks with both groups.

National Government

The government of the Philippines, loosely patterned after the American system, is organized as a representative republic.

Executive branch

The executive branch is headed by the President, who functions as both head of state and government, as well as being the commander-in-chief of the armed forces. The president is elected by popular vote to a term of 6 years, during which he appoints and presides over the cabinet.

Current President. President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo (since 20 January 2001) when a popular revolt, dubbed EDSA 2, overthrew the allegedly corrupt administration of ex-President Joseph Ejercito ESTRADA (since 30 June 1998); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government

Cabinet. Cabinet appointed by the president with the consent of the Commission of Appointments.

Legislative branch

The bicameral Philippine legislature, the Congress, consists of the Senate and the House of Representatives; members of both are elected by popular vote. There are 24 senators serving 6 years in the Senate while the House of Representatives consists of no more than 250 congressmen each serving 3-year terms.

Senate President: Franklin Drilon

Speaker of the House of Representatives: Jose de Venecia

• 1916-1935 Manuel Luis M. Quezon (United States occupation)
• 1945-1946 Manuel A. Roxas (Commonwealth government under United States)
• 1946-1949 Jose D. Avelino
• 1949-1951 Mariano Jesus L. Cuenco
• 1952-1952 Quintin B. Paredes
• 1952-1952 Camilo O. Osias
• 1952-1953 Eulogio A. Rodriguez
• 1953-1953 Jose C. Zulueta
• 1953-1963 Eulogio A. Rodriguez
• 1963-1965 Ferdinand E. Marcos
• 1966-1967 Arturo M. Tolentino
• 1967-1972 Gil J. Puyat
• 1987-1992 Jovito R. Salonga
• 1992-1993 Neptali A. Gonzales
• 1993-1995 Edgardo J. Angara
• 1995-1996 Neptali A. Gonzales
• 1996-1998 Ernesto M. Maceda
• 1998-1998 Neptali A. Gonzales
• 1998-1999 Marcelo B. Fernan
• 1999-2000 Blas F. Ople
• 2000-2000 Franklin M. Drilon
• 2000-2001 Aquilino Q. Pimentel, Jr.
• 2001-pres Franklin M. Drilon

Judicial branch

The judiciary branch of the government is headed by the Supreme Court, which has a Chief Justice as its head and 14 Associate Justices, all appointed by the president on the recommendation of the Judicial and Bar Council

Supreme Court Chief Justice: Hilario Davide, Jr.

• 1901-1920 Cayetano L. Arellano
• 1920-1921 Victorino M. Mapa
• 1921-1924 Manuel G. Araullo
• 1925-1941 Ramon Q. Avaceņa
• 1941-1942 Jose Abad Santos
• 1942-1944 Jose Yulo
• 1945-1951 Manuel V. Moran
• 1951-1961 Ricardo M. Paras
• 1961-1966 Cesar Bengzon
• 1966-1973 Roberto R. Concepcion
• 1973-1975 Querube C. Makalintal
• 1976-1979 Fred Ruiz Castro
• 1979-1985 Enrique M. Fernando
• 1985-1985 Felix V. Macasiar
• 1985-1986 Ramon C. Aquino
• 1986-1988 Claudio Teehankee
• 1988-1988 Pedro L. Yap
• 1988-1991 Marcelo B. Fernan
• 1991-1998 Andres R. Narvasa
• 1998-Pres Hilario G. Davide, Jr.

Offices of the Ombudsman

The government and all three of its branches are independently monitored by the Offices of the Ombudsman. The Ombudsman is given the mandate to investigate and prosecute any official/s in government that is allegedly guilty of crimes, especially Graft and Corruption. The Ombudsman leads a team composed of a sheriff and 6 deputies who lead the their respective divisions and/or bureaus.

• Aksyon Demokratiko (Democratic Action): Raul Roco.
• Kilusang Bagong Lipunan (KBL) (New Society Movement): Ferdinand Marcos, Jr., president; Vicente Millora, chairman.
• Laban ng Demokratikong Pilipino (LDP) (Fight of the Democratic Filipino): Edgardo Angara, president; Agapito Aquino, secretary-general.
• Lakas-CMD (Lakas-Christian Muslim Democrats): Fidel V. Ramos, chairman; Jose De Venecia, secretary-general
• Liberal Party (LP): Florencio Abad, president; Benigno Aquino III, secretary general.
• Nacionalista Party (NP): Manuel Villar, president
• Nationalist People's Coalition (NPC): Frisco F. San Juan, chairman.
• Partido Demokratiko Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan (PDP-LABAN) (Democratic Party of the Philippines-Strength of the Nation): Aquilino Pimentel, Jr., president.
• Partido ng Masang Pilipino (Party of the Filipino Masses): Joseph Estrada, Chairman.
• Partido para sa Demokratikong Reporma-Lapiang Manggagawa (PDR-LM) (Democratic Reform Party-Labor Group): Roberto Sebastian, president; Rafael Colet, secretary general.
• People's Reform Party (PRP): Miriam Defensor-Santiago.
• Progressive Party (PP): currently vacant
• Partido Isang Bansa, Isang Diwa (PIBID) (One Nation, One Spirit): Eddie Gil, president; Elizabeth Samson, vice president.

Local Government / Administrative subdivisions

The Philippines is divided into a hierarchy of local government units (LGUs) with the province as the primary unit. As of 2002, there are 79 provinces in the country. Provinces are further subdivided into cities and municipalities, which are in turn, composed of barangays. The barangay is the smallest local government unit.

All provinces are grouped into 17 regions for administrative convenience. Most government offices establish regional offices to serve the constituent provinces. The regions themselves do not possess a separate local government, with the exception of the Muslim Mindanao and Cordillera regions, which are autonomous.