November 12, 2025 | 5:16pm
MANILA, Philippines — Several members of the National Unity Party (NUP) in the House of Representatives have filed a bill seeking to convene a constitutional convention to amend what they described as vague provisions in the 1987 Constitution by July 2026.
In the explanatory note of House Bill 5870, the measure’s 22 authors said the 1987 Constitution contains “ambiguities and procedural lapses,” including “outdated provisions” that have “created confusion and weakened institutional accountability.”
They clarified that the proposed amendments and revisions are not intended to overhaul the Constitution but to “correct its errors” and “fulfill” its intention by completing the project with greater clarity and coherence.
Among the provisions the lawmakers flagged was the rule on impeachment proceedings, which Article XI, Section 3(4) of the Constitution states “shall forthwith proceed.” They cited the case of Vice President Sara Duterte, whose impeachment trial in the Senate never took place even months after the House impeached her.
The bill’s authors said the “partisan dispute” surrounding Duterte’s impeachment has led lawmakers and experts to interpret the term “forthwith” differently, which they believe “undermines constitutional accountability.”
It ended up with the Supreme Court voiding the impeachment altogether based on due process violations and the one-year bar rule. The Senate eventually voted to archive the articles of impeachment, even though the high court’s ruling is still pending a final ruling due to the filed motion for reconsideration.
Article VII, Section 19 and Article VI, Section 28(4) were also contested for failing to clearly specify whether Congress should decide on tax exemption laws and presidential amnesty as separate chambers or together.
“A Constitution that lacks textual precision ceases to serve as a reliable guide for government action. It becomes vulnerable to manipulation and incapable of protecting the rule of law,” the explanatory note read.
Constitutional changes in the Philippines can be made through a constitutional convention, a constituent assembly, or a people’s initiative, differing mainly in how amendments are proposed and who votes on them.
Under a convention, as the NUP proposes, two-thirds of Congress must approve, and 150 delegates elected by the public must review and propose amendments. A constituent assembly requires three-fourths of all lawmakers’ approval, while a people’s initiative needs signatures from at least 12% of registered voters.
Several resolutions have already been filed seeking other amendments to the Constitution. Rep. Alfredo Garbin and Rep. Richard Gomez have proposed technical changes to provisions referring to the country’s economy and national territory.
Another resolution, filed by leaders of the House majority bloc in September, seeks to lower the age requirement for Filipinos running for president, vice president, and senator, aiming to encourage more young citizens to participate in nation-building.
The House Committee on Constitutional Amendments said on Wednesday, November 12, that a whole-day hearing will be held on December 3 to fast-track discussions on whether a constitutional convention or assembly should be held to hear the proposed amendments to the 1987 Constitution.