Editing Politics of the Philippines (section)

== Legal system ==
{{see also|Legal codes of the Philippines}}
[[File:Gold In-Laid Chest (Repository of 1935 Constitution).jpg|thumb|The 1935 [[Constitution of the Philippines]], which served as the basis for the current constitution]]

The Philippine legal system is a hybrid form based on the Spanish [[Civil law (legal system)|civil law]] and American [[common law]] system,<ref name="Gamboa">{{cite journal |last1=Gamboa |first1=Melquiades J. |title=The Meeting of the Roman Law and the Common Law in the Philippines |journal=Philippine Law Journal |date=1974 |volume=49 |url=http://www.plj.upd.edu.ph/wp-content/uploads/plj/PLJ%20volume%2049/PLJ%20volume%2049%20number%203/PLJ%20Volume%2049%20number%203%20-04-%20Melquiades%20J.%20Gamboa%20-%20The%20Meeting%20of%20the%20Roman%20Law%20and%20the%20Common%20Law%20in%20the%20Philippines.pdf |access-date=May 2, 2021 |archive-date=May 2, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210502135532/http://www.plj.upd.edu.ph/wp-content/uploads/plj/PLJ%20volume%2049/PLJ%20volume%2049%20number%203/PLJ%20Volume%2049%20number%203%20-04-%20Melquiades%20J.%20Gamboa%20-%20The%20Meeting%20of%20the%20Roman%20Law%20and%20the%20Common%20Law%20in%20the%20Philippines.pdf |url-status=dead }}</ref>{{rp|304–305}} with a system of Sharia law in place for some areas of law involving Muslims.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Mastura |first1=Michael O. |title=Legal Pluralism in the Philippines |journal=Law & Society Review |date=1994 |volume=28 |issue=3 |pages=461–475 |doi=10.2307/3054065 |jstor=3054065 |url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/3054065}}</ref><ref name="Ristroph"/>{{rp|10874}}

The [[Constitution of the Philippines|Constitution]] is the supreme law of the land<ref name="Consolidation">{{cite book |last1=Teehankee |first1=Julio |editor1-last=Platje |editor1-first=Wies |editor2-last=Croissant |editor2-first=Aurel |editor3-last=Martin |editor3-first=Beate |editor4-last=Dejong |editor4-first=Ben |title=Between Consolidation and Crisis: Elections and Democracy in Five Nations in Southeast Asia |date=2006 |publisher=LIT Verlag Münster |isbn=978-3-8258-8859-6 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=wAY4jO3JrmoC |chapter=Consolidation or Crisis of Clientelistic Democracy? The 2004 Synchronized Elections in the Philippines}}</ref>{{rp|216}} and laws passed by the [[Congress of the Philippines|Congress]] must be consistent with the Constitution.{{sfn|Philippine Constitution|1987|loc=Article X § 5, 19, XVIII §3, 10, 24|ps=.}} Since the establishment of the 1898 Constitution, there have been only three new constitutions, implemented in 1935, 1973, and 1987, respectively.<ref name="Lazo"/>{{rp|10}} Prior to 1898, the [[Spanish Constitution of 1812]] had applied to the Philippines for a short time, and there were numerous proposed constitutions during the [[Philippine Revolution]]. The most notable of these was the [[Malolos Constitution]].<ref name="Lazo"/>{{rp|42}} The presidential system established with the 1935 Constitution<ref name="Lazo"/>{{rp|43}} was replaced by a semi-parliamentary system in 1973 under the authoritarian rule of President Marcos, concentrating power in his hands.<ref name="Lazo"/>{{rp|47–48, 382}}

After the 1986 People Power Revolution brought President Aquino to power, she issued a proclamation establishing a temporary constitution and created a [[Philippine Constitutional Commission of 1986|constitutional commission]]. The commission finished writing a new constitution on October 15, 1986, which was subsequently approved by referendum on February 2, 1987. The 1987 constitution restored the presidential system,<ref name="Lazo"/>{{rp|47–48, 382}} being based on the 1935 constitution rather than the 1973 one.<ref name="Consolidation"/>{{rp|216}} The constitution is designed to provide a number of [[Separation of powers|checks and balances]], including the establishment of independent constitutional commissions and an Ombudsman. The Ombudsman and members of these commissions, in addition to the leaders of the executive (the president and vice-president) and judicial (Justices of the Supreme Court, including the Chief Justice) branches, may be removed through [[impeachment]].<ref name="DeinlaIntroduction">{{cite book |last1=Deinla |first1=Imelda |last2=Dressel |first2=Björn |title=From Aquino II to Duterte (2010–2018): Change, Continuity—and Rupture |date=June 10, 2019 |publisher=Institute of Southeast Asian Studies |isbn=978-981-4843-28-7 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=RVe_DwAAQBAJ&pg=PA1 |chapter=Introduction}}</ref>{{rp|9}}

All presidents under the current constitution have proposed some type of [[Constitutional reform in the Philippines|constitutional reform]], although none have succeeded.<ref name="Beltran">{{cite news |url=https://www.lowyinstitute.org/the-interpreter/philippines-political-dance-around-constitutional-change |title=In the Philippines, a political dance around constitutional change |last=Beltran |first=Michael |publisher=The Lowy Institute |date=August 7, 2020 |access-date=April 26, 2021}}</ref> Wariness around such change exists due to the structural aim of the constitution in limiting Presidential power compared to previous constitution, leaving reform open to accusations of being a power grab.<ref name="Beltran"/><ref name="Gatmaytan-Mango">{{cite journal |last1=Gatmaytan-Mango |first1=Dante |title=Changing Constitutions: Judicial Review and Redemption in the Philippines |journal=Pacific Basin Law Journal |date=2007 |volume=25 |issue=1 |url=https://escholarship.org/content/qt6rv2t7j1/qt6rv2t7j1.pdf|doi=10.5070/P8251022195|doi-access=free}}</ref>{{rp|1}} A switch to a unicameral parliamentary system is seen by some as a way to make the legislature and government more responsive and effective.<ref name="Abinales2005"/>{{rp|290}} It has also been argued such a change would weaken the presidency, and strengthen the role of political parties.<ref name="Abinales2005"/>{{rp|292}} Such a proposal gained majority support in the house along with presidential support in the mid-2000s, but stalled due to senate opposition.<ref name="WhitherAbueva"/>{{rp|63–66}} Reforming the country [[Federalism in the Philippines|as a federation]] is a recurring issue arising as a result of a desire for local autonomy. Such considerations influenced the 1987 constitution; while it maintained the unitary state, it included provisions for autonomous regions and for stronger local government.<ref name="WhitherAbueva">{{cite book |last1=Abueva |first1=Jose V. |editor1-last=Severino |editor1-first=Rodolfo C |editor2-last=Salazar |editor2-first=Lorraine Carlos |title=Whither the Philippines in the 21st Century? |date=2007 |publisher=Institute of Southeast Asian Studies |isbn=978-981-230-499-5 |chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=FNFh114RQv8C&pg=PA43 |chapter=Proposed Constitutional Reforms for Good Governance and Nation Building}}</ref>{{rp|54–56}}<ref>{{cite web |url=https://verfassungsblog.de/complexities-of-constitutional-change-in-the-philippines/ |title=Complexities of Constitutional Change in the Philippines |last1=Saunders |first1=Cheryl |last2=Yusingco |first2=Michael Henry |publisher=Verfassungsblog |date=April 4, 2018 |access-date=April 26, 2021}}</ref>

The [[Civil Code of the Philippines]] is based on the [[Civil Code of Spain]], which was extended to the Philippines on July 31, 1889. A notable feature of this code is the influence of the Catholic Church, which remains to this day.<ref name="Aguiling-Pangalangan">{{cite book |last1=Aguiling-Pangalangan |first1=Elizabeth |editor1-last=Zheng Yongnian |editor2-last=Lye Liang Fook |editor3-last=Wilhelm Hofmeister |title=Parliaments in Asia: Institution Building and Political Development |date=October 23, 2013 |publisher=Routledge |isbn=978-1-134-46965-9 |chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=acK1AQAAQBAJ&pg=PA122 |chapter=Promoting reproductive health in the Philippines}}</ref>{{rp|122}} Under this code, judicial decisions applying or interpreting the laws or the Constitution is part of the legal system, the doctrine of ''[[stare decisis]]'' applies in deciding legal controversies.<ref name="McGonigle">{{cite journal |last1=McGonigle |first1=Ryan |title=The Role of Precedents in Mixed Jurisdictions: A Comparative Analysis of Louisiana and the Philippines |journal=Electronic Journal of Comparative Law |date=July 2002 |volume=6 |issue=2 |url=https://www.ejcl.org/62/art62-1.html |issn=1387-3091|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190504121355/https://www.ejcl.org/62/art62-1.html|archive-date=May 4, 2019}}</ref> However, the application of ''stare decisis'' is not the same as in full common law jurisdictions, as it incorporates civil law precedent.<ref name="Gamboa"/><ref name="McGonigle"/> The constitution grants the Supreme Court the power of [[Judicial review in the Philippines|judicial review]], through which it can "determine whether or not there has been a grave abuse of discretion amounting to lack or excess of jurisdiction on the part of any branch or instrumentality of the Government".<ref>{{cite web |last1=Ibarra |first1=Edcel John A. |title=The Philippine Supreme Court under Duterte: Reshaped, Unwilling to Annul, and Unable to Restrain |url=https://items.ssrc.org/democracy-papers/democratic-erosion/the-philippine-supreme-court-under-duterte-reshaped-unwilling-to-annul-and-unable-to-restrain/ |publisher=Social Science Research Council |access-date=May 2, 2020 |date=November 10, 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Vitangcol 3rd |first1=Al S. |title=Basic concept of judicial review |url=https://www.manilatimes.net/2020/06/06/opinion/columnists/basic-concept-of-judicial-review/729692/ |access-date=May 2, 2021 |work=The Manila Times |date=June 6, 2020}}</ref>

This power is extensive enough that the court can [[Judicial activism|create new law]] without precedent in such situations, and such decisions are not themselves subject to review from another body.<ref name="Context"/>{{rp|366–368}} The president may issue executive orders, proclamations or other executive issuance.<ref name="Rappler20210427"/> The Philippines adopts the [[Monism and dualism in international law|dualist system]] in the [[incorporation of international law]], with such laws able to come into force either through adoption in domestic legislation or a constitutional declaration.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://batasnatin.com/law-library/political-and-public-international-law/public-international-law/722-article-ii-international-law-how-it-becomes-part-of-domestic-law.html |title=ARTICLE II International law; how it becomes part of domestic law. |publisher=BATASnatin Legal Services |access-date=May 2, 2021}}</ref> The [[Local government in the Philippines#Legislatures|local legislative assemblies]] may enact local ordinances within their respective territorial and political boundaries in accordance with the local autonomy granted by the Local Government Code.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.officialgazette.gov.ph/1991/10/10/republic-act-no-7160/|title=Local Government Code of 1991|year=1991|publisher=Official Gasette of the Philippine Government|access-date=January 30, 2021|archive-date=February 26, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220226061131/https://www.officialgazette.gov.ph/1991/10/10/republic-act-no-7160/|url-status=dead}}</ref>