HISTORY OF THE LEGISLATURE

REPRESENTATION IN THE SPANISH CORTES

Prior to the creation of a legislature in the Philippines, Filipinos, from time to time,
were allowed to sit in the Spanish Cortes as representatives of the Philippine Islands.
In 1810, the Spanish government allowed Filipinos to receive Spanish citizenship and
appropriate representation in the Cortes. When the Cadiz Constitution was in full force
and effect, Filipino representation became a standard in the Cortes. However, in 1837,
the liberal Cortes finally abolished representation and declared that overseas
territories of Spain to be ruled by special laws. This loss of representation was one of
the main points that Jose Rizal and other propagandists were fighting for during the
Propaganda movement.
MALOLOS REPUBLIC, 1899 1901
The first Filipino legislature was convened on September 15, 1898 in Barasoain
Church, Malolos, Bulacan. Later known as the Malolos Republic, it drafted the first
constitution of the Philippines, which was also the first democratic constitution in Asia.
The Congress included delegates from different provinces of the Philippines, some
elected and some appointed. It was a short-lived legislature, unable to pass any laws
due to the onset of the Philippine-American War. The first Philippine Republic was
ended on March 23, 1901 with the capture of President Emilio Aguinaldo in Palanan,
Isabela.
PHILIPPINE COMMISSION, 1899 1916
In 1899, United States President William McKinley appointed a commission led by Dr.
Jacob Schurman to study and investigate the conditions in the Philippine Islands. This
would be known as the first Philippine Commission. It was followed by another
investigative commission led by William Howard Taft in 1900, which also had limited
legislative and executive powers. From 1901 onwards, the Philippine Commission
would be regularized. It exercised both executive and legislative powers, with three
Filipino delegates, namely Benito Legarda, Trinidad Pardo de Tavera, Jose Luzuriaga.
After the organization of the Philippine Assembly (see below) in 1907, the commission
stayed on as the upper house of the legislature.
PHILIPPINE ASSEMBLY, 1907 1916
Electoral representation in the Philippines by Filipinos began when the American
insular government allowed partial self-governance by establishing the Philippine
Assembly. The assembly, as the lower house, shared legislative power with the
Philippine Commission, which remained under American control, as membership in
the Philippine Commission was still restricted to appointed American officials. In 1907,

still under American rule, the Philippines held its first national elections for the newly
created representative body, which had an inaugural membership of 81 Filipinos
representing their respective districts. In the succeeding years, the number of districts
were increased to 85 in 1910, and 91 in 1912.

RESIDENT COMMISSIONERS, 1907 1946

From 1907 to 1946, the Philippine legislature sent a representative to sit in the U.S.
House of Representatives, as resident commissioner. Under Spain, the Philippines
had also been given limited representation in the Spanish Cortes, and like the resident
commissioners, they had the right to speak, but not to vote. The restoration of
Philippine independence in 1946 ended Philippine representation in the U.S.
Congress. (Note: To this day, Puerto Rico still has a resident commissioner in the U.S.
House of Representatives.)
THE PHILIPPINE LEGISLATURE, 1916 1935
Upon the enactment of the Jones Law in 1916, the Filipinos were
subsequently granted the opportunity to hold other offices in the
government. Positions in the Philippine Senate were opened to Filipinos,
with 12 senatorial districts and two senators elected from each. The
inaugural President of the Senate in 1916 was Manuel L. Quezon,
representing the fifth senatorial district. He would hold this position until
the establishment of the Commonwealth of the Philippines in 1935. For the
19 years prior to the Commonwealth, the Senate presidency was the
highest position a Filipino could hold.
From the first Philippine Commission to the establishment of the
Commonwealth of the Philippines, the Philippine legislature were passing
public acts. This form of legislation is started at Congress, with the approval
of the American governor-general of the Philippine Islands.
COMMONWEALTH OF THE PHILIPPINES, 1935 1946
On November 15, 1935, Quezon took his oath as the first President of the
Commonwealth of the Philippines, giving control of the executive branch of
government to the Filipinos. It was also in this era that the Supreme Court
of the Philippines was completely Filipinized. By virtue of the 1935
Constitution, the bicameral Philippine legislature was merged to form the
unicameral National Assembly.

Two elections were held under the Commonwealth. The first, in 1935,
elected the President of the Philippines as well as members of the National
Assembly; the second, in 1939, elected only members of the National
Assembly. The National Assembly would be retained until 1941, when a new
structure for the legislature was introduced through a constitutional
amendment.
From the Commonwealth period to the inauguration of the Third Philippine
Republic, the Philippine legislature was passing Commonwealth acts (CA).
This form of legislation is started at the National Assembly and approved by
the President of the Philippines.
CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS OF 1941
After six years under a unicameral legislature, the Constitution of 1935 was
amended, dividing the National Assembly into two separate houses. The
Senate of the Philippines and the House of Representatives were
reestablished, with a Senate President and a Speaker of the House leading
their respective chambers.

The inaugural session, was held in a converted school house in Lepanto St.,
Manila, as the Legislative Building in Manila was reduced to ruins as an
outcome of the war.
On April 23, 1946, national elections were held to choose new members of
Congress, the President, and the Vice President of the Philippines. After the
elections the second Congress of the Commonwealth convened on May 25,
1946. It would only last until July 4, 1946, with the inauguration of the Third
Republic of the Philippines.
THE THIRD REPUBLIC, 1946 1972
The independent Republic of the Philippines was finally proclaimed on July
4, 1946 with Manuel Roxas as President. The Second Congress of the
Commonwealth was transformed into the first Congress of the Republic of
the Philippines, also made up of the Senate and the House of
Representatives. This would mark the beginning of the count of Congresses
of the Republic until the imposition of Martial Law in 1972, when Congress
would be dissolved.

The elections for members of these newly created chambers were held in
1941. However, the onset of World War II prevented the elected members
from assuming their posts and the legislature of the Commonwealth of the
Philippines was dissolved upon the exile of the government of the
Philippines.

This era started the legislation of republic acts which would continue until
1972. Upon the restoration of democracy in 1986 and the ratification of the
1987 Constitution, the naming of laws as republic acts would be reinstated.

THE SECOND REPUBLIC, 1943

On September 23, 1972 President Ferdinand E. Marcos issued Presidential

Proclamation No. 1081, placing the entire country under Martial Law. This
coincided with the closing of the sessions of both chambers of Congress.
Days before the scheduled reopening of the Senate and the House of
Representatives, Marcos promulgated the 1973 Constitution, which
effectively abolished the bicameral legislature and replaced it with a
unicameral legislature. Opposition legislators reported to the Legislative
Building on January 22, 1973, but found the building padlocked and under
an armed guard.

On October 14, 1943, the Japanese-sponsored Second Republic was

inaugurated, with Jose. P. Laurel as the President. This government followed
the newly crafted 1943 Constitution, and reverted the legislature back to a
unicameral National Assembly. The National Assembly of the Second
Republic would remain in existence until the arrival of the Allied forces in
1944, which liberated the Philippines from the Imperial Japanese forces.

MARTIAL LAW AND THE FOURTH REPUBLIC, 1972-1986

RESTORATION OF THE PHILIPPINE COMMONWEALTH, 1945 1946

Upon the reestablishment of the Commonwealth in 1945, President Sergio
Osmea called for a special session of Congress. The first Congress
convened on June 9 of that year, with most of the senators and
representatives, who were elected in 1941, assuming their positions.
Manuel Roxas and Jose C. Zulueta served as Senate President and Speaker
of the House, respectively. Not all, however, were allowed to take their post
because some were incarcerated for collaboration with the Japanese.

Under martial rule, Marcos created the Batasang Bayan in 1976, by virtue
of Presidential Decree No. 995, to serve as a legislative advisory councila
quasi-legislative machinery to normalize the legislative process for the
eventual actualization of the 1973 Constitution. The Batasang Bayan would
hold office in the Philippine International Convention Center (a modernist
structure designed by National Artist for Architecture Leandro Locsin, within
the Cultural Center of the Philippines Complexa pet project of First Lady
Imelda R. Marcos). The consultative body would serve until 1978.

The Batasang Bayan would be replaced in 1978 by an elected unicameral

body: the Interim Batasang Pambansa (IBP), a parliamentary legislature, as
provided for in the 1973 Constitution. On April 7, 1978, elections for were
held. Those elected to the IBP would be called Mambabatas Pambansa
(Assemblymen) who would be elected per region, via a bloc-voting system.
The IBP opened on Independence Day 1984 in the Batasan Pambansa in
Quezon City.
Members of the Regular Batasang Pambansa (RBP) were elected in 1984,
this time at-large and per province. The RBP held its inaugural session on
July 23, 1984.
In 1986, President Marcos succumbed to international pressure and called
for a snap presidential election. Though Marcos and his running mate
former Senator and Assemblyman Arturo Tolentino were proclaimed by the
Batasang Pambansa as the winners of the election, a popular revolt
installed opposition leaders Corazon C. Aquino and Salvador H. Laurel as
President and Vice President, respectively.
For both the IBP and RBP, the laws passed would be called Batas
Pambansa, which did not continue the previous numbering of Republic
Acts.
THE FIFTH REPUBLIC, 1987 PRESENT
On March 25, 1986, President Aquino declared a revolutionary government
by virtue of Presidential Proclamation No. 3, s. 1986, which suspended
some provisions of the 1973 Constitution and promulgated in its stead a
transitory constitution. This effectively abolished the Batasang Pambansa. A
constitutional commission, tasked with drafting a new charter, was created
by virtue of Proclamation No. 9 issued on April 23, 1986.

decided to maintain the old count, taking up where the last pre-martial law
Congress left off. Thus, the last Congress under the 1935 Constitution was
the seventh Congress, and the first Congress under the 1987 Constitution
became the eighth Congress.
Legislative process
Congress is responsible for making enabling laws to make sure the spirit of the
constitution is upheld in the country and, at times, amend or change the constitution
itself. In order to craft laws, the legislative body comes out with two main documents:
bills and resolutions.
Resolutions convey principles and sentiments of the Senate or the House of
Representatives. These resolutions can further be divided into three different
elements:

joint resolutions require the approval of both chambers of Congress and

the signature of the President, and have the force and effect of a law if
approved.
concurrent resolutions used for matters affecting the operations of both
chambers of Congress and must be approved in the same form by both
houses, but are not transmitted to the President for his signature and
therefore have no force and effect of a law.
simple resolutions deal with matters entirely within the prerogative of one
chamber of Congress, are not referred to the President for his signature,
and therefore have no force and effect of a law.

Bills are laws in the making. They pass into law when they are approved by both
houses and the President of the Philippines. A bill may be vetoed by the President, but
the House of Representatives may overturn a presidential veto by garnering a 2/3rds
vote. If the President does not act on a proposed law submitted by Congress, it will
lapse into law after 30 days of receipt.

Following the overwhelming ratification of the 1987 Constitution through a

national plebiscite held on February 2, 1987, the 1987 Constitution finally
came into full force and effect on February 11, 1987. It re-established a
bicameral legislature, composed of the House of Representatives and the
Senate, much like the way it was before martial law. The former, being
much larger in composition, reopened in the Batasan Pambansa while the
Senate, still with its 24 members, returned to the Legislative Building. In
1997, the Senate of the Philippines moved to the GSIS building where it is
currently housed.

OFFICERS AND COMMITTEES OF THE SENATE

Majority Floor Leader

Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano

Laws passed by the bicameral legislature would restore Republic Acts, as

the laws were named in the Third Republic (1946-1972). Moreover, it was

Minority Floor Leader

Sen. Juan Ponce Enrile

Senate officers
Senate President

Sen. Franklin Drilon

Senate President Pro-Tempore

Sen. Ralph Recto

Committee on the Accountability of Public Officers and Investigations (Blue

Ribbon)
Chairperson: Sen. Teofisto Guingona III
Jurisdiction: All matters relating to malfeasance, misfeasance and
nonfeasance by officers and employees of the government; implementation
of the constitutional provision on nepotism; and investigation of any matter
of public interest on its own initiative or brought to its attention by any
member of the Senate.

Chairperson: Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV

Jurisdiction: All matters relating to the civil service and the status of officers
and employees of the government including their compensation privileges,
benefits, and collective negotiation agreements; reorganization of the
government or any of its branches; and all other matters relating to the
bureaucracy.
Committee on Climate Change
Chairperson: Sen. Loren Legarda

Committee on Accounts
Chairperson:unfilled

Jurisdiction: All matters relating to policies, programs, strategies,

technologies and other innovations addressing global warming and climate
change impacts.

Jurisdiction: All matters relating to the auditing and adjustment of all

accounts chargeable against the funds for the expenses and activities of
the Senate.

Committee on Constitutional Amendments and Revision of Codes

Chairperson: Sen. Miriam Defensor Santiago

Committee on Agrarian Reform

Chairperson: Sen. Gregorio Honasan II
Jurisdiction: All matters relating to agrarian reform, landed estates, and
implementation of the agrarian land reform provisions of the Constitution.

Jurisdiction: All matters proposing amendments to the constitution of the

Philippines, and the revision of existing codes.
Committee on Cooperatives
Chairperson: Sen. Manuel Lapid

Committee on Agriculture and Food

Chairperson: Sen. Cynthia Villar

Jurisdiction: All matters relating to cooperatives, including farm credit and

farm security, cooperative movements, and the implementation of the
Cooperative Code of the Philippines.

Jurisdiction: All matters relating to agriculture, food-production and agribusiness, such as agricultural experimental stations, soil survey and
conservation, animal husbandry, and fisheries and aquatic resources.

Committee on Cultural Communities

Chairperson: Sen. Loren Legarda

Committee on Banks, Financial Institutions, and Currencies

Jurisdiction: All matters relating to cultural communities.
Chairperson: Sen. Sergio Osmea III
Committee on Economic Affairs
Jurisdiction: All matters relating to banks, financial institutions, government
and private currencies, capital markets, mutual funds, securitization,
coinage and circulation of money.
Committee on Civil Service and Government Reorganization

Chairperson: Sen. Joseph Victor Ejercito

Jurisdiction: All matters relating to economic planning and programming,
general economic development, and coordination, regulation and
diversification of industry and investments.

Committee on Education, Arts, and Culture

Jurisdiction: All matters relating to the conduct, rights, privileges, safety,

dignity, integrity, and reputation of the Senate and its members.

Chairperson: Sen. Pia Cayetano

Committee on Finance
Jurisdiction: All matters relating to education, schools, colleges, and
universities; the implementation of the constitution provision for a free
public elementary and secondary education; non-formal, informal and
indigenous learning systems, and adult education; the preservation,
enrichment and evolution of Filipino arts and culture; and the establishment
and maintenance of libraries, museums, shrines, monuments, and other
historical sites and edifices.
Committee on Electoral Reform and Peoples Participation

Chairpersons: Sen. Francis Escudero (Subcommittee A), Sen. Sergio

Osmea III (Subcommittee B), Sen. Loren Legarda (Subcommittee C), Sen.
Ralph Recto (Subcommittee D), Sen. Teofisto Guingona III (Subcommittee E)
Jurisdiction: All matters relating to funds for the expenditures of the
national government and for the payment of public indebtedness; auditing
of accounts and expenditures of the national government;
intergovernmental revenue sharing; and, in general, all matters relating to
public expenditures.

Chairperson: Sen. Aquilino Pimentel III

Committee on Foreign Relations
Jurisdiction: All matters pertaining to election laws and to the
implementation of the constitutional provisions on initiative and referendum
on legislative acts, recall of elective officials, the role and rights of peoples
organizations, and sectoral or party list representation.
Committee on Energy
Chairperson: Sen. Sergio Osmea III
Jurisdiction: All matters relating to the exploration, exploitation,
development, extraction, importation, refining, transport, distribution,
marketing, conservation, or storage of all forms of energy; renewable and
potential forms of energy resources; and generation, transmission and
distribution of electric power.

Chairperson: Sen. Miriam Defensor Santiago

Jurisdiction: All matters relating to the relations of the Philippines with other
nations; diplomatic and consular service; the United Nations (UN) and its
agencies, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), and other
multilateral organizations; all international agreements, obligations and
contracts; and overseas Filipinos.
Committee on Games, Amusement, and Sports
Chairperson: Sen. Juan Edgardo Angara

Committee on Environment and Natural Resources

Jurisdiction: All matters relating to games and amusement such as lotteries,

horse-racing, boxing, and basketball, and matters related to amateur
grassroots and elite sports development.

Chairperson: Sen. Loren Legarda

Committee on Government Corporations and Public Enterprises

Jurisdiction: All matters relating to the conservation and protection of the

environment, and all matters relating to the management, development,
protection, exploration and utilization of the countrys national reserves
such as forest and mineral resources.

Chairperson: Sen. Cynthia Villar

Jurisdiction: All matters affecting government corporations, including all
amendments to their charters, the interests of the government industrial
and commercial enterprises, and privatization.

Committee on Ethics and Privileges

Committee on Health and Demography
Chairperson:unfilled
Chairperson: Sen. Teofisto Guingona III

Jurisdiction: All matters relating to public health, medical, hospital and

quarantine services, and population issues, concerns, policies and programs
affecting individuals and their families.

Jurisdiction: All matters relating to peace, armed conflict resolution, political

negotiation, cessation of hostilities, amnesty, integration and development
of former rebels, and national unification and reconciliation.

Committee on Justice and Human Rights

Committee on Public Information and Mass Media

Chairperson: Sen. Aquilino Pimentel III

Chairperson: Sen. Grace Poe

Jurisdiction: All matters relating to the organization and administration of

justice, civil courts, and penitentiaries; impeachment proceedings against
constitutional officers and other officers; registration of land titles;
immigration and naturalization; the implementation of the constitutional
provisions on human rights; and all matters pertaining to the efficiency and
reforms in the prosecution service.

Jurisdiction: All matters relating to public information, mass communication

and broadcast services, the implementation of the constitutional provisions
regarding ownership of mass media and the advertising industry, and the
artistic standards and quality of the motion picture and television industry.

Committee on Labor, Employment, and Human Resources Development

Chairperson: Sen. Grace Poe

Chairperson: Sen. Jinggoy Ejercito Estrada

Jurisdiction: All matters relating to labor employment and human resource
development; labor education and standards; recruitment, training and
placement of workers and exports of human resources; and promotion and
development of workers organizations.

Jurisdiction: All matters relating to peace and order, the Philippine National
Police (PNP), the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP), the
Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP), and private security agencies; the
possession, use, cultivation, manufacture, distribution and sale of
prohibited and regulated drugs, the prosecution of offenders, and
rehabilitation of drug users and dependents.

Committee on Local Government

Committee on Public Services

Chairperson: Sen. Ferdinand Marcos Jr.

Chairperson: Sen. Ramon Revilla Jr.

Jurisdiction: All matters relating to autonomous regions, provinces, cities,

special metropolitan political subdivisions, municipalities, and barangays.
Committee on National Defense and Security

Jurisdiction: All matters affecting public services and utilities,

communications, land, air, river and sea transportation including railroads,
inter-island navigation and lighthouses, and the grant or amendment of
legislative franchises.

Chairperson: Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV

Committee on Public Works

Jurisdiction: All matters relating to national defense, and external and

internal threats to national security; the Armed Forces of the Philippines
(AFP); war veterans and military retirees; civil defense; and military
research and development.

Chairperson: Sen. Ferdinand Marcos Jr.

Committee on Public Order and Dangerous Drugs

Committee on Peace, Unification, and Reconciliation

Jurisdiction: All matters relating to planning, construction, maintenance,

improvement and repair of public buildings, highways, bridges, roads, ports,
airports, harbors and parks, drainage and flood control, and irrigation and
water utilities.

Chairperson: Sen. Teofisto Guingona III

Committee on Rules

Chairperson: Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano

Committee on Ways and Means

Jurisdiction: All matters affecting the rules of the Senate, the calendar and
parliamentary rules, the order and manner of transacting business, and the
creation of committees.

Chairperson: Sen. Juan Edgardo Angara

Jurisdiction: All matters relating to revenue-generation, taxes and fees,
tariffs, loans, and other sources and forms of revenue.

Committee on Science and Technology

Committee on Women, Family Relations, and Gender Equality
Chairperson: Sen. Ralph Recto
Chairperson: Sen. Pia Cayetano
Jurisdiction: All matters relating to science and technology, including
scientific and technological research, development and advancement.

Jurisdiction: All matters relating to the women, family relations, and equality
before the law of women and men.

Committee on Social Justice, Welfare, and Rural Development

Committee on Youth
Chairperson: Sen. Maria Lourdes Binay
Chairperson: Sen. Paolo Benigno Aquino IV
Jurisdiction: All matters relating to rural development and welfare, and the
implementation of the constitution provisions on social justice.
Committee on Tourism

Jurisdiction: All matters related to the youth and its vital role in nationbuilding, promotion and protection of their physical, moral, spiritual,
intellectual and social well-being, and their involvement in public and civic
affairs.

Chairperson: Sen. Manuel Lapid

Officers and committees of the House of Representatives
Jurisdiction: All matters relating to tourism and the tourist industry.
Committee on Trade, Commerce, and Entrepreneurship
Chairperson: Sen. Paolo Benigno Aquino IV
Jurisdiction: All matters relating to domestic and foreign trade and private
corporations; micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs); social
enterprises; the promotion of entrepreneurship and the regulation of
entrepreneurial practice; patents, copyrights, trade names and trademarks;
quality control; control and stabilization of prices of commodities; consumer
protection; and handicraft and cottage industries.

House Speaker
4th District)
Deputy House Speakers
District)

Rep. Feliciano Belmonte Jr. (Quezon City,

Rep. Henedina Abad (Batanes, Lone

Rep. Giorgidi Aggabao (Isabela, 4th

District)
Rep. Sergio Apostol (Leyte, 2nd District)
Rep. Pangalian Balindong (Lanao del Sur,

Committee on Urban Planning, Housing, and Resettlement

2nd District)

Chairperson: Sen. Joseph Victor Ejercito

Rep. Carlos Padilla (Nueva Vizcaya, Lone

District)

Jurisdiction: All matters relating to urban land reform planning, housing,

resettlement, and urban community development.

Rep. Roberto Puno (Antipolo City, 1st

District)

Majority Floor Leader

City, Lone District)

Rep. Neptali Gonzales II (Mandaluyong

Minority Floor Leader

Lone District)

Rep. Ronaldo Zamora (San Juan City,

Jurisdiction: All matters relating to aquaculture and fisheries production and

development, aquaculture business, use of aquatic resources, freshwater
and fisheries culture research and technology, and conservation of rivers,
lakes and other fisheries resources.
Committee on Banks and Financial Intermediaries

Committee on Accounts
Chairperson: Rep. Sonny Collantes (Batangas, 3rd District)
Chairperson: Rep. Eleandro Jesus Madrona (Romblon, Lone District)
Jurisdiction: All matters relating to the internal budget of the House of
Representatives, including budget preparation, submission and approval,
disbursements, accounting, and financial operations.

Jurisdiction: All matters relating to banking and currency, governmentowned or controlled banks and financial institutions, non-government banks
and financial institutions, insurance, and securities.
Committee on Basic Education and Culture

Committee on Agrarian Reform

Chairperson: Rep. Kimi Cojuangco (Pangasinan, 5th District)
Chairperson: Rep. Teddy Brawner Baguilat Jr. (Ifugao, Lone District)
Jurisdiction: All matters relating to agrarian reform, the resettlement of and
other support services for agrarian reform beneficiaries, and the
implementation and amendment of the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform
Law.

Jurisdiction: All matters relating to pre-school, elementary and secondary

education, science high schools (except the Philippine Science High School),
teachers and students welfare, alternative learning systems and
community adult education, the national language, libraries and museums,
and the preservation and enrichment of Filipino culture.

Committee on Agriculture and Food

Committee on Civil Service and Professional Regulation

Chairperson: Rep. Mark Llandro Mendoza (Batangas, 4th District)

Chairperson: Rep. Andres Salvacion Jr. (Leyte, 3rd District)

Jurisdiction: All matters relating to food and agricultural production, agribusiness, agricultural research and technology, soil survey and research,
irrigation, farm credit and security, animal industry, and crop and livestock
production.

Jurisdiction: All matters relating to the organization, operation,

management, rules and regulations of the civil service, the welfare and
benefits of government officers and employees, and the regulation and
practice of professions.

Committee on Appropriations

Committee on Constitutional Amendments

Chairperson: Rep. Isidro Ungab (Davao City, 3rd District)

Chairperson: Rep. Mylene Garcia-Albano (Davao City, 2nd District)

Jurisdiction: All matters relating to the expenditures of the national

government including payment of public indebtedness, creation or abolition
and classification of positions in government, and the determination of
salaries, allowances and benefits of government personnel.

Jurisdiction: All matters directly and principally relating to amendments or

revisions of the constitution.

Committee on Aquaculture and Fisheries Resources

Chairperson: Rep. Cresente Paez (COOP NATCCO Party-list)

Chairperson: Rep. Benhur Salimbangon (Cebu, 4th District)

Committee on Cooperatives Development

Jurisdiction: All matters relating to cooperatives (consumer, producers,

marketing, service, electric, and multi-purpose), urban- and rural-based
credit, and the implementation or amendment of the Cooperative Code of
the Philippines.
Committee on Dangerous Drugs

Committee on Foreign Affairs

Chairperson: Rep. Al Francis Bichara (Albay, 2nd District)
Jurisdiction: All matters relating to the relations of the Philippines with other
countries, diplomatic and consular services, the United Nations (UN) and its
agencies, and other international organizations and agencies.

Chairperson: Rep. Vicente Belmonte Jr. (Iligan City, Lone District)

Committee on Games and Amusements
Jurisdiction: All matters relating to illegal or prohibited drugs, its production,
manufacture, use and trafficking, and the rehabilitation and treatment of
drug dependents.

Chairperson: Rep. Elpidio Barzaga Jr. (Cavite, 4th District)

Committee on Ecology

Jurisdiction: All matters relating to all forms and places of gaming and
amusements.

Chairperson: Rep. Amado Bagatsing (Manila, 5th District)

Committee on Good Governance and Public Accountability

Jurisdiction: All matters relating to ecosystem management, including

pollution control.

Chairperson: Rep. Oscar Rodriguez (Pampanga, 3rd District)

Committee on Economic Affairs

Chairperson: Rep. Enrique Cojuangco (Tarlac, 1st District)

Jurisdiction: All matters relating to malfeasance, misfeasance and

nonfeasance by officers and employees of the government, inclusive of
investigations of any matter of public interest on its own initiative or upon
an order by the House of Representatives.

Jurisdiction: All matters relating to economic development planning and

programs, inclusive of economic and socio-economic studies, and
development policies and strategies.

Committee on Government Enterprises and Privatization

Committee on Energy

Jurisdiction: All matters relating to the creation, organization, operation,

reorganization, and amendments of charters of government-owned or
controlled corporations (GOCCs) including the Government Service
Insurance System (GSIS) and the Social Security System (SSS), but
excluding government-owned or controlled banks and financial institutions.

Chairperson: Rep. Reynaldo Umali (Oriental Mindoro, 2nd District)

Jurisdiction: All matters relating to the exploration, development, utilization
or conservation of energy resources, and entities involved in energy or
power generation, transmission, distribution and supply.

Chairperson: Rep. Jesus Sacdalan (North Cotabato, 1st District)

Committee on Government Reorganization

Committee on Ethics and Privileges

Chairperson: Rep. Romeo Acop (Antipolo City, 2nd District)

Chairperson: Rep. Joaquin Chipeco Jr. (Laguna, 2nd District)

Jurisdiction: All matters relating to the reorganization of the government

and its branches, departments and instrumentalities, and the creation,
abolition or change of the principal functions or nature of any government
department, agency, commission or board.

Jurisdiction: All matters relating to the duties, conduct, rights, privileges

and immunities, dignity, integrity, and reputation of the House of
Representatives and its members.

Committee on Health

Chairperson: Rep. Eufranio Eriguel, M.D. (La Union, 2nd District)

Jurisdiction: All matters relating to public health and hygiene, and
quarantine, medical, hospital and other health facilities and services.

Jurisdiction: All matters relating to inter-parliamentary relations and

linkages with international parliamentary organizations, establishment of
inter-parliamentary friendship societies, and visits of parliamentary
delegations as well as other foreign dignitaries.

Committee on Higher and Technical Education

Committee on Justice

Chairperson: Rep. Roman Romulo (Pasig City, Lone District)

Chairperson: Niel Tupas Jr. (Iloilo, 5th District)

Jurisdiction: All matters relating to post-secondary and tertiary education,

technical education, distance education, students and teachers welfare,
and centers of excellence.
Committee on Housing and Urban Development

Jurisdiction: All matters relating to the administration of justice, the

Judiciary, the practice of law and integration of the Bar, legal aid,
penitentiaries, impeachment proceedings, registration of land titles,
immigration, deportation, naturalization, and the definition of crimes and
their penalties.

Chairperson: Rep. Alfredo Benitez (Negros Occidental, 3rd District)

Committee on Labor and Employment

Jurisdiction: All matters relating to shelter delivery, and the management of

urbanization issues and concerns such as urban planning and development,
urban land reform and welfare of the urban poor.

Chairperson: Rep. Karlo Alexei Nograles (Davao City, 1st District)

Committee on Human Rights

Chairperson: Rep. Guillermo Romarate Jr. (Surigao del Norte, 2nd District)
Jurisdiction: All matters relating to the protection and enhancement of
human rights, assistance to victims of human rights violations and their
families, the prevention of violations of human rights, and the punishment
of perpetrators of such violations.
Committee on Information and Communications Technology
Chairperson: Rep. Joel Roy Duavit (Rizal, 1st District)
Jurisdiction: All matters relating to postal, telegraph, radio, broadcast, cable
television, telephone, convergence, computers and telecommunications
technologies, information systems inclusive of hardware, software and
content applications, mobile short messaging system (SMS) applications,
and networks that enable access to online technology.

Jurisdiction: All matters relating to labor, the advancement and protection

of workers rights and welfare, employment and manpower development,
labor standards, and the organization and development of the labor market
including the recruitment, training and placement of manpower.
Committee on Legislative Franchises
Chairperson: Rep. Marcelino Teodoro (Marikina City, 1st District)
Jurisdiction: All matters directly and principally relating to the grant,
amendment, extension or revocation of franchises.
Committee on Local Government
Chairperson: Rep. Pedro Acharon Jr. (South Cotabato, 1st District)
Jurisdiction: All matters relating to autonomous regions, provinces, cities,
municipalities, and barangays, including their revenues and expenditures.
Committee on Metro Manila Development

Committee on Interparliamentary Relations and Diplomacy

Chairperson: Rep. Winston Castelo (Quezon City, 2nd District)

Chairperson: Rep. Raul del Mar (Cebu City, 1st District)

Jurisdiction: All matters relating to policies and programs to promote and

enhance the development of the Metro Manila area.

Committee on Mindanao Affairs

Chairperson: Rep. Arnulfo Go (Sultan Kudarat, 2nd District)

Jurisdiction: All matters relating to policies and programs on the promotion

and protection of the rights and welfare of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs)
and their families.

Jurisdiction: All matters relating to the development of Mindanao, including

the preparation of a comprehensive and integrated development plan for
Mindanao.

Committee on Peoples Participation

Committee on Muslim Affairs

Jurisdiction: All matters relating to the role, rights and responsibilities of

peoples organizations, non-government and civic organizations, and other
similar groups, and the establishment of mechanisms on peoples
participation in governance and legislation.

Chairperson: Rep. Tupay Loong (Sulu, 1st District)

Jurisdiction: All matters relating to Muslim affairs inclusive of the welfare of
Muslim Filipinos, and the development of predominantly Muslim areas.

Chairperson: Rep. Benjamin Asilo (Manila, 1st District)

Committee on Population and Family Relations

Committee on National Cultural Communities

Chairperson: Rep. Rogelio Espina, M.D. (Biliran, Lone District)

Chairperson: Rep. Nancy Catamco (North Cotabato, 2nd District)

Jurisdiction: All matters relating to population growth and family planning,

population census and statistics, family relations, and care of the elderly.

Jurisdiction: All matters relating to national cultural communities, and the

development of predominantly cultural community areas.

Committee on Poverty Alleviation

Committee on National Defense and Security

Chairperson: Rep. Salvio Fortuno (Camarines Sur, 5th District)

Chairperson: Rep. Rodolfo Biazon (Muntinlupa City, Lone District)

Jurisdiction: All matters relating to policies and programs to address the

poverty situation in the country and other actions to alleviate the plight of
the poor, and promote their right to equal access to opportunities.

Jurisdiction: All matters relating to national defense and national security,

the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), military bases, coast and
geodetic surveys, and disaster relief and rescue.

Committee on Public Information

Committee on Natural Resources

Chairperson: Rep. Jorge Almonte (Misamis Occidental, 1st District)

Chairperson: Rep. Francisco Matugas (Surigao del Norte, 1st District)

Jurisdiction: All matters relating to the production and dissemination of

information to the public through all forms of mass communications and
media such as print and broadcast media, movie and television, video,
advertising, cable television, and the internet.

Jurisdiction: All matters relating to natural resources (except energy and

fisheries resources) and their exploration, conservation, management and
utilization, public domain lands, mines and minerals, forests, parks and
wildlife, and marine resources.

Committee on Public Order and Safety

Committee on Overseas Workers Affairs

Chairperson: Rep. Jeffrey Ferrer (Negros Occidental, 4th District)

Chairperson: Rep. Walden Bello (Akbayan Party-list)

Jurisdiction: All matters relating to the suppression of criminality including

those on illegal gambling, private armies, terrorism, organized crime and

illegal drugs, regulation of firearms, firecrackers and pyrotechnics, civil

defense, private security agencies, and the Philippine National Police (PNP).

intellectual property rights on biotechnology, and climate and weather

forecasting.

Committee on Public Works and Highways

Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship Development

Chairperson: Rep. Ronald Cosalan (Benguet, Lone District)

Chairperson: Rep. Neil Benedict Montejo (An Waray Party-list)

Jurisdiction: All matters relating to the planning, construction, maintenance,

improvement and repair of public infrastructure inclusive of buildings,
highways, bridges, roads, parks, drainage, flood control and water utilities.

Jurisdiction: All matters relating to policies and programs on

entrepreneurship development including the promotion of
entrepreneurship, support to entrepreneurs, and the establishment and
development of small and medium-scale enterprises (SMEs).

Committee on Revision of Laws

Committee on Social Services
Chairperson: Rep. Marlyn Primicias-Agabas (Pangasinan, 6th District)
Chairperson: Rep. Arturo Robes (San Juan del Monte City, Lone District)
Jurisdiction: All matters relating to the revision and codification of laws.
Committee on Rules
Chairperson: Rep. Neptali Gonzales II (Mandaluyong City, Lone District)
Jurisdiction: All matters relating to the rules of the House of
Representatives, rules of procedure in impeachment proceedings, order of
business, calendar of business, the referral of bills, resolutions, speeches,
committee reports, messages, and the creation of committees.

Jurisdiction: All matters relating to the social development and welfare of

persons with disabilities or special needs, including social services and
interventions that enhance quality of life.
Committee on Suffrage and Electoral Reforms
Chairperson: Rep. Fredenil Castro (Capiz, 2nd District)

Committee on Rural Development

Jurisdiction: All matters relating to the protection and advancement of the

right of suffrage, and the conduct of elections, plebiscites, initiatives,
recalls and referenda.

Chairperson: Rep. Manuel Agyao (Kalinga, Lone District)

Committee on Tourism

Jurisdiction: All matters relating to the development of rural areas and

islands through policies, programs, and support services including
livelihood and enterprise development, microfinancing, community
mobilization and development, and access to rural projects funding and
financing.

Chairperson: Rep. Rene Relampagos (Bohol, 1st District)

Jurisdiction: All matters relating to the development and promotion of
tourism and the tourist industry, both domestic and international.
Committee on Trade and Industry

Committee on Science and Technology

Chairperson: Rep. Mark Villar (Las Pias City, Lone District)
Chairperson: Rep. Victor Yu (Zamboanga del Sur, 1st District)
Jurisdiction: All matters relating to science and technology including
scientific and technological research and development, science and
technology education including the Philippine Science High School System,

Jurisdiction: All matters relating to domestic and foreign trade, intellectual

property rights, patents, standards, weights and measures, quality control,
consumer protection, prices of commodities, handicrafts and cottage
industries, and the development, regulation and diversification of industry
and investments.

Committee on Transportation

Chairperson: Rep. Anthony Del Rosario (Davao del Norte, 1st District)

Chairperson: Rep. Cesar Sarmiento (Catanduanes, Lone District)

Jurisdiction: All matters relating to youth development, including the

development of their leadership potentials and the promotion of their
moral, physical, intellectual and social well-being, and sports development.

Jurisdiction: All matters relating to land, sea, and air transportation, the
establishment, operation, management and regulation of airports, seaports
and other mass transportation systems including rail systems and roll onroll off (RO-RO) systems, civil aviation, air transport agreements,
transportation safety standards, air transport security, and maritime
security.
Committee on Veterans Affairs and Welfare
Chairperson: Rep. Herminia Roman (Bataan, 1st District)

Special Committee on Bases Conversion

Chairperson: Rep. Cinchona Cruz-Gonzales (CIBAC Party-list)
Jurisdiction: All matters relating to policies and programs relating to bases
conversion, the operation of special economic zones in former military
bases, sale of military camps, relocation of military camps and personnel,
and the construction of new military camps.

Jurisdiction: All matters relating to the welfare of war veterans, veterans of

military campaigns, military retirees, and their surviving spouses and
beneficiaries.

Special Committee on Bicol Recovery and Economic Development

Committee on Ways and Means

Jurisdiction: All matters relating to policies and programs to promote the

development of the Bicol region, inclusive of developmental projects, care
programs and the Bicol River basin project.

Chairperson: Rep. Romero Quimbo (Marikina City, 2nd District)

Chairperson: Rep. Rodel Batocabe (Ako Bicol Party-list)

Jurisdiction: All matters relating to the fiscal, monetary and financial affairs
of the national government, including tariff, taxation, revenues, borrowing,
and credit and bonded indebtedness.

Special Committee on the East ASEAN Growth Area

Committee on Welfare of Children

Jurisdiction: All matters relating to social, political, economic policies

affecting the countries within the area, and the promotion of trade and
investment among these countries.

Chairperson: Rep. Aurora Enerio Cerilles (Zamboanga del Sur, 2nd District)
Jurisdiction: All matters relating to the needs, education and overall welfare
of Filipino children.

Chairperson: Rep. Raymond Democrito Mendoza (TUCP Party-list)

Special Committee on Food Security

Chairperson: Rep. Agapito Guanlao (Butil Party-list)

Committee on Welfare and Gender Equality

Chairperson: Rep. Linabelle Ruth Villarica (Bulacan, 4th District)
Jurisdiction: All matters relating to the rights and welfare of women and
female children and youth, inclusive of their education, employment and
working conditions, and concerns relating to gender equality.
Committee on Youth and Sports Development

Jurisdiction: All matters relating to programs and policies relating to food

production and distribution, sustained growth and self-reliance in the
production of basic food commodities, the availability of these commodities
to the people, and long-term food security for the nation.
Special Committee on Globalization and WTO
Chairperson: Rep. Irwin Tieng (Buhay Party-list)

Jurisdiction: All matters relating to the effects on various social sectors of

World Trade Organization (WTO) policies, and other actions to harness
opportunities offered by globalization for development.

Committee on Southern Tagalog Development

Special Committee on Land Use

Jurisdiction: All matters relating to the development of the Southern Tagalog

area, inclusive agricultural areas, tourism, economic, and industrial estates
and processing areas therein.

Chairperson: Rep. Kaka Bag-ao (Dinagat Islands, Lone District)

Jurisdiction: All matters relating to land use issues inclusive of the
enhancement of resource use and management of indigenous cultural
communities, preservation of historical and cultural heritage sites, and
linkages among agencies and stakeholders in land resource management.
Special Committee on Millennium Development Goals
Chairperson: Rep. Teodorico Haresco Jr. (Aklan, Lone District)
Jurisdiction: All matters relating to the achievement of the countrys
commitment to the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) by 2015.
Special Committee on the North Luzon Growth Quadrangle
Chairperson: Rep. Maximo Dalog (Mountain Province, Lone District)
Jurisdiction: All matters relating to all policies and programs concerning the
development of municipalities, cities, provinces, and other local
communities in the northwest Luzon area.

Chairperson: Rep. Isidro Rodriguez Jr. (Rizal, 2nd District)

History[edit]
Spanish era[edit]
When the Philippines was under Spanish colonial rule, the colony was not given
representation to the Spanish Cortes. It was only in 1809 where the colony was made
an integral part of Spain and was given representation in the Cortes. On March 19,
1812, the Constitution of Cadiz was approved, which led to the colony's first
representatives at the Cortes in September 24, 1812 by Pedro Perez de
Tagle and Jose Manuel Coretto. However, with Napoleon I's defeat at the Battle of
Waterloo, his brother Joseph Bonaparte was removed from the Spanish throne, and
the Cadiz Constitution was rejected by the Cortes on May 24, 1816 with a more
conservative constitution that removed Philippine representation on the Cortes, among
other things. Restoration of Philippine representation to the Cortes was one of the
grievances by the Illustrados, the educated class during the late 19th century.[6]
Revolutionary era[edit]

Jurisdiction: All matters relating to negotiations and other initiatives in

pursuit of the peace process and national reconciliation, the cessation of
hostilities generated by internal armed conflicts, and the welfare of rebelreturnees.

The Illustrados' campaign transformed into the Philippine Revolution that aimed to
overthrow Spanish rule. Proclaiming independence on June 12,
1898, President Emilio Aguinaldo then ordered the convening of a revolutionary
congress at Malolos. The Malolos Congress, among other things, approved the 1899
Constitution of the Philippines. With the approval of the Treaty of Paris, the Spanish
sold the Philippines to the United States. The revolutionaries, attempting to prevent
American conquest, launched the PhilippineAmerican War, but were defeated when
Aguinaldo was captured on 1901.[7]

Special Committee on Reforestation

American era[edit]

Special Committee on Peace, Reconciliation, and Unity

Chairperson: Rep. Jim Hataman-Salliman (Basilan, Lone District)

Chairperson: Rep. Susan Yap (Tarlac, 2nd District)

Jurisdiction: All matters relating to policies and programs on reforestation,
and other actions to ensure the implementation of a sustained communitybased nationwide reforestation program.

When the Philippines was under American colonial rule, the legislative body was
the Philippine Commission which existed from 1900 to 1907. The President of the
United States appointed the members of the Philippine Commission. Furthermore, two
Filipinos served as Resident Commissioners to the House of Representatives of the

United States from 1907 to 1935, then only one from 1935 to 1946. The Resident
Commissioners had a voice in the House, but did not have voting rights.[8]
The Philippine Bill of 1902 mandated the creation of a bicameral or a twochamber Philippine Legislature with the Philippine Commission as the Upper House
and the Philippine Assembly as the Lower House. This bicameral legislature was
inaugurated in 1907. Through the leadership of then Speaker Sergio Osmea and
then Floor Leader Manuel L. Quezon, the Rules of the 59th United States
Congress was substantially adopted as the Rules of the Philippine Legislature.[9]
In 1916, the Jones Law changed the legislative system. The Philippine
Commission was abolished, and a new bicameral Philippine Legislature consisting of
a House of Representatives and a Senate was established.[10]

Marcos was overthrown after the 1986 People Power Revolution; President Corazon
Aquino then ruled by decree. Later that year she appointed a constitutional
commission that drafted a new constitution. The Constitution was approved in a
plebiscite the next year; it restored the presidential system of government together
with a bicameral Congress of the Philippines. It first convened in 1987.[14]
Summary[edit]

In
operati
on

Authority

Commonwealth and Second Republic era[edit]

The legislative system was changed again in 1935. The 1935 Constitution, aside from
instituting the Commonwealth which gave the Filipinos more role in government,
established a unicameral National Assembly. But in 1940, through an amendment to
the 1935 Constitution, a bicameral Congress of the Philippines consisting of a House
of Representatives and a Senate was created. Those elected in 1941 would not serve
until 1945, as World War II intervened. The invading Japanese set up the Second
Philippine Republic and convened its own National Assembly. With the Japanese
defeat in 1945, the Commonwealth and its Congress was restored. The same set up
will continue until the Americans granted independence on July 4, 1946.[11]

Legislature

Type

Upper
house

Lower house

Repblica Filipina controlled areas

Malolos
Constitutio
n

Malolos
Congress

Unicamer
al

Malolos Congress

U.S. controlled areas

189899

Independent era[edit]
War
powers
authority of
the Preside
nt of the
United
States

Upon the inauguration of the Republic of the Philippines on July 4, 1946, Republic
Act No. 6 was enacted providing that on the date of the proclamation of the Republic
of the Philippines, the existing Congress would be known as the First Congress of the
Republic. Successive Congresses were elected until President Ferdinand
Marcos declared martial law on September 23, 1972. Marcos then ruled by decree. [12]
As early as 1970, Marcos had convened a constitutional convention to revise the 1935
constitution; in 1973, the Constitution was approved. It abolished the bicameral
Congress and created a unicameral National Assembly, which would ultimately be
known as the Batasang Pambansa in a semi-presidential system of government. The
batasan elected a prime minister. The Batasang Pambansa first convened in 1978. [13]

190002

Martial law

Repblica Filipina controlled areas

Malolos
Constitutio

Malolos
Congress

Unicamer
al

Malolos Congress

194344

1943
Constitutio
n

National
Assembly

Unicamer
al

Congress
(Commonweal
th)

Bicamera
l

Senate

House of
Representativ
es

Congress

Bicamera
l

Senate

House of
Representativ
es

National Assembly

U.S. controlled areas

194546
Appointme
nt by
the Preside
nt of the
United
States

Taft
Commission

190207

Philippine
Organic
Act

Philippine
Commission

Bicamera
l

190716

Philippine
Organic
Act

Philippine
Legislature

Bicamera
l

Philippine
Autonomy
Act

Philippine
Legislature

191635

193541

1935
Constitutio
n

Unicamer
al

Philippine Commission
194673

National
Assembly

Bicamera
l

Unicamer
al

Philippine Commission

Philippine
Commissi
on

Philippine
Assembly

Senate

House of
Representativ
es

Amendme
nts to the
1935
Constitutio
n

never
convene
d

1973
Constitutio
n

National
Assembly

Unicamer
al

National Assembly

197886

Amendme
nts to the
1973
Constitutio
n

Batasang
Pambansa

Unicamer
al

Batasang Pambansa

1987
present

1987
Constitutio
n

National Assembly
The powers of the Congress of the Philippines may be classified as:
General legislative[edit]

It consists of the enactment of laws intended as a rule of conduct to govern the

relation between individuals (i.e., civil laws, commercial laws, etc.) or between
individuals and the state (i.e., criminal law, political law, etc.) [15]

Power to declare the existence of war; (The Senate and the House of
Representatives must convene in joint session to do this.)
Power to concur amnesty; and

Implied[edit]

It is essential to the effective exercise of other powers expressly granted to the

assembly.[citation needed]

Power to act as board of canvasser for presidential/vice-presidential votes.

(by creating a joint congressional committee to do the canvassing.)

Power to contempt

Inherent[edit]

Blending of power

These are the powers which though not expressly given are nevertheless exercised by
the Congress as they are necessary for its existence such as:

Delegation of power

to determine the rules of proceedings;

Budgetary power

to compel attendance of absent members to obtain quorum to do business;

Power to taxation

to keep journal of its proceedings; etc.

Executive[edit]

Specific legislative[edit]

Powers of the Congress that are executive in nature are:

It has reference to powers which the Constitution expressly and specifically directs to
perform or execute.

Appointment of its officers;

Affirming treaties;

Powers enjoyed by the Congress classifiable under this category are:

Power to appropriate;
Power to act as constituent assembly; (The Senate and the House of
Representatives must convene and vote on joint or separate session to do this.
[citation needed]
)

Power to impeach; (to initiate all cases of impeachment is the power of the
House of Representatives; To try all cases of impeachment is the power of the
Senate.)

Power to confirm treaties;(Only the Senate is authorized to use this power.)

Confirming presidential appointees through the Commission on

Appointments;
Removal power; etc.

Supervisory[edit]
The Congress of the Philippines exercises considerable control and supervision over
the administrative branch - e.g.:

To decide the creation of a department/agency/office;

To define powers and duties of officers;

To appropriate funds for governmental operations;

To prescribe rules and procedure to be followed; etc.

To authorize the President of the Philippines to formulate rules and

regulations in times of emergency;

To reapportion legislative districts based on established constitutional

standards;

Electoral[edit]

To implement laws on autonomy;

To establish a national language commission;

To implement free public secondary education;

To allow small scale utilization of natural resources;

To specify the limits of forest lands and national parks;

Judicial[edit]

To determine the ownerships and extent of ancestral domain; and

Constitutionally, each house has judicial powers:

To establish independent economic and planning agency.

To punish its Members for disorderly behavior, and, with the concurrence of
two-thirds of all its Members, suspend or expel a Member

Lawmaking[edit]

To concur and approve amnesty declared by the President of the

Philippines;

Considered as electoral power of the Congress of the Philippines are the Congress'
power to:

Elect its presiding officer/s and other officers of the House;

Act as board of canvassers for the canvass of presidential/vice-presidential
votes; and
Elect the President in case of any electoral tie to the said post.

To initiate, prosecute and thereafter decide cases of impeachment; and

To decide electoral protests of its members through the respective Electoral

Tribunal.

Preparation of the bill

The Member or the Bill Drafting Division of the Reference and Research
Bureau prepares and drafts the bill upon the Member's request.

Miscellaneous[edit]

First reading
1.

The bill is filed with the Bills and Index Service and the same is
numbered and reproduced.

2.

Three days after its filing, the same is included in the Order of
Business for First Reading.

3.

On First Reading, the Secretary General reads the title and

number of the bill. The Speaker refers the bill to the appropriate
Committee/s.

The other powers of Congress mandated by the Constitution are as follows:

To authorize the Commission on Audit to audit fund and property;

To authorize the President of the Philippines to fix tariff rates, quotas, and
dues;

Committee consideration / action

1.

The Committee where the bill was referred to evaluates it to

determine the necessity of conducting public hearings.

4.
2.

1.

2.

If the Committee finds it necessary to conduct public hearings, it

schedules the time thereof, issues public notices and invites resource
persons from the public and private sectors, the academe, and experts
on the proposed legislation.
If the Committee determines that public hearing is not needed, it
schedules the bill for Committee discussion/s.
1. Based on the result of the public hearings or Committee
discussions, the Committee may introduce amendments,
consolidate bills on the same subject matter, or propose a
substitute bill. It then prepares the corresponding committee
report.

Third reading
1.

The amendments, if any, are engrossed and printed copies of the

bill are reproduced for Third Reading.

2.

The engrossed bill is included in the Calendar of Bills for Third

Reading and copies of the same are distributed to all the Members
three days before its Third Reading.

3.

On Third Reading, the Secretary General reads only the number

and title of the bill.

4.

A roll call or nominal voting is called and a Member, if he desires,

is given three minutes to explain his vote. No amendment on the bill is
allowed at this stage.

1.

The bill is approved by an affirmative vote of a majority of the

Members present.

2. The Committee approves the Committee Report and formally

transmits the same to the Plenary Affairs Bureau.
2.

Second reading
1.

2.

3.

The Committee Report is registered and numbered by the Bills

and Index Service. It is included in the Order of Business and referred
to the Committee on Rules.
The Committee on Rules schedules the bill for consideration on
Second Reading.
On Second Reading, the Secretary General reads the number,
title and text of the bill and the following takes place:

1.

Period of Sponsorship and Debate

2.

Period of Amendments

3.

Voting, which may be by

1.

viva voce

2.

count by tellers

3.

division of the House

nominal voting

2.

If the bill is disapproved, the same is transmitted to the Archives.

Transmittal of the approved bill to the Senate

The approved bill is transmitted to the Senate for its concurrence.

Senate action on approved bill of the House

The bill undergoes the same legislative process in the Senate.

Conference committee
1.

A Conference Committee is constituted and is composed of

Members from each House of Congress to settle, reconcile or thresh
out differences or disagreements on any provision of the bill.

2.

The conferees are not limited to reconciling the differences in the

bill but may introduce new provisions germane to the subject matter or
may report out an entirely new bill on the subject.

3.

The Conference Committee prepares a report to be signed by all

the conferees and the Chairman.

4.

The Conference Committee Report is submitted for

consideration/approval of both Houses. No amendment is allowed.

2.

Transmittal of the bill to the President

Copies of the bill, signed by the Senate President and the Speaker of the
House of Representatives and certified by both the Secretary of the Senate
and the Secretary General of the House, are transmitted to the President.

3.

Legislature[show]

Presidential action on the bill

If the bill is approved by the President, it is assigned an RA number and
transmitted to the House where it originated.

4.

Executive[show]

Action on approved bill

Judiciary[show]

The bill is reproduced and copies are sent to the Official Gazette Office for
publication and distribution to the implementing agencies. It is then included
in the annual compilation of Acts and Resolutions.
5.

Constitutional Commissions[show]

Action on vetoed bill

The message is included in the Order of Business. If the Congress decides
to override the veto, the House and the Senate shall proceed separately to
reconsider the bill or the vetoed items of the bill. If the bill or its vetoed items
is passed by a vote of two-thirds of the Members of each House, such bill or
items shall become a law.

Elections[show]

Political parties[show]

Administrative divisions[show]

Voting requirements[edit]

Related topics[show]

Philippines

Other countries

This article is part of a series on the

Atlas

The vote requirements in the Congress of the Philippines are as follows:

politics and government of

the Philippines
Constitution[show]

Requireme
nt

Senate

House of
Representativ

Joint session

All
members

es

One-fifth

One-third

N/A

Majority
(50% +1
member)

Request of recording
of yeas and nays on any
question

Electi
on of the
Senate
President

Pass
an
articles of
impeach
ment

Elect
ion of the
Speaker

N/A

N/A

Revo
cation of
martial law

Revo
cation of
the
suspensio
n of the
privilege of
the writ of
habeas
corpus

Election of the president

in case of a tie vote.

Suspend or expel a
member

Designation of the vice

president as acting president

Override a presidential
veto

Conc
urrence on
a treaty

Conc
urrence of
a grant of
amnesty

S
ubmit
to the
elector
ate the
questio
n of
calling
a
constit
utional
conven
tion
Gr
ant a
tax
exemp
tion

Two-thirds

N/A

N/A

Threefourths

Passage of laws

Confirmation of an
appointment of the president
to a vice president

N/A

Convi
ction of
impeache
d officials

Decla
ration of a
state of
war

C
all a
constit
utional
conven
tion

N/A

N/A

N/A

P
assage
of
amend
ments
to, or
revisio
n of
the
constit
ution

In most cases, such as the approval of bills, only a majority of members present is
needed; on some cases such as the election of presiding officers, a majority of all
members, including vacant seats, is needed.
Latest elections[edit]
Senate[edit]
Main article: Philippine Senate election, 2016
In the Philippines, the most common way to illustrate the result in a Senate election is
via a tally of candidates in descending order of votes. The twelve candidates with the
highest number of votes are elected.

e d Summary of the May 9, 2016 Philippine Senate election results

Ran
k

Candidate

Party

Votes

9.

Risa Hontiveros

Akbayan

15,915,213

35.53
%

1.

Franklin Drilon

Liberal

18,607,391

41.52
%

10.

Win Gatchalian

NPC

14,953,768

33.58
%

2.

Joel Villanueva

Liberal

18,459,222

41.39
%

11.

Ralph Recto

Liberal

14,271,868

31.79
%

3.

Tito Sotto

NPC

17,200,371

38.51
%

12.

Leila de Lima

Liberal

14,144,070

31.55
%

4.

Panfilo Lacson

Independent

16,926,152

37.82
%

13.

Francis Tolentino

Independent

12,811,098

28.64
%

5.

Richard J. Gordon

Independent

16,719,322

37.28
%

14.

Sergio Osmea III

Independent

12,670,615

28.20
%

6.

Juan Miguel Zubiri

Independent

16,119,165

35.87
%

15.

Martin Romualdez

Lakas

12,325,824

27.60
%

7.

Manny Pacquiao

UNA

16,050,546

35.67
%

16.

Isko Moreno Domagoso

PMP

11,126,944

24.95
%

8.

Francis Pangilinan

Liberal

15,955,949

35.56
%

17.

TG Guingona

Liberal

10,331,157

22.92
%

18.

Jericho Petilla

Liberal

7,046,580

15.77
%

19.

Mark Lapid

Aksyon

6,594,190

14.71
%

20.

Neri Colmenares

Makabayan

6,484,985

29.

Lorna Kapunan

Aksyon

1,838,978

4.03%

30.

Dionisio Santiago

Independent

1,828,305

4.02%

31.

Samuel Pagdilao

Independent

1,755,949

3.91%

32.

Melchor Chavez

PMM

1,736,822

3.85%

33.

Getulio Napeas

UNA

1,719,576

3.82%

34.

Ina Ambolodto

Liberal

1,696,558

3.62%

35.

Allan Montao

UNA

1,605,073

3.56%

36.

Walden Bello

Independent

1,091,194

2.41%

37.

Jacel Kiram

UNA

995,673

2.12%

38.

Shariff Albani

Independent

905,610

1.94%

39.

Jovito Palparan

Independent

855,297

1.87%

14.48
%

21.

Edu Manzano

Independent

5,269,539

11.69
%

22.

Roman Romulo

Independent

4,824,484

10.79
%

23.

Susan Ople

Nacionalista

2,775,191

6.07%

24.

Alma Moreno

UNA

2,432,224

5.42%

25.

Greco Belgica

Independent

2,100,985

4.62%

26.

Raffy Alunan

Independent

2,032,362

4.45%

27.

Larry Gadon

KBL

1,971,327

4.40%

28.

Rey Langit

UNA

1,857,630

4.12%

40.

Cresente Paez

Independent

808,623

1.80%

41.

Sandra Cam

PMP

805,756

1.77%

42.

43.

Dante Liban

Ramon Montao

Independent

Independent

782,249

759,263

Total turnout

44,979,151

80.69
%

Total votes

319,308,50
7

N/A

Registered voters

55,739,911

100%

1.72%

1.68%
Reference: Commission on Elections sitting as the National Board of Canvassers.
[16][17]

44.

Aldin Ali

PMM

733,838

1.56%

45.

Romeo Maganto

Lakas

731,021

1.60%
House of Representatives[edit]

46.

47.

Godofredo Arquiza

Levi Baligod

Independent

Independent

680,550

596,583

1.50%

1.31%

48.

Diosdado Valeroso

Independent

527,146

1.16%

49.

Ray Dorona

Independent

495,191

1.09%

50.

Eid Kabalu

Independent

379,846

0.81%

Main article: Philippine House of Representatives elections, 2016

For party-list election results, see Philippine House of Representatives election, 2016
(party-list).
A voter has two votes in the House of Representatives: one vote for a representative
elected in the voter's congressional district (first-past-the-post), and one vote for a
party in the party-list system (closed list), the so-called sectoral representatives;
sectoral representatives shall comprise not more than 20% of the House of
Representatives.
To determine the winning parties in the party-list election, a party must surpass the
2% election threshold of the national vote; usually, the party with the largest number of
votes wins the maximum three seats, the rest two seats. If the number of seats of the
parties that surpassed the 2% threshold is less than 20% of the total seats, the parties

that won less than 2% of the vote gets one seat each until the 20% requirement is
met.

e d Summary of the May 9, 2016 Philippine House of

Representatives election results for representatives from congressional
districts

Popular
vote
Party/coalitio
n
Total

Liberal(Libe
ral Party)

NPC(Nation
alist
People's
Coalition)

NUP(Nation
al Unity
Party)

Nacionalista
(Nationalist
Party)

15,55
2,401

6,350
,310

3,604
,266

3,512
,975

41.
72
%

17.
04
%

9.6
7%

9.4
2%

Breakdown

Ent
ere
d

164

77

39

46

U
p

1
1
1

4
2

2
6

2
7

Ga
in
s

15

Ho
ld
s

96

33

22

21

Seats

Lo
sse
s

15

Wi
ns

Ele
cte
d

115

42

23

24

38.
7%

14.
1%

7.7
%

8.1
%

+/

UNA(United
Nationalist
Alliance)

2,468
,335

6.6
2%

47

11

3.7
%

PDPLaban(Phili
ppine
Democratic
Party
People's
Power)

706,4
07

1.9
0%

26

1.0
%

Lakas(Peop
le Power
Christian
Muslim
Democrats)

573,8
43

1.5
4%

1.3
%

Aksyon(De
mocratic
Action)

514,6
12

1.3
8%

0.3
%

KBL (New
Society
Movement)

198,7
54

0.5
3%

11

0.0
%

Asenso
Manileo(P
rogress for
Manilans)

184,6
02

0.5
0%

0.7
%

Kusog

172,6

0.4

0.3

Baryohanon
(Force of
the
Villagers)

01

6%

PTM (Voice
of the
Masses
Party)

145,4
17

0.3
9%

0.3
%

PCM(Peopl
e's Champ
Movement)

142,3
07

0.3
8%

Bukidnon
Paglaum(H
ope for
Bukidnon)

129,6
78

0.3
5%

Lingap
Lugud(Cari
ng Love)

127,7
62

0.3
4%

Padayon
Pilipino(On
ward
Filipinos)

127,7
59

1-Cebu (On
e Cebu)

114,7
32

0.3
4%

0.3
1%

0.3
%

0.3
%

0.3
%

0.0
%

LDP(Strugg
le of
Democratic
Filipinos)

111,0
86

0.3
0%

0.7
%

ASJ(Forwar
d San
Joseans)

83,94
5

0.2
3%

0.3
%

PMP (Force
of the
Filipino
Masses)

78,02
0

0.2
1%

0.0
%

KABAKA(P
artner of
the Nation
for
Progress)

72,13
0

0.1
9%

0.3
%

Hugpong(P
arty of the
People of
the City)

53,18
6

0.1
4%

0.0
%

SZP(Forwa
rd
Zambales
Party)

52,41
5

0.1
4%

0.0
%

CDP(Centri
st

13,66
2

0.0
4%

0.0
%
0.0
%

Democratic
Party of the
Philippines)

PMM(Work
ers' and
Peasants'
Party)

PGRP(Phili
ppine
Green
Republican
Party)

7,239

4,426

0.0
2%

0.0
1%

0.0
%

0.0
%

Invalid votes

7,077
,692

15.
94
%

Turnout

44,39
2,375

81.
66
%

Registered
voters
(without over
seas voters)

54,36
3,844

100
%

Seat[edit]
Independen
t

Vacancy

Total

2,172
,562

5.8
3%

178

1.3
%

0.0
%

37,27
5,432

100
%

634

2
3
4

45

18
9

238

80.
1%

45

The Legislative Building during the 1930s.

Valid votes

37,27
5,432

83.
97
%

Ayuntamiento
Locations of the historical (blue) and current (red) seats of Congress in Metro Manila.
In what could be a unique setup, Congress' two houses meet at different places
in Metro Manila, the seat of government: the Senate sits at a building shared with
the Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) at Pasay, while the House of
Representatives sits at the Batasang Pambansa Complex.
The Barasoain Church in Malolos, Bulacan served as a meeting place of unicameral
congress of the First Philippine Republic.
After the Americans defeated the First Republic, American-instituted Philippine
Legislature convened at the Ayuntamiento in Intramuros, Manila from 1907 to 1926,
when it transferred to the Legislative Building just outside Intramuros. In the
Legislative Building, the Senate occupied the upper floors while the House of
Representatives used the lower floors.
Destroyed during the Battle of Manila of 1945, the Commonwealth Congress
convened at the Old Japanese Schoolhouse at Sampaloc. Congress met at the school
auditorium, with the Senate convening on evenings and the House of Representatives
meeting every morning. Congress would return to the Legislative Building, which will
be renamed as the Congress Building, on 1949 up to 1973 when President Marcos
ruled by decree. Marcos built a new seat of a unicameral parliament at Quezon City,
which would eventually be the Batasang Pambansa Complex. The parliament that will
eventually be named as the Batasang Pambansa (National Legislature), first met at
the Batasang Pambansa Complex on 1978.
With the overthrow of Marcos after the People Power Revolution, the bicameral
Congress was restored. The House of Representatives inherited the Batasang
Pambansa Complex, while the Senate returned to the Congress Building. On May
1997, the Senate moved to the newly constructed building owned by the GSIS on land
reclaimed from Manila Bay at Pasay; the Congress Building was eventually
transformed into the National Museum of the Philippines.

Senate

House of Representatives

Congress Building

Japanese Schoolhouse

The legislative power is vested in a bicameral body, the Congress of the Philippines,
which is composed of two houses -- the Senate and the House Representatives. The
Congress of the Philippines is the country's highest lawmaking body.
The Senate, headed by the Senate president and often referred toa s the "Upper
House", is composed of 24 senators elected at-large (nationwide) by qualified voters
for a period of six years. A senator cannot serve for more than two consecutive terms;

but he may run for reelection after a break or interval. The senators term of office
begins on December 30th following their election. The qualifications for becoming a
senator are as follows:
1.

a natural-born citizen of the Philippines;

2.

a least 35 years of age;

3.

able to read and write;

4.

a registered voter; and

5.

a resident of the Philippines for at least two years prior to his election.

The House of Representatives, on the other hand, shall be composed of not more
than 250 members, with the Speaker as its chief officer. These seats are apportioned
among the provinces, cities, and Metro Manila, according to population. Thus, heavily
populated provinces are given as many as six or seven representatives or
congressmen. However, the Philippine Constitution provides that each province -- no
matter how sparsely provinces of the Philippines are represented in the Lower House
of Congress. The congressmen are elected for a term of three years, but they cannot
serve for more than three consecutive terms. To become a representative, a person
must be:
1.

a natural-born citizrn of the Philippines;

2.

at least 25 years old;

3.

able to read and write;

4.

a registered voter, and

5.

a resident of the province where he is running for at least one year

immediately prior to the election.

The lawmaking function of Congress is very important. It passes laws that regulate the
conduct of and relations between the private citizens and the government. It defines
and punishes crimes against the state and against persons and their property. It
determines the taxes people should pay for the maintenance of the government. It
appropriates the money to be spent for public purposes. It can reorganize, create, or
abolish offices under the civil service. And it can create and abolish courts, except the
Supreme Court. Finally, it is only Congress which was given by the Philippine
Constitution the sole power to declare war and to authorize the President - in case of
national emergency or war - to issue executive orders embodying rules and

regulations intended to carry out the natioal policy.

The congress convenes in a regular session once a year, starting on the fourth
Monday of July. This session may not exceed the prescribed 100 days, exclusive of
Sundays. Special sessions may be called by the President to consider general
legislations or any subjects which he may want to designate. However, these sessions
may not exceed 30 days.
Here are the various steps in the passage of a bill:
1. First Reading - Any member of either house may present a proposed bill, signed
by him, for First Reading and reference to the proper committee. During the First
Reading, the principal author of the bill may propose the inclusion of additional authors
thereof.
2. Referral to Appropriate Committee - Immediately after the First Reading, the bill
is referred to the proper committee or committees for study and consideration. If
disapproved in the committee, the bill dies a natural death unless the House decides
other wise, following the submission of the report.
3. Second Reading - If the committee reports the bill favorably, the bills is forwarded
to the Committee on Rules so that it may be calendared for deliberation on Second
Reading. At this stage, the bill is read for the second time in its entirely, together with
the amendments, if any, proposed by the committee, unless the reading is dispensed
with by a majority vote of the House.
4. Debates - A general debate is then opened after the Second Reading and
amendments may be proposed by any member of Congress. The insertion of changes
or amendments shall be done in accordance with the rules of either House. The
House may either "kill" or pass the bill.
5. Printing and Distribution - After approval of the bill on Second Reading, the bills is
then ordered printed in its final form and copies of it are distributed among the
members of the House three days before its passage, except when the bill was
certified by the President. A bill approved on Second Reading shall be included in the
calendar of bills for Third Reading.
6. Third Reading - At this stage, only the title of the bill is read. Upon the last reading
of a bill, no amendment thereto is allowed and the vote thereon is taken immediately
thereafter, and yeas and nays entered in the journal. A member may abstain. As a
rule, a majority of the members constituting a quorum is sufficient to pass a bill.
7. Referral to the Other House - If approved, the bill is then referred to the other
House where substantially the same procedure takes place.
8. Submission to Joint Bicameral Committee - Differences, if any, between the
House's bill and the Senate's amended version, and vice versa are submitted to a
conference committee of members of both Houses for compromise. If either House
accepts the changes made by the other, no compromise is necessary.

9. Submission to the President - A bill approved on Third Reading by both Houses

shall be printed and forthwith transmitted to the President for his action - approval or
disapproval. If the President does not communicate his veto of any bill to the House
where it originated within 30 days from receipt thereof, it shall become a law as if he
signed it. Bill repassed by Congress over the veto of the President automatically
becomes a law.
Except in cases of treason, breaches of the peace, or felony, the members if both
chambers of Congress are exempt from arrest during their attendance at the sessions
and in going to and returning from the same. They may not be questioned in any other
place for any speech they deliver in the hall of Congress.
The Philippine Constitution provides for the election of a Senate President and a
Speaker of the House, who are both elected by a viva voce majority vote of all the
members of their respective houses, at the beginning of the regular session. The two
preside over the sessions in their houses, they also considered as legislative leaders;
and they are often called to Malacanang Palace to discuss important legislative
measures with the President.

eliminate executive waste and dishonesty, (d) to prevent executive usurpation of

legislative authority, and (e) to assess executive conformity with the congressional
perception of public interest. The power of oversight has been held to be intrinsic in
the grant of legislative power itself and integral to the checks and balances inherent in
a democratic system of government.
What are the categories of congressional oversight functions?
The acts done by Congress purportedly in the exercise of its oversight powers may be
divided into three categories, namely: (1) supervision, which connotes a continuing
and informed awareness on the part of a congressional committee regarding executive
operations in a given administrative area; (2) scrutiny, primarily intended to determine
economy and efficiency of the operation of government activities, exercised through
budget hearings, the question hour and the power of confirmation; and

In addition, the two houses may also appoint their respective secretaries and
sergeants-at-arms. The most important function of a secretary is to keep the records
of the proceedins, while the sergeant-at-arms is the peace officer of each house. Both
officers are not members of Congress.

(2) investigation, which is also known as the inquiry in aid of legislation.

Other officers of Congress are the pro-tempore and floor leaders. The Pro-tempore
Officers are elected in the same manner as the Senate President and the House
Speaker. They usually belong to the same political party as the heads of the Senate
and the House. They preside over sessions in the absence of the Senate President
and House Speaker. On the other hand, the Floor Leaders (majority and minority) are
the spokespersons of their respective parties. They usually lead the members of their
parties in the discussions of bills or resolutions. They also decide the priority of bills to
be discussed on the floor since the majority floor leader usually given the
chairmanship of the Committee on Rules. They steer the discussions and debates on
the floor with an endview of promoting the legislative agenda of their parties in both
Houses.

of the Constitution:

The Commission on Appointments consists of 12 Senators and 12 Congressmen.

the power to legislate. The power of inquiry, with process to enforce it, is grounded on

The Senate, The Commission on Appointments, The Senate Electoral Tribunal, The
House of Representatives.

What is congressional oversight?

Broadly defined, the power of oversight embraces all activities undertaken by
Congress to enhance its understanding of and influence over the implementation of
legislation it has enacted. Clearly, oversight concerns post-enactment measures
undertaken by Congress: (a) to monitor bureaucratic compliance with program
objectives, (b) to determine whether agencies are properly administered, (c) to

What is the basis the power of inquiry in aid of legislation?

The Congressional power of inquiry is expressly recognized in Section 21 of Article VI

SECTION 21. The Senate or the House of Representatives or any of its respective
committees may conduct inquiries in aid of legislation in accordance with its duly
published rules of procedure. The rights of persons appearing in or affected by such
inquiries shall be respected.
Even without this express Constitutional provision, the power of inquiry is inherent in
the necessity of information in the legislative process. If the information possessed by
executive officials on the operation of their offices is necessary for wise legislation on
that subject, by parity of reasoning, Congress has the right to that information and the
power to compel the disclosure thereof.
Why is inquiry in aid of legislation important under the separation of powers?
Under the separation of powers, Congress has the right to obtain information from any
source even from officials of departments and agencies in the executive branch. It
is this very separation that makes the congressional right to obtain information from

the executive so essential, if the functions of the Congress as the elected

constitutional rights, including the right to be represented by counsel and the right

representatives of the people are adequately to be carried out.

against self-incrimination.
In addition, even where the inquiry is in aid of legislation, there are still recognized

Is the Supreme Court covered by the Congressional power of inquiry?

exemptions to the power of inquiry, which exemptions fall under the rubric of executive

No. Members of the Supreme Court are exempt from this power of inquiry on the basis

privilege.

not only of separation of powers but also on the fiscal autonomy and the constitutional
independence of the judiciary.
Is the power of inquiry subject to judicial review?
Yes. It may be subjected to judicial review pursuant to the Supreme Courts certiorari
powers under Section 1, Article VIII of the Constitution. Since the right of Congress to
conduct an inquiry in aid of legislation is, in theory, no less susceptible to abuse than
executive or judicial power.
Is the President covered by the power of inquiry?
No. The President, on whom executive power is vested, is beyond the reach of
Congress, except through the power of impeachment. It is based on the Presidents
position as the highest official of the executive branch, and the due respect accorded
to a co-equal branch of government which is sanctioned by a long-standing custom.
Does the power to inquire extend to officials in the executive branch?
Yes. The power of inquiry is broad enough to cover officials of the executive branch.
The power of inquiry is co-extensive with the power to legislate. The matters which
may be a proper subject of legislation and those which may be a proper subject of
investigation are one. It follows that the operation of government, being a legitimate
subject for legislation, is a proper subject for investigation. Since Congress has
authority to inquire into the operations of the executive branch, it would be incongruous
to hold that the power of inquiry does not extend to executive officials who are the
most familiar with and informed on executive operations.
Are there limitations to this power? If yes, what are these limitations?
Yes. As now contained in the 1987 Constitution (Section 21, Article VI), the power of
Congress to investigate is circumscribed by three limitations, namely: (a) it must be in
aid of its legislative functions, (b) it must be conducted in accordance with duly
published rules of procedure, and (c) the persons appearing therein are afforded their

What is executive privilege?

Executive privilege is not a clear or unitary concept, although it has been defined as
the power of the Government to withhold information from the public, the courts, and
the Congress or the right of the President and high-level executive branch officers
to withhold information from Congress, the courts, and ultimately the public.
Does executive privilege refer to persons?
No. Executive privilege is properly invoked in relation to specific categories of
information and not to categories of persons. Executive privilege, whether asserted
against Congress, the courts, or the public, is recognized only in relation to certain
types of information of a sensitive character.
What matters are covered by executive privilege?
The matters covered under executive privilege include: (1) Information between intergovernment agencies prior to the conclusion of treaties and executive agreements; (2)
Presidential conversations, correspondences, and discussions in closed-door Cabinet
meetings; and (3) Matters affecting national security and public order.
How is this invoked?
When an official is being summoned by Congress on a matter which, in his own
judgment, might be covered by executive privilege, he must be afforded reasonable
time to inform the President or the Executive Secretary of the possible need for
invoking the privilege. This is necessary in order to provide the President or the
Executive Secretary with fair opportunity to consider whether the matter indeed calls
for a claim of executive privilege. If, after the lapse of that reasonable time, neither the
President nor the Executive Secretary invokes the privilege, Congress is no longer
bound to respect the failure of the official to appear before Congress and may then opt
to avail of the necessary legal means to compel his appearance.

Is an implied claim of executive privilege valid?

If a person is cited in contempt and imprisoned in relation to the Congressional

No. A claim of privilege, being a claim of exemption from an obligation to disclose

exercise of inquiry in aid of legislation, how long will the imprisonment last?

information, must be clearly asserted. An implied claim of privilege is invalid per se.

This is tackled by the Supreme Court in Arnault vs. Nazareno, where the petitioner

The validity of claims of privilege must be assessed on a case to case basis,

argued that the Senate lacks authority to commit him for contempt for a term beyond

examining the ground invoked therefore, and the particular circumstances surrounding

its period of legislative session. According to the Supreme Court:

it.

That investigation has not been completed because of the refusal of the petitioner as a
witness to answer certain questions pertinent to the subject of the inquiry. The Senate

What is the Question Hour?

has empowered the committee to continue the investigation during the recess. By

In the context of a parliamentary system of government, the question hour is a period

refusing to answer the questions, the witness has obstructed the performance by the

of confrontation initiated by Parliament to hold the Prime Minister and the other

Senate of its legislative function, and the Senate has the power to remove the

ministers accountable for their acts and the operation of the government,
corresponding to what is known in Britain as the question period. The framers of
the 1987 Constitution removed the mandatory nature of such appearance during the
question hour in the present Constitution so as to conform more fully to a system of

obstruction by compelling the witness to answer the questions thru restraint of his
liberty until he shall have answered them. That power subsists as long as the Senate,
which is a continuing body, persists in performing the particular legislative function
involved. To hold that it may punish the witness for contempt only during the session in

separation of powers. This is provided in Article VI, Section 22 of the Constitution:

which investigation was begun, would be to recognize the right of the Senate to

SECTION 22. The heads of departments may upon their own initiative, with the

means for its performance. Aside from this, if we should hold that the power to punish

consent of the President, or upon the request of either House, as the rules of each
House shall provide, appear before and be heard by such House on any matter
pertaining to their departments. Written questions shall be submitted to the President
of the Senate or the Speaker of the House of Representatives at least three days
before their scheduled appearance. Interpellations shall not be limited to written
questions, but may cover matters related thereto. When the security of the State or the
public interest so requires and the President so states in writing, the appearance shall

perform its function but at the same time to deny to it an essential and appropriate
for contempt terminates upon the adjournment of the session, the Senate would have
to resume the investigation at the next and succeeding sessions and repeat the
contempt proceedings against the witness until the investigation is completed-an
absurd, unnecessary, and vexatious procedure, which should be avoided.
As against the foregoing conclusion it is argued for the petitioner that the power may
be abusively and oppressively exerted by the Senate which might keep the witness in

be conducted in executive session.

prison for life. But we must assume that the Senate will not be disposed to exert the

Is the power of inquiry in aid of legislation the same as the Question Hour?

are disregarded, the portals of this Court are always open to those whose rights might

No. Section 21 (inquiry in aid of legislation) and Section 22 (question hour) of Article
VI of the Constitution are closely related and complementary to each other, but they do
not pertain to the same power of Congress. One specifically relates to the power to
conduct inquiries in aid of legislation, the aim of which is to elicit information that may
be used for legislation, while the other pertains to the power to conduct a question
hour, the objective of which is to obtain information in pursuit of the oversight function
of Congress. While attendance was meant to be discretionary in the question hour, it
was compulsory in inquiries in aid of legislation.

power beyond its proper bounds. And if, contrary to this assumption, proper limitations
thus be transgressed.
Sources: Senate of the Philippines vs. Eduardo R. Ermita, G.R. No. 169777, 20 April
2006; Angara vs. Electoral Commission, G.R. No. L-45081, 15 July 1936; Arnault vs.
Nazareno, G.R. No. L-3820, 18 July 1950; Bengzon vs. Senate Blue Ribbon
Committee, G.R. No. 89914, 20 November 1991; Concurring and dissenting opinion of
Justice Puno in Macalintal vs. COMELEC, G.R. No. 157013. July 10, 2003.
POWERS OF THE CONGRESS

The powers of Congress are classified as follows:

Senate

1.

Legislative power in general

Preliminary Procedures

2.

Specific legislative powers

3.

Non-legislative powers

The procedures for introducing legislation and seeing it through

committees are similar in both the House of Representatives and the
Senate.

4.

Implied powers

5.

Inherent powers.

Legislative power in general.

Legislative power in general refers to the power to enact laws,
which includes the power to alter or repeal them. Said power
starts formally from the time a bill or a proposed law is introduced
by a member of the House of Representatives or a Senator. Once
approved by Congress, and the President, the said bill becomes a
law.
Specific legislative powers.
These are the powers expressly conferred by the Constitution.
They are: power of appropriation, power taxation and power of
expropriation.
Non-legislative powers.
These are the powers which are not basically legislative in nature
but which are performed by Congress. Examples are power to
propose amendments to the Constitution, power to impeach,
power to canvass presidential elections and power to declare the
existence of a state of war.
Implied powers.
These are the powers which are not expressly conferred by the
Constitution but which are implied from those expressly granted.
Examples are: power to punish a person in contempt during or in
the course of legislative investigation and power to issue summons
and notices in connection with matters subject of its investigation
or inquiry.
Inherent powers
These are the powers which are inherent to the exercise of
legislative powers like the power to determine the rules of its
proceedings.

Legislative proposals originate in a number of different ways. Members

of the Senate, of course, develop ideas for legislation. Technical assistance
in research and drafting legislative language is available at the Senate
Legislative Technical Affairs Bureau. Special interest groupsbusiness,
religious, labor, urban and rural poor, consumers, trade association, and the
likeare other fertile sources of legislation. Constituents, either as
individuals or groups, also may propose legislation. Frequently, a member
of the Senate will introduce such a bill by request, whether or not he
supports its purposes.
It must be noted also that much of the needed legislation of the
country today considered by Congress originates from the executive
branch. Each year after the President of the Philippines outlines his
legislative program in his State-of-the-Nation Address, executive
departments and agencies transmit to the House and the Senate drafts of
proposed legislations to carry out the Presidents program.
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Introduction of Bills
No matter where a legislative proposal originates, it can be introduced only by a member
of Congress. In the Senate, a member may introduce any of several types of bills and
resolutions by filing it with the Office of the Secretary.
There is no limit to the number of bills a member may introduce. House and Senate bills
may have joint sponsorship and carry several members' names.
Major legislation is often introduced in both houses in the form of companion (identical)
bills, the purpose of which is to speed up the legislative process by encouraging both chambers

to consider the measure simultaneously. Sponsors of companion bills may also hope to
dramatize the importance or urgency of the issue and show broad support for the legislation.
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It is usually designated with P. S. Res. A simple resolution deals with matters entirely
within the prerogative of one house of Congress, such as adopting or receiving its own rules. A
simple resolution is not considered by the other chamber and is not sent to the President for his
signature. Like a concurrent resolution, it has no effect and force of a law. Simple resolutions
are used occasionally to express the opinion of a single house on a current issue. Oftentimes, it
is also used to call for a congressional action on an issue affecting national interest.
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Types of Legislation
The type of measures that Congress may consider and act upon (in addition to treaties in
the Senate) include bills and three kinds of resolutions. They are:
1. Bills
These are general measures, which if passed upon, may become laws. A bill is prefixed
with S., followed by a number assigned the measure based on the order in which it is
introduced. The vast majority of legislative proposalsrecommendations dealing with the
economy, increasing penalties for certain crimes, regulation on commerce and trade, etc., are
drafted in the form of bills. They also include budgetary appropriation of the government and
many others. When passed by both chambers in identical form and signed by the President or
repassed by Congress over a presidential veto, they become laws.

Bill Referrals
Once a measure has been introduced and given a number, it is read and referred to an
appropriate committee. It must be noted that during the reading of the bill, only the title and the
author is read on the floor. The Senate President is responsible for referring bills introduced to
appropriate committees.
The jurisdictions of the Standing Committees are spelled out in Rule X, Section 13 of the
Rules of the Senate. For example, if a bill involves matters relating to agriculture, food
production and agri-business, it must be referred to the Committee on Agriculture and Food.
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2. Joint Resolutions
A joint resolution, like a bill, requires the approval of both houses and the signature of
the President. It has the force and effect of a law if approved. There is no real difference
between a bill and a joint resolution. The latter generally is used when dealing with a single
item or issue, such as a continuing or emergency appropriations bill. Joint resolutions are also
used for proposing amendments to the Constitution.
3. Concurrent Resolutions
A concurrent resolution is usually designated in the Senate as S. Ct. Res. It is used for
matters affecting the operations of both houses and must be passed in the same form by both of
them. However, they are not referred to the President for his signature, and they do not have
the force of law. Concurrent resolutions are used to fix the time of adjournment of a Congress
and to express the sense of Congress on an issue.
4. Simple Resolutions

In Committee
The standing committees of the Senate, operating as little legislatures, determine the
fate of most proposals. There are committee hearings scheduled to discuss the bills referred.
Committee members and staff frequently are experts in the subjects under their jurisdiction,
and it is at the committee stage that a bill comes under the sharpest scrutiny. If a measure is to
be substantially revised, the revision usually occurs at the committee level.
A committee may dispose of a bill in one of several ways: it may approve, or reject, the
legislation with or without amendments; rewrite the bill entirely; reject it, which essentially
kills the bill; report it favorably or without recommendation, which allows the chamber to
consider the bill at all. It must be noted that under Section 29, Rule XI of the Rules of the
Senate, if the reports submitted are unfavorable, they shall be transmitted to the archives of the

Senate, unless five Senators shall, in the following session, move for their inclusion in the
Calendar for Ordinary Business, in which case the President shall so order.

On the other hand, the consideration and debate of bills and resolutions are spelled out in
Rule XXV, Section 71 of the Rules of the Senate. It provides as follows:

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Sec. 71. The Senate shall adopt the following procedure in the consideration of bills and joint
resolutions:
(a) Second reading of the bill.

Committee Reports

(b) Sponsorship by the committee chairman, or by any member designated by the committee.

A committee report describes the purpose and scope of the bill, explains any committee
amendments, indicates proposed changes in existing law and such other materials that are
relevant. Moreover, reports are numbered in the order in which they are filed and printed.
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(c) If a debate ensues, turns for and against the bill shall be taken alternately: Provided,
however, That any committee member who fails to enter his objection or to make of record his
dissenting vote after it shall have been included in the Order of Business and read to the
Senate in accordance with the second paragraph of Section 24 hereof, shall not be allowed to
speak against the bill during the period of general debate although he may propose and speak
or vote on amendments thereto.
(d) The sponsor of the bill or author of the motion shall have the right to close the debate.

Calendaring for Floor Debates: Consideration of, and Debates on

Bills
Under Section 45 of Rule XVI of the Rules of the Senate, the Senate shall have three calendars,
to wit:
A Calendar for Ordinary Business," in which shall be included the bills reported out by the
committees in the order in which they were received by the Office of the Secretary; the bills
whose consideration has been agreed upon by the Senate without setting the dates on which to
effect it; and also the bills whose consideration has been postponed indefinitely;
A Calendar for Special Orders, in which the bills and resolutions shall be arranged
successively and chronologically, according to the order in which they were assigned for
consideration; and
A Calendar for Third Reading, in which shall be included all bills and joint resolutions
approved on second reading.
Thus, a bill which has a committee report can be referred to the Calendar for Ordinary
Business. It may again be moved to its Special Order of Business for priority action.

(e) With the debate closed, the consideration of amendments, if any, shall be in order.
(f) After the period of amendments, the voting of the bill on Second Reading.
(g) Bills shall be submitted to final vote by yeas and nays after printed copies thereof in final
form have been distributed to the Members at least three (3) days prior to their passage, except
when the President of the Philippines certifies to the necessity of their immediate enactment to
meet a public calamity or emergency, in which case the voting on Third Reading may take
place immediately after second reading.
After the bill is approved on Third Reading, it will be submitted to the House of
Representatives for consideration. A bill passed by the Senate and transmitted to the House
usually goes to a committee, unless a House bill on the same subject has already been reported
out by the appropriate committee and placed on the calendar.
Under normal procedures, therefore, a bill passed by one chamber and transmitted to the
other is referred to the appropriate committee, from which it must follow the same route to
passage as a bill originating from that chamber.
Amendments may be offered at both the committee and floor action stages, and the bill as
it emerges from the second chamber may differ significantly from the version passed by the

first. A frequently used procedure when this occurs is for the chamber that acts last to bring up
the other chambers bill and substitute its own version, then retaining only the latters bill
number. That numbered bill, containing the Senate and House version, is then sent to a
conference committee to resolve all differences.
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Conference Committee Action

When the conferees have reached agreement on a bill, the conference committee staff
writes a conference report indicating changes made in the bill and explaining each sides
actions.
Once a conference committee completes its works, it can now be submitted to the floor
for its approval. Debate on conference reports is highly privileged and can interrupt most other
business.
Approval of the conference report by both houses, along with any amendments on
disagreement, constitutes final approval of the bill.
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Calling a Conference
Either chamber can request a conference once both have considered the same legislation.
Generally, the chamber that approved the legislation first will disagree to the amendments
made by the second body and will make a request that a conference be convened. Sometimes,
however, the second body will ask for a conference immediately after it has passed the
legislation, assuming that the other chamber will not accept its amendments.
Selection of Conferees
Under the Rules of the Senate (Rule XII, Section 34), the Senate President shall designate
the members of the Senate panel in the conference committee with the approval of the Senate.
The Senate delegation to a conference can range in size from three to a larger number,
depending on the length and complexity of the legislation involved.

Final Legislative Action

After both houses have given final approval to a bill, a final copy of the bill, known as
the enrolled bill, shall be printed, and certified as correct by the Secretary of the Senate and
the Secretary General of the House of Representatives. After which, it will be signed by the
Speaker of the House and the Senate President.
A bill may become a law, even without the Presidents signature, if the President does not
sign a bill within 30 days from receipt in his office. A bill may also become a law without the
Presidents signature if Congress overrides a presidential veto by two-thirds vote.

Authority of Conferees
The authority given to the Senate conferees theoretically is limited to matters in
disagreement between the two chambers. They are not authorized to delete provisions or
language agreed to by both the House and the Senate as to draft entirely new provisions.
In practice, however, the conferees have wide latitude, except where the matters in
disagreement are very specific. Moreover, conferees attempt to reconcile their differences, but
generally they try to grant concession only insofar as they remain confident that the chamber
they represent will accept the compromise.
The Conference Report

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Summary
The following is a summary of how a bill becomes a law:
Filing/Calendaring for First Reading
A bill is filed in the Office of the Secretary where it is given a corresponding number and
calendared for First Reading.

First Reading

Back to the Senate

Its title, bill number, and authors name are read on the floor, after which it is referred to
the proper committee.

If the House-approved version is compatible with that of the Senates, the final versions
enrolled form is printed. If there are certain differences, a Bicameral Conference Committee is
called to reconcile conflicting provisions of both versions of the Senate and of the House of
Representatives. Conference committee submits report on the reconciled version of the bill,
duly approved by both chambers. The Senate prints the reconciled version in its enrolled form.

Committee Hearings/Report
Committee conducts hearings and consultation meetings. It then either approves the
proposed bill without an amendment, approves it with changes, or recommends substitution or
consolidation with similar bills filed.
Calendaring for Second Reading
The Committee Report with its approved bill version is submitted to the Committee on
Rules for calendaring for Second Reading.
Second Reading
Bill author delivers sponsorship speech on the floor. Senators engage in debate,
interpellation, turno en contra, and rebuttal to highlight the pros and cons of the bill. A period
of amendments incorporates necessary changes in the bill proposed by the committee or
introduced by the Senators themselves on the floor.
Voting on Second Reading

Submission to Malacaang
Final enrolled form is submitted to Malacaang. The President either signs it into law, or
vetoes and sends it back to the Senate with veto message.
RULES of PROCEDURE Senate
SECTION 1. Power to Conduct Formal Inquiries or Investigations
The Senate or any of its Committees may conduct formal inquiries or
investigations in aid of legislation in accordance with these Rules.
Such inquiries may refer to the implementation or re-examination of
any law or appropriation, or in connection with any proposed legislation or
the formulation of, or in connection with future legislation, or will aid in the
review or formulation of a new legislative policy or enactment. They may
also extend to any and all matters vested by the Constitution in Congress
and/or in the Senate alone.

Senators vote on the second reading version of the bill. If approved, the bill is calendared
for third reading.

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Voting on Third Reading

Printed copies of the bills final version are distributed to the Senators. This time, only
the title of the bill is read on the floor. Nominal voting is held. If passed, the approved Senate
bill is referred to the House of Representatives for concurrence.

Sec. 2. Initiation of Inquiry

At the House of Representatives

Inquiries may be initiated by the Senate or any of its Committees if the

matter is within its competence, or upon petition filed or upon information
given by any Senator or by any person not a member thereof.

The Lower Chamber follows the same procedures (First Reading, Second Reading and
Third Reading).

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A petition filed or information given by a Senator shall set forth the

facts upon which it is based. It need not be under oath but may be
accompanied by supporting affidavits.

Sec. 3. Jurisdictional Challenge

If the jurisdiction of the Committee is challenged on any ground, the
said issue must first be resolved by the Committee before proceeding with
the inquiry.
If the Committee, by a majority vote of its members present there
being a quorum, decides that its inquiry is pertinent or relevant to the
implementation or re-examination of any law or appropriation or in
connection with any pending or proposed legislation or will aid in the review
or formulation of a new legislative policy or enactment, or extends to any
and all matters vested by the Constitution in Congress and/or in the Senate
alone, it shall overrule such objection and proceed with the investigation.
Only one challenge on the same ground shall be permitted.

Such petition or information shall be addressed to the President, who

shall refer the same to the appropriate Committee.
Nothing in this provision shall preclude the Senate from referring to
any Committee or Committees any speech or resolution filed by any
Senator which in its judgment requires an appropriate inquiry in aid of
legislation.
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Sec. 6. Petition by Non-members

The filing or pendency or any prosecution of criminal or administrative

action shall not stop or abate any inquiry to carry out a legislative purpose.
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A petition filed or information given by any person not a Member of the

Senate shall be under oath, stating the facts upon which it is based, and
shall be accompanied by supporting affidavits.
If the President finds the petition or information to be in accordance
with the requirements of this Section, he shall refer the same to the
appropriate Committee.

Sec. 4. Quorum
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One third of all the regular members of the Committee shall constitute
a quorum but in no case shall it be less than two. The presence of ex officio
members may be considered in determining the existence of a quorum.
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Sec. 5. Petition by Senators

Sec. 7. Inquiry by One or More Committees

The President shall determine the Committee or Committees to which
a speech, resolution, petition or information, as the case may be, shall be
referred: Provided, however, That in case referral is made to two
Committees, a joint investigation shall be held.
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Sec. 8. Preliminary Determination

Sec. 11. Executive Session and Public Hearing

Except in cases of bills and resolutions (which do not call for an

investigation or inquiry) filed for consideration, the Committee to which a
speech, resolution, petition, or information has been referred by the
President shall meet within five (5) days after such referral, with proper
notice to all its members, in an executive meeting to determine the action
it would take thereon.

(1) If the Committee believes that the interrogation of a witness in a

public hearing might endanger national security, it may, motu proprio or
upon motion of any interested party, conduct its inquiry in an executive
session for the purpose of determining the necessity or advisability of
conducting such interrogation thereafter in public hearing; (2) Attend-ance
at executive sessions shall be limited to members of the Committee, its
staff, other Members of the Senate, and other persons whose presence is
requested or allowed by the Chairman; and (3) Testimony taken or material
presented in an executive session, or any summary thereof, shall not be
made public, in whole or in part, unless authorized by the Committee.

A decision to conduct an inquiry shall require the concurrence of a

majority of the members present provided there is a quorum.
The decision of a Committee, whether or not to conduct an inquiry,
shall be reported to the Committee on Rules. The Committee on Rules shall
then regularly inform the Senate of such action taken by the Committee.

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Sec. 12. Testimony Under Oath
All witnesses at executive sessions or public hearings who testify as to
matters of fact shall give such testimony under oath or affirmation.

Sec. 9. Internal Rules

A Committee which decides to conduct an inquiry may adopt internal
rules of procedure for such inquiry, subject to these Rules.

Witnesses may be called by the Committee on its own initiative or

upon the request of the petitioner or person giving the information or any
person who feels that he may be affected by the said inquiry.

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Sec. 10. Rule of Evidence

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Sec. 13. Transcript of Testimony

Technical rules of evidence applicable to judicial proceedings which do

not affect substantive rights need not be observed by the Committee.
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A complete and accurate record shall be kept of all testimonies and

proceedings at hearings, both in public and in executive sessions.
Any witness or his counsel, at his expense, may obtain a transcript of
any public testimony of the witness from the Committee Secretary.

Any witness or his counsel may also obtain a transcript of his

testimonies given in executive sessions under the following conditions:
(1) When a special release of said testimony prior to public release is
authorized by the Chairman; or
(2) After said testimony has been made public by the Committee.
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Sec. 14. Right to Counsel

(1) At every hearing, public or executive, every witness shall be
accorded the right of having a counsel of his own choice; and (2) Except as
provided in the Internal Rules of the Committee on Ethics and Privileges,
the participation of counsel during the course of any hearing and while the
witness is testifying shall be limited to advising said witness as to his legal
rights. Counsel shall not be permitted to engage in oral argument with the
Committee, but shall confine his activity to the area of legal advice to his
client.
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Sec. 15. Conduct of Counsel

Counsel for a witness shall conduct himself in a professional, ethical
and proper manner. His failure to do so shall subject such counsel to
disciplinary action which may include a warning, censure, removal from the
hearing room, or punishment for contempt.

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Sec. 16. Statement of Witness

(1) Any witness desiring to make a prepared or written statement for
the record shall file a copy of such statement with the Committee Secretary
not less than twenty-four (24) hours in advance of the hearing at which the
statement is to be presented; and (2) All such statements or portions
thereof so received which are relevant and germane to the subject of
investigation may, at the conclusion of the testimony of the witness, be
inserted in the official transcript of the proceedings.
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Sec. 17. Powers of the Committee

The Committee shall have the powers of an investigating committee,
including the power to summon witnesses and take their testimony and to
issue subpoena and subpoena duces tecum, signed by its Chairman, or in
his absence by the Acting Chairman, and approved by the President. Within
Metro Manila, such process shall be served by the Sergeant-at-Arms or his
assistant. Outside of Metro Manila, service may be made by the police of a
municipality or city, upon request of the Secretary.
Witnesses who are not government officials summoned by the
Committee shall be entitled, upon request, subject to the approval of the
President, to reasonable transportation expenses, plus such amounts as
may be deemed necessary to defray the cost of his stay in Metro Manila on
a day-to-day basis.
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In such case of such removal of counsel, the witness shall have a

reasonable time to obtain another counsel. Should the witness deliberately
or capriciously fail or refuse to obtain the services of another counsel, the
hearing shall continue and the testimony of such witness shall be taken.
Sec. 18. Contempt

The Committee, by a vote of a majority of all its members, may punish

for contempt any witness before it who disobeys any order of the
Committee or refuses to be sworn or to testify or to answer a proper
question by the Committee or any of its members, or testifying, testifies
falsely or evasively. A contempt of the Committee shall be deemed a
contempt of the Senate. Such witness may be ordered by the Committee to
be detained in such place as it may designate under the custody of the
Sergeant-at-Arms until he agrees to produce the required documents, or to
be sworn or to testify, or otherwise purge himself of that contempt.
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The Chairman of a Committee may create subcommittees as may be

deemed necessary for the purpose of performing any and all acts which the
Committee as a whole is authorized to do and perform, except the power to
punish for contempt under Section 18 hereof.
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Sec. 21. General Counsel

The following committees shall have their respective counsel:
Committee on Accountability of Public Officers and Investigations;
Committee on Ethics and Privileges; Committee on Justice and Human
Rights; and the Oversight Committee on Government Operations.

Sec. 19. Privilege Against Self-Incrimination

A witness can invoke his right against self-incrimination only when a
question which tends to elicit an answer that will incriminate him is
propounded to him. However, he may offer to answer any question in an
executive session.

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No person can refuse to testify or be placed under oath or affirmation

or answer questions before an incriminatory question is asked. His
invocation of such right does not by itself excuse him from his duty to give
testimony.

Sec. 22. Report of Committee

In such a case, the Committee, by a majority vote of the members

present there being a quorum, shall determine whether the right has been
properly invoked. If the Committee decides otherwise, it shall resume its
investigation and the question or questions previously refused to be
answered shall be repeated to the witness. If the latter continues to refuse
to answer the question, the Committee may punish him for contempt for
contumacious conduct.

The Report shall be approved by a majority vote of all its members.

Concurring and dissenting reports may likewise be made by the members
who do not sign the majority report within seventy-two (72) hours from the
approval of the report. The number of members who sign reports
concurring in the conclusions of the Committee Report shall be taken into
account in determining whether the Report has been approved by a
majority of the members: Provided, That the vote of a Member who submits
both a concurring and dissenting opinion shall not be considered as part of
the majority unless he expressly indicates his vote for the majority position.

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Sec. 20. Subcommittees; Delegation of Authority

Within fifteen (15) days after the conclusion of the inquiry, the
Committee shall meet to begin the consideration of its Report.

The Report, together with any concurring and/or dissenting opinions,

shall be filed with the Secretary of the Senate, who shall include the same
in the next Order of Business.

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Section 2. Modes of Initiation. Inquiries may be initiated through the

following modes:
a. motu proprio action of a committee on any matter within its jurisdiction
upon a majority vote of all its Members; or

Sec. 23. Action on Report

The Report, upon inclusion in the Order of Business, shall be referred to
the Committee on Rules for assignment in the Calendar.
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Sec. 24. Effectivity*

These Rules shall take effect seven (7) days after publication in two (2)
newspapers of general circulation.

Rules
of 2013
procedure governing inquiries in aid of legislation of the House of
Representatives
July
24,
RULES OF PROCEDURE GOVERNING INQUIRIES
IN AID OF LEGISLATION OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Republic of the Philippines
House of Representatives
16th Congress
Section 1. Power to Conduct Inquiries. Pursuant to Section 21, Article
VI of the Constitution, the House of Representatives or any of its
committees, may conduct inquiries in aid of legislation in accordance with
these rules.
The filing or pendency of a case before any court, tribunal or quasi-judicial
or administrative body shall not stop or abate any inquiry conducted to
carry out a legislative purpose.

b. upon order of the House of Representatives through;

b1. the referral to me appropriate committee of a privilege speech
containing of conveying a request or demand for the conduct of an inquiry,
upon motion of the Majority Leader or the Deputy Majority Leaders; or
b2. the adoption of a resolution reported out by the Committee on Rules,
after making a determination on the necessity and propriety of the conduct
of an inquiry by a committee, directing a committee to conduct an
Inquiry; Provided, That all resolutions directing any committee to conduct
an inquiry shall be referred to the Committee on Rules; or
b3. the referral of a petition filed or information given by any person not .a
Member of the House requesting such inquiry to the appropriate committee
by the Committee on Rules after making a determination on the necessity
and propriety of the conduct of an inquiry; Provided, That such petition or
information is endorsed by the Speaker to the Committee on Rules and is
given under oath, stating the facts upon which it is based, and
accompanied by supporting documents.
Section 3. Changing the Committee(s) Authorized or Directed to
Conduct an Inquiry. The committee(s) authorized or directed to conduct
an inquiry may be changed through;
a. a motion of the Majority Leader approved to plenary: Provided, That the
case of resolutions on inquiries previously adopted, the motion shall amend
said resolutions accordingly; and
b. the timely filing of a motion for reconsideration of the adoption of a
resolution directing a committee to conduct an inquiry,
Section 4. Conduct of Inquiry. The committee(s) authorized and
directed to conduct an inquiry may:

a. upon a majority vote of all its Members, invite any other interested
committee(s) or Members thereof to attend its hearings: Provided, That the
committee(s) or Members thereof so invited shall not participate in the
preparation and approval of the report on the investigation; and

Testimony taken or evidence presented in an executive session, or any

summary or excerpt thereof of documents related thereto, in whole or in
part, shall not be made public, unless authorized by a majority vote if the
Members present, there being a quorum.

b. constitute sub-committees composed of at least one-fifth (1/5) of the

total number of committee Members for the purpose of performing any and
all acts which the committee as a whole is authorized to perform in the
conduct of an inquiry except to punish for contempt.

Section 8. Attendance of Witnesses. The committee shall have the

power to issue subpoena ad testficandumand subpoena duces tecum to
witnesses in any part of the country, signed by the Chairperson or acting
Chairperson and the Speaker or acting Speaker. However, if the committee
is unable to secure the signature of the Speaker or acting Speaker on
a subpoena ad testificandum and/or subpoena duces tecum, it may request
the Committee on Rules to act on the matter. Upon the recommendation of
the Committee on Rules through a majority vote of all its Members after
determining that the attendance of a witness is indispensable to the
effective conduct of the inquiry, the Speaker shall issue a subpoena ad
testificandum and/or a subpoena duces tecum to compel the attendance of
a witness.

The findings and recommendations of the sub-committees shall be

submitted for approval and other appropriate action(s) thereon by the
mother committee: Provided That findings and recommendations including
summary statements thereon or publications related thereto shall not be
released by any Member of the sub-committee and the secretariat staff
prior to the inclusion of the final committee report in the Calendar of
Business as provided in Section 17 hereof.
Section 5. Joint Inquiry or Investigation. When a privilege speech,
resolution, petition or information is referred to two or more committees, a
joint inquiry by the said committees shall be conducted.
Section 6. Quorum. One-fifth (1/5) of all the Members of a committee or
a majority of all the Members of a subcommittee shall constitute a quorum.
For purposes of determining the existence of a quorum, the Speaker the
Deputy Speakers, the Majority Leader, the Deputy Majority Leaders, the
Minority Leader & the Deputy Minority Leaders or the Members deputized
by them shall be added to the total number of committee or sub-committee
members, as the case may be, if they are present to a meeting. In cases of
joint referrals, a quorum must be present in each of the committees
concerned.
Section 7. Executive Sessions. If the committee or sub-committee
deems that the examination of a witness in a public hearing may endanger
national security, it shall conduct the examination in an executive session,
and shall make a determination of the necessity or propriety of conducting
further examinations of such witness in a public hearing.
Attendance in executive sessions shall be limited to Members of the
committee, the committee secretariat staff and such other persons whose
presence are required or allowed by the Chairperson.

Within Metro Manila, subpoena ad testificandum and subpoena duces

tecum shall be served by the Sergeant-at-Arms or his duly authorized
deputies. Outside Metro Manila, service of these processes may be made by
the appropriate police officer or authority of the town or city upon request
of the Secretary General.
Subpoena shall be served to witnesses at least three (3) days before a
scheduled hearing in order to give the witness every opportunity to prepare
for the hearing and to employ counsel, should they desire.
The Subpoenashall be accompanied, by a notice stating that should a
witness wishes to confer with the Secretary of the committee prior to the
date of the hearing, the witness may convey such desire to the committee
by mail, telephone or any electronic communication device.
Section 9. Rights and Duties of Witnesses. The rights of witnesses
including their right against self -incrimination shall be respected.
Witnesses who are not government officials summoned by the committee
shall be entitled, upon their request and subject to the approval of the
Speaker, to reasonable transportation expenses and such other amounts as
may be deemed necessary for their stay in Metro Manila.

Witnesses shall testify under oath to be administered by the Chairperson or

by any other person authorized by law.

d. information that a copy of the Rules of Procedure Governing Inquiries in

Aid of Legislation is available for the perusal of such person in the House.

A witness shall be limited to, giving information relevant and germane to

the subject matter under investigation. The committee shall rule upon the
admissibility of any testimony or information presented by a witness.
Privileged communication shall be respected.

Any person so notified who believes that ones character or reputation was
adversely affected way, within seven (7) days after receipt of said notice:

Any witness desiring to deliver or present a prepared or written statement

before the committee shall file a copy of such statement, under oath, with
the secretary of the committee within forty-eight (48) hours before the
hearing at which the statement is to be delivered or presented.

b. request to appear in person before the committee in public session and

give testimony, at the expense of the concerned person.

Such statements or portions thereof that are relevant and germane to the
subject of the investigation may, at the conclusion of the testimony of the
witness, and upon the approval by a majority vote of the Members of the
committee, a quorum being present, be inserted in to the official transcript
of the proceedings.
A witness shall be allowed to request for and be granted postponement of
the appearance before the committee or sub-committee on grounds that
render such witness physically unable to attend the inquiry or
investigation: Provided, That the fact of physical inability to attend the
inquiry or investigation is supported by appropriate medical or other
certification as may be required by We committee or sub-committee,
and: Provided further, That no witness shall be granted more than two (2)
postponements of appearance before the committee without justifiable
cause.
Section 10. Rights and Duties of Persons Affected by Hearing.
Where applicable, any person named in a public hearing or in the released
record of testimonies given in executive sessions, who has not been
previously so names shall, within a reasonable time thereafter, be notified
of such fact by registered letter, return receipt requested, to the address of
such person last known to the committee. The notice shall include:
a. a statement that the person has been so named;
b. date and piece of hearing where the person was named;
c. name of the person who testified; and

a. communicate with the secretary of the committee, and/or

Any person testifying under the foregoing provisions shall be accorded the
same privileges as any other witness appearing before the committee, and
may be questioned concerning any matter relevant and germane to the
subject of the investigation.
Section 11. Contempt. The committee may punish any person for
contempt by a vote of two-thirds (2/3) of the Members present, there being
a quorum. The following shall be grounds for citing any person in contempt:
a. refusal without legal excuse to obey summons;
b. refusal to be sworn or placed under affirmation;
c. refusal to answer any relevant inquiry;
d. refusal to produce any books, papers, documents or records that are
relevant to the inquiry and are in the possession of the concerned person; .
e. acting in a disrespectful manner towards any Member of the committee
or any misbehavior in the presence of the committee; or
f. undue interference in the conduct of proceedings during meetings.
Contempt of the committee shall be deemed contempt of the House. The
person cited in this section may, upon order of the committee, be detained
in such place as the Chairperson or acting Chairperson may designate.

Section 12. Penalty. By a vote of two-thirds (2/3) of the Members

present, there being a quorum, those cited under Section 11, paragraphs
(e) and (f) shall be detained for a period not exceeding ten (10) days in a
place designated by the Chairperson or Acting Chairperson under the
custody of the Sergeants-Arms.
Section 13. Appearance of Counsel. The person at whose instance the
inquiry was initiated may be represented by counsel.
A witness shall be informed by the committee or sub-committee that he/she
may be represented by counsel When informed by a witness of his/her
desire to be represented by counsel or when such witness requests to be
represented by counsel, the committee or sub-committee may provide
a counsel de oficio or allow such witness to choose own counsel and be
assisted by the same.
The participation of counsel for the witness during the hearing and while
the witness is testifying shall be limited to advising on the legal rights of
said witness.
Counsel for a witness shall conduct oneself in a professional manner and
shall observe proper decorum. Otherwise, upon a majority vote of the
Members present, there being a quorum, such counsel shall be subject to
contempt or to such other disciplinary action that may include censure and
removal from the room where the hearing is being conducted.
A counsel ordered removed from the room where the hearing is being
conducted may, upon the counsels request, be allowed to remain in the
room as an observer. The counsel shall sit in the place reserved for the
general public and shall have no participation in the proceedings.
In cases where a counsel for a witness is ordered removed from the room,
the witness shall be given reasonable time as may be determined by the
committee to secure the services of another counsel Should the witness
deliberately or capriciously fail or refuse to obtain the services of another
counsel, a counsel de officio may be provided to the witness by the
committee within a reasonable time. Thereafter, the hearing shall continue
and the testimony of such witness shall be heard.
Section 14. Safekeeping and Release of Record of Testimonies of
Witnesses. The testimony of witnesses shall be recorded verbatim.

Records of testimonies given in executive sessions shall be placed in the

custody of the Secretary General who shall ensure their preservation and
confidentiality.
A witness or the counsel of such witness, may obtain transcripts of any
public testimony of witnesses from the secretary of the committee at the
expense of the witness and upon written request duly approved by the
committee chairperson,
No committee report, an excerpt or summary statement of the contents
thereof, or any publication related thereto, shall be released by any
Member of the committee and its secretariat staff prior to the inclusion of
the report in the Calendar of Business.
Section 15. Termination of Inquiry. The committee shall terminate an
inquiry, and submit a report thereon within sixty (60) calendar days from
the date of commencement. The inquiry commences on the date of:
a. referral of the privilege speech, petition or information to the pertinent
committee; or
b. adoption of resolution directing or authorizing the conduct of an inquiry.
Section 16. Report of Committee. The report shall contain the findings
of the committee on the subject matter of the inquiry, the grounds on which
its findings are based and its recommendations, if any. The report shall be
approved by a majority vote of the Members present, there being a
quorum. Members who vote against the approval of the report and who do
not sign the majority report may make concurring or dissenting opinions.
The report, together with any concurring and dissenting opinion, shall be
filed with the Secretary General who shall include the same in the Order of
Business within three (3) days from receipt thereof.
In ease of joint inquiry, the committees concerned shall be jointly
responsible for submitting the report to the House on the measure referred
to them for consideration. The first committee mentioned in the joint
referral shall be the lead committee and shall be principally responsible for
preparing the report to the House: Provided, That the committees may
decide to designate which committee among them to prepare the report.

Section 17. Plenary Action on the Report. The report, upon inclusion
in the Order of Business, shall be referred to the Committee on Rules for
appropriate action. The Committee on Rules shall, thereafter, include the
report in the Calendar of Business.
Upon inclusion of the report in the Calendar of Business, the Plenary may
approve or adopt, disapprove or reject, in whole or in part, the report and
its recommendation(s) or commit it to the archives.
Section 18. Internal Rules. The committee tasked to conduct an inquiry
may adopt internal rules of procedure: Provided, That these rules are
consistent with the Rules of the house and to these rules.

Section 19. Rules of Procedure and Evidence. The Rules of Court

shall be suppletory to these rules.
Section 20. Effectivity. These Rules shall take effect seven (7) days
after publication in two (2) newspapers of general circulation.
Adopted, 24 July 2013