Documente Academic
Documente Profesional
Documente Cultură
In Biac-na-bato on the first day of the month of November of the year one thousand eight
hundred and ninety-seven, the Representatives of the people of the Philippine Islands,
assembled for the purpose of modifying the Constitution of this Republic of the Philippines,
drawn up and proclaimed in the town of Naic. province of Cavite, on the twenty-second of
March of this year, in accordance with the provisions of Decree No. 29 of current year after a
long discussion, [the Representatives] have unanimously agreed upon the following:
The separation of the Philippines from the Spanish monarchy and their formation into an
independent state with its own government called the Philippine Republic has been the end
sought by the Revolution in the existing war, begun on the 24th of August, 1896; and
therefore, in its name and by the power delegated by the Filipino people, interpreting faithfully
their desires and ambitions, we, the representatives of the Revolution, in a meeting at Biac-
na-bato, Nov. 1st. 1897, unanimously adopt the following articles for the Constitution of the
State:
ARTICLE I. The supreme government of the Republic shall be vested in a Supreme Council,
composed of a President, a Vice-President and four Secretaries, for the conduct of our
Foreign Relations, of War, of the Interior, and of the Treasury.
ARTICLE II. The powers of the Supreme Council of the government shall be:
1st. To adopt measures for maintaining and developing its existence, issuing such orders
as it believes adequate for the preservation and security of the civil and political life of the
nation.
2nd. To impose and collect taxes, to issue foreign and domestic loans, when necessary,
and to issue paper money, to coin money and to appropriate the funds collected to the
purposes required by the several branches of the State.
3rd. To authorize privateering and issue letters of marque and reprisal, to raise and
organize troops and to maintain them, to ratify treaties, and to make a treaty of peace with
Spain , with the ratification of the Assembly of Representatives.
4th. To try as a judicial body, should they think necessary, the President or any of the
members of the Council, who should be accused of crimes, cognizance of which appertains
to the Judicial Power.
5th. To have the right of supervision and supreme direction of military operations, when
they believe it to be necessary for the consummation of high political ends. To approve,
reform or modify the Regulations and orders for the Army, prepared by the Captain-General
of the Army; to confer grades and promotions, from that of first lieuten[a]nt and to confer
honors and rewards granted for services in war, at the recommendation of the said Captain-
General of the Army.
ARTICLE III. The Vice-President shall fill ad interim the office of President in case of
vacancy.
ARTICLE IV. For each Secretary there shall be a Sub-Secretary, who shall aid in the
dispatch of business and shall in case a vacancy-occurs fill ad interim the place of such
Secretary. He shall have while so acting a vote in the Council of Government.
ARTICLE VI. The President, Vice-President, Secretary and Sub-Secretary shall be more
than twenty-three years of age.
ARTICLE VII. The basis of every election and appointment to any office in the Republic
shall be aptitude for the discharge of the office conferred.
ARTICLE X. The executive power shall be vested in the President, or in his absence in the
Vice-President, and shall have these powers: To approve and promulgate the acts of the
Supreme Council of the Government; To provide for their execution within the period of nine
days: To issue decrees, rules or instructions for their execution: To receive ambassadors and
to execute treaties.
ARTICLE XI. In case of definite vacancies, in the office of President, Vice-President, and
Secretaries, by death, resignation or other legal causes, the Assembly of Representatives
shall meet for the election of others to fill the vacant offices.
ARTICLE XII. Each Secretary shall have a vote in the passage of all resolutions and
measures of whatever kind, and shall be able to take part in the deliberations thereon.
ARTICLE XIII. The Secretaries shall have the right to choose and nominate their own
assistants and other officials of their respective departments.
ARTICLE XIV. The Secretary of Foreign Affairs shall have charge of: All correspondence
with foreign nations regarding treaties and agreements of all kinds; appointment of
Representatives to said nations, issuing instructions for and authorizing the expenses of such
officials, as by act of the Council of Government reside in foreign parts, and preparation of
passports for foreign lands.
ARTICLE XV. The Secretary of the Interior shall be charged with: Collection of all statistics
concerning the Republic; opening of roads and bridges; the advancement of agriculture,
industry, commerce, art, professions and manufactures, public instruction and posts, depots
of cattle and horses for the use of the Revolution: establishment of police for the protection
or security of public order, and for the preservation of the liberties and individual rights
established by this Constitution, and the custody of the property of the State.
ARTICLE XVI. The Secretary of War is in charge of all military correspondence; of the
increase and decrease, of the organization and instruction of the army; is head of the staff, is
in charge of enlistment and of providing clothing, hospitals, rations and ordnance.
ARTICLE XVII. The Secretary of the Treasury shall have under his charge all receipts and
payments of the Treasury, making collections and payments in accordance with the
regulations and decrees issued by the Council of Government; coining of money and
issuance of paper money; the public debt; administration of the property of the State, and the
further duties pertaining to the Treasury Department.
ARTICLE XVIII. The Secretaries shall have charge of the drafting of all laws,
correspondence, regulations and decrees appertaining to their respective offices.
ARTICLE XIX. The Captain-General of the Army shall have command of all the armed
troops in the towns, forts or detachments; the direction of the operations of war, except in the
case reserved for the Council of Government, as set forth in Article 2, No. 5, and shall give
such orders as he deems necessary for the discipline and safety of the troops.
ARTICLE XXI. Each province of the Philippines may have a representative delegate
elected by universal suffrage , who shall represent it in the Assembly.
ARTICLE XXII. Religious liberty, the right of association, the freedom of education , the
freedom of the press , as well as freedom in the exercise of all classes of professions, arts,
trades and industries are established.
ARTICLE XXIII. Every Filipino shall have the right to direct petitions or present
remonstrances of any import whatsoever, in person or through his representative, to the
Council of Government of the Republic.
ARTICLE XXIV. No person, whatever may be his nationality, shall be imprisoned or held
except by virtue of an order issued by a competent court, provided that this shall not apply to
crimes which concern the Revolution, the government or the Army.
ARTICLE XXV. Neither can any individual be deprived of his property or his domicile,
except by virtue of judgment passed by a court of competent authority.
ARTICLE XXVI. Every Filipino is obliged to serve the Revolution with his services, and
property to the extent of his capacity.
ARTICLE XXVII. The debts and other obligations contracted prior to the promulgation of
this Constitution by the Generals and other Chiefs of the Revolutionary Army, as well as their
notes and orders, are hereby recognized and ratified to-day, also all subsequent debts,
certified to by the government.
ARTICLE XXVIII. The officials of the Council of Government are entitled to the
consideration and respect due to their rank, and if they be constant in them they shall be
entitled to pensions according to regulations to be published on the subject.
ARTICLE XXIX. The Council of Government has the power to remove any official from
office if there be sufficient reason for it. Formal charges will be laid for the action of a court to
be called the “Sworn Tribunal.”
ARTICLE XXX. The Supreme Council of Grace and Justice to be established by the
Supreme Council of Government, shall have authority to make decisions and affirm or
disprove the sentences rendered by other courts, and to dictate rules for the administration
of justice.
ARTICLE XXXI. The Supreme Council of Grace and Justice shall be independent in its
functions and shall not be interfered with by any power or authority.
ARTICLE XXXII. Every official of the Republic shall render assistance to the others in the
discharge of his duties.
ARTICLE XXXIII. When the necessary Army is organized, a navy shall be created for the
protection of the coasts of the Philippine Archipelago and its seas; then a Secretary of the
Navy shall be appointed and the duties of his office shall be added to this Constitution.
ARTICLE XXXIV. This Constitution shall be in force here in the Philippines for the period
of two years from the date of its promulgation, in case that the Revolution shall not have
terminated within that time. Upon the expiration of said period, a session of the Assembly of
Representatives shall be called for a new Constitution and the election of a new Council of
Government and Representatives of the people.
As it has been thus decreed by the Representatives of the Filipino people, and in the name
of the Republic ordered by the Assembly thus constituted,—We, the undersigned, pledge with
our word and honor fulfillment of what is set forth in this Constitution at Biac-na-bato.
November 15, 1897.
President, Emilio Aguinaldo . Severino de las Alas . Pascual Alvarez. Mariano Llanera.
Mamerto Natividad. Isabelo Artacho. Vicente Lucban y Rilles. Melecio Carlos. Simeon
Tecson. Mariano Noriel. Baldomero Aguinaldo . Salvador Estrella. Pantaleon Garcia.
Escolastico Viela. Julian de la Cruz. Ciriaco Sartore. Jose Ignacio Paua . Agustin de la Rosa.
Celestino Aragon. Gregorio H. del Pilar . Andres Presbitero. Benito Natividad. Pedro Dungon.
Eduardo Llanera. Herminio Miguel. Deodato Manajan. Pedro Gualdes (?). Ambrosio de la
Cruz. Matias San Bno. Miguel Catahan. Clemente Valencia. Modesto Porciuncula. Claro
Fuelo (?). Emiliano Tecson. Benvenuto Ramirez. Francisco M. Soliman. Maximo Cabigting.
Ramon Tombo. Artemio Ricarte Vibora . Sinforoso de la Cruz. Agapito Bonson. Valentin Diaz.
Tomas Aquino Linares (?). Cipriano Pacheco. Manuel Tinio . Anastacio Francisco. Serviliano
Aquino. Wenceslao Viniegra. Doroteo Lopez. Vito Belarmino , Secretary. Antonio
Montenegro, Secretary. Teodoro Gonzalez, Secretary.
Endnotes:
1. A copy in Tagalog with paragraphs 28 and 33 omitted, and with some other discrepancies in
wording, but which is certified to as a true copy by Francisco Macabulos y Soliman, November 12,
1897, is on file in the Philippine Revolutionary Records (P.I.R.) folder 55, document number 6. A
Spanish translation is also printed on page 8, “La Politica de Espana en Filipinas”/ Wenceslao. E.
Retana, Vol. 8, 1898
2. The date of promulgation of the Constitution of the Biac na Bato in the original Spanish and
Tagalog versions is 1 November 1897.
Original Filipino Version
Sa Biaknabato ngayong unang araw ng buan ng Noviembre ng taong isang libo, walong
daan at siyam na puo’t pito; nagkatipon ang mga Taga Pamagitang bayan (Representantes)
nang Sangkapuluang Filipinas, upang mabago ang Kautusang halal (Constitucion) nitong
Republika de Filipinas, na napagsuri na at naipahayag na sa bayang Naik, Sakop ng
hokomang Cavite ng ikadalawang puo’t dalawa ng Marso nitong tumatakbong taon; at sa
pagtupad sa inilagda sa kautusan 29 at pagkatapos ng mahabang pagsusuri ay
pinagkaisanhan nang kalahatan ang mga talatang sumusunod:
IKASIAM NA UTOS. Ang mga tatag ng Sangunian ng Taga Pangasiwang bayan ay dapat
pagkayariang masunod ang buko at bibig ng karamihan at sa kanilang mga pulong dapat
umabuloy ang lahat ng kaniyang galawad.
IKALABING ISANG UTOS. Kung sakali’t alin man sa mga katungkulan ng Pangulong Taga
Pangasiwa (Presidente), ikalawang Taga Pangasiwa (Vice-Presidente) ang mga Kalihim
(Secretarios) ay mawalan ng gumanap gaya nanga kung mamatay, magpahalili o iba pang
bagay na nararapat dingin, ay dapat tipunin sa pulong ng mga Tagakalingang bayan
(Asamblea de Representantes) sa paglalagay at pagbubuko ng sukat gumanap na humalili
sa mga nasabing katungkulan.
IKALABING LIMANG UTOS. Ang Kalihim sa loob ng nasasakupan (Secretario del Interior)
ay ang pangangasiwaan: ang gumawa ng kabilangan ng lahat ng nasasakupan ng Republica,
ang pagbubukas ng mga daan sa loob at labas ng bayan mga tulay at iba’t ibang gagawin sa
pag-i-ingat at ikapagtitibay ng mga nasabing bagay, ang pagbibigay ginhawa at pagpapala
sa mga pagtatanim sa lupa (Agriculttura); sa paghahanap buhay (Industria); sa
pangangalakal (Comercio); mga Artes, oficios at manufacturas, ang pagtuturo sa bayan
(Instruccion Publica) sugong sulat (Correos) habilinan ng mga hayop at kabayo na gagamitin
nitong Paghihimagsik (Revolucion), pagkakalinga ng ikatatahimik ng mga bayanbayan at
gayon din naman ang pagpapaganap ng nau-ukol sa mga kalayaan at kaginhawahan ng isa’t
isa na ipinagkakaloob nitong Halal na Kautusan (Constitucion) at ang pag-i-ingat ng mga
kayamanan ng Bayan.
IKALABING SIYAM NA UTOS. Ang Pangulong Digma ng kawal (Capitan General del Ejercito)
siyang may lubos na kapangyarihan sa lahat ang kawal nabarilan at sandatahan na
namamalagi sa mga bayanbayan, nayon at pulutong; ang pamamahala sa mga labanan,
tangi ang nau-ukol na sarili sa Sangunian ng taga Pangasiwang bayan (Consejo Gobierno)
na natatala sa ikalawang utos sa ikalimang tagubilin; at siya rin naman ang magpapahayag
ng balang kautusan na inaakalang ikagagaling sa pagpapasunod, pagbibigay lakas at
pagpapasunod ng kawal.
IKADALAWANG PUO’T TATLONG UTOS. Ang lahat ng sakop na mga mamamayan ay may
kapahintulutang humingi o manaing ng sa ano pa mang bagay kahi’t pa kanya rin tunay o
isang kahalili kay sa harap ng Sangunian ng Taga Pangasiwaang bayan nitong Republica
(Consejo de Gobierno de la Republica).
IKADALAWANG PUO’T APAT NA UTOS. Ang alin man at sino kahit taga ibang bayan ay hindi
maibibilango o maaabala kaya kundi rin lamang sa isang kautusan na dapat ipagkaloob ng
tunay na Hokom, liban lamang kung sakali’t ang salang nagawa ay ang laban sa Bayan at sa
Hokbo.
IKADALAWANG PUO’T LIMANG UTOS. Tangi rin namang ipagbabawal na ang alin ma’t sino
ay hindi mababawian ng kaniyang paga-ari kahit taga ibang bayan kundi rin lamang ayon sa
pagtupad ng isang ganap na hatol ng Hokom na may kapangyarihan.
ENDNOTES:
ARTÍCULO II. Serán atribuciones del Consejo Supremo de Gobierno: I. Adoptar todas las
medidas encaminadas a sostener y desarrollar su existencia, dictando las disposiciones que
crea adecuadas para la conservación y seguridad de la vida civil y política de la Nación. II.
Imponer y percibir contribuciones, contraer empréstitos nacionales o extranjeros cuando
fuere preciso, emitir papel-moneda, acuñar moneda é invertir los fondos recaudados por
cualquier concepto con destino á las atenciones del Estado en sus diferentes ramos. III.
Autorizar el corso con la patente necesaria, declarar represalias, levantar y organizar tropas
y mantenerlas, ratificar tratados y celebrar tratado de paz con España, con ratificación de la
Asamblea de Representantes. IV. Someter al poder judicial, si lo estima oportuno, al
Presidente ó á cual quiera de los Miembros del Consejo, cuando fueren acusados por
infracciones, cuyo conocimiento corresponde al poder judicial y resolver toda clase de
reclamaciones que hiciere cualquier ciudadano, excepción hecha de la judicial. V. Tener la
intervención y dirección suprema de las operaciones militares, cuando crea necesario para
la consecución de altos fines políticos: aprobar, reformar o modificar los Bandos y
Ordenanzas del Ejército, que propusiere el General del Ejército, conferir los grados y
ascensos desde el de Primer Teniente en adelante y conceder honores y recompensas que
se obtuvieren por servicios de guerra a propuesta del mismo Capitán General del Ejército.
VI. Elegir y nombrar un Capitán General y un lugar-Teniente General, y VII. Ordenar la
convocación de la Asamblea de Representantes, cuando con arreglo á las prescripciones de
esta Constitución sea necesaria.
ARTÍCULO IV. Para cada Secretaría habrá un Subsecretario que auxiliará en el despacho
de los asuntos y sustituirá interinamente al Secretario respectivo en casos de vacantía,
teniendo entonces voz y voto en el Consejo de Gobierno.
ARTÍCULO IX. Los acuerdos del Consejo de Gobierno se resolverán por mayoría de votos
y en sus deliberaciones tomarán parte todos los miembros del mismo.
ARTÍCULO XII. Los Secretarios tendrán voz y voto en las deliberaciones de todos los
acuerdos de cualquier índole.
ARTÍCULO XVII. El Secretario de Hacienda tendrá á su cargo todos los ingresos y gastos
del Erario, cobrando é invirtiendo con sujeción a los Reglamentos y Decretos emanados de
los acuerdos del Consejo de Gobierno; acuñación de moneda, emisión de papel moneda y
la deuda pública, administración de los bienes del Estado y de los efectos y demás derechos
de la Hacienda.
ARTÍCULO XVIII. Los Secretarios se encargarán de la redacción de todos los despachos,
Leyes, Reglamentos y Decretos de su respectiva incumbencia.
ARTÍCULO XIX. El Capitán General del ejército tendrá el mando superior de todas las
tropas armadas existentes en los pueblos, plazas y destacamentos, la dirección de las
operaciones de guerra, salvo el caso reservando para el Consejo de Gobierno establecido
en el artículo II, número cinco, y dictará los bandos que juzgue necesarios para la disciplina
y seguridad de las tropas.
ARTÍCULO XXIII. Todos los filipinos tendrán derecho a dirigir peticiones ó presentar
reclamaciones de cualquier índole por sí ó por representación al Consejo de Gobierno de la
República.
ARTÍCULO XXIV. Ningún individuo sea cual fuere su nacionalidad, podrá ser preso ó
detenido sino en virtud de mandamiento fundado, expedido por tribunal competente a no ser
por delitos que afectan a la Revolución, al Gobierno y al ejército.
ARTÍCULO XXV. Tampoco podrá ser privado ningún individuo de sus bienes ó de su
domicilio, sino en virtud de sentencia firme.
ARTÍCULO XXVI. Todo filipino está obligado a servir a la Revolución con su persona é
intereses a medida de sus aptitudes.
ARTÍCULO XXXII. Esta Constitución regirá a Filipinas durante dos años a contar desde la
fecha de su promulgación si antes no terminare la guerra. Transcurrido este plazo, se
convocará la Asamblea de Representantes y podrá ser modificada o reformada esta
Constitución y se procederá á la elección del nuevo Consejo de Gobierno y á la clausura del
saliente.
Así lo han pactado los Representantes del pueblo filipino y en nombre de la República, lo
ordena la Asamblea Constituyente, prometiendo los concurrentes con la fe de su honor el
cumplimiento de cuanto se prescribe en la presente Constitución en Biak-na-bató a primero
de Noviembre de mil ochocientos noventa y siete. Presidente EMILIO AGUINALDO,
SEVERINO DE LAS ALAS, PASCUAL ALVAREZ, MARIANO LLANERA, MAMERTO
NATIVIDAD, ISABELO ARTACHO, VICENTE LUCBÁN RILLES, MELECIO CARLOS,
SIMÓN TECSON, MARIANO NORIEL, SALVADOR ESTRELLA, PANTALEÓN GARCÍA,
ESCOLÁSTICO VIOLA, JULIÁN DE LA CRUZ, CIRIACO SARTORE, JOSÉ YGNACIO,
AGUSTÍN DE LA ROSA, CELESTINO ARAGÓN, GREGORIO H. DEL PILAR, ANDRÉS
PRESBÍTERO, BENITO NATIVIDAD, PEDRO DUNGON, EDUARDO LLANERA, HERMINIO
MIGUEL, DEODATO MANAJAN, PEDRO GUALDES, AMBROSIO DE LA CRUZ, MIGUEL
CATAJAN, MATÍAS SANDORRA, MODESTO PORCIUNCULA, CLEMENTE VALENCIA,
EMILIANO TECSON, BEMBENUTO RAMÍREZ, FRANCISCO M. SOLIMÁN, MÁXIMO
KABIGTING, RAMÓN TOMBO, ARTEMIO RICARTE VÍVORA, SINFOROSO DE LA CRUZ,
AGAPITO BUSON, VALENTÍN DÍAZ, TOMÁS AGO SUZANO, CIPRIANO PACHECO,
MANUEL TINIO, SERVILIANO AQUINO, ANASTASIO FRANCISCO, DOROTEO LÓPEZ,
WENCESLAO VINIEGRA, Secretario VITO BELARMINO – Secretario TEODORO
GONZALES- Secretario ANTONIO MONTENEGRO.