RPH 2

The government of the Philippine Republic changed drastically from the intended

parliamentary democracy to a mixed presidential-parliamentary dictatorship under

Marcos. This was done through a thorough revision of the 1973 Constitution. Later
changes in 1981 gave birth to what President Marcos called the “New Republic” or
historically speaking, the Fourth Philippine Republic.
The salient features of the 1973 constitution is for the first time in Philippine
history the parliamentary government with a prime minister and the president second
legislative powers was vested in a unicameral National Assembly elected by the people
and third it legalized all the decrees of proclamation and orders of the President. While
the 1935 constitution’s salient features was there was a Bicameral legislator, 4 year
term for the President and Vice President without re-election and there was right to vote
for male citizens and it is extended to women. Going back to the occasions that driven
Martial Law; A week before the actual affirmation of Military Law, a number of
individuals had already gotten data that Marcos had drawn up a arrange to totally take
over the government and pick up outright run the show. Senator Benigno S. Aquino Jr.,
amidst his privilege discourse in September 13, 1972, at that point uncovered what was
known as “Oplan Sagittarius.” The Representative said he had gotten a top-secret
military arrange given by Marcos himself to put Metro Manila and distant ranges
beneath the control of the Philippine Constabulary as a prelude to Martial Law. Marcos
was going to use a series of bombings in Metro Manila, including the 1971 Plaza
Miranda bombing, as a justification for his takeover and subsequent authoritarian rule.
In 1970, delegates were elected to a constitutional convention which began to meet in
1971. In September 1972, President Ferdinand Marcos declared martial law and
arrested 11 members of the convention. The convention then re-convened and wrote a
constitution in line with what President Ferdinand Marcos wanted, at least, according to
many critics and victims of martial law. Marcos issued Presidential Decree No. 86
calling for the cancellation of the plebiscite and instituted barangays' citizens'
assemblies to ratify the new constitution by a referendum from 10–15 January 1973. On
17 January 1973, Marcos issued Proclamation No. 1102 certifying and proclaiming that
the 1973 Constitution had been ratified by the Filipino people and thereby was in effect.
These results were challenged by the Ratification Cases heard by the Philippine
Supreme Court in 1973. The court upheld the results and the ratification of the 1973
Constitution. For this plebiscite to changes to voting requirements were implemented.
The voting age was reduced from 18 to 15 years old and those who were illiterate, as
described by the opposition, were allowed to vote. In accordance with my research, in
terms of the establishment of a mixed presidential-parliamentary system of government
the delegates selected to rewrite the constitution hoped to retain its democratic essence
while deleting parts deemed to be unsuitable relics of the colonial past. They hoped to
produce a genuinely Filipino document. But before their work could be completed,
Marcos declared martial law and manipulated the constitutional convention to serve his
purposes. The 1973 constitution was a deviation from the Philippines' commitment to
democratic ideals. Marcos abolished Congress and ruled by presidential decree from
September 1972 until 1978, when a parliamentary government with a legislature called
the National Assembly replaced the presidential system. But Marcos exercised all the
powers of president under the old system plus the powers of prime minister under the
new system. When Marcos was driven from office in 1986, the 1973 constitution also
was jettisoned. In the case of Batasang Pambansa as a unicameral congress again in
the year 1973, under the ruler President Ferdinand Marcos, the constitution replaced
the bicameral congress with a unicameral parliament called the Batasang Pambansa,
thus needing a building to hold one legislative body. Marcos called upon architect Felipe
Mendoza to design the current Batasang Pambansa and its entire complex.

As we go back to the year 1973 constitution, I can insight from my research and
essay that Marcos’s dictatorship created a big impact in the changing the Philippine
Constitution as the years go by. The so called “New Republic” by Marcos became a
turning point that up until this day, we will never forget and at some point how Marcos
ran dictatorship is still relevant in today’s government.

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The government of the Philippine Republic changed drastically from the intended

parliamentary democracy to a mixed presidential-parliamentary dictatorship under

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