I

LACONICO, ARCIE

II. INTRODUCTION
The 1987 constitution of the Philippines is the supreme law of the land being
fundamental and essential, the Filipino people shall understand the meaning of the
provisions and statutes that the code expressed.
The history of the 1987 Constitution began on 11 April 1899, the date when the
Treaty of Paris between the United and Spain of 10 December 1898 became effective upon
the exchange of instruments of ratification of both countries. But the sources of the 1987
Constitution are McKinley's Instructions to the Second Philippine Commission; Spooner
Amendment; Philippine Bill of 1902; Jones Law of 1916, otherwise known as the Philippine
Autonomy Act; 1935 Constitution; 1973 Constitution and Freedom Constitution of 1986 and
its implementing orders.
With the use of Visible Threads (VT Docs), the result of the article provisions has long
sentences, passive language and passive voices.

III. READABILITY REPORT

 IV. QUALITY ANALYSIS

V. ANALYSIS, INTERPRETATION, IMPLICATION, RECOMMENDATIONS

A. Long Sentences
There are forty-four long sentences in Articles X and XI of the 1987 Constitution of
the Philippines.
B. Passive Sentences
Thirty-eight passive sentences were used in writing of our supreme fundamental
law.
C. Readability
A score of 31/100 was attained in the readability of the document.
D. Grade Level
A grade level of at least 13.3 is required for one to understand the contents of the
Constitution.
 VI. CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION
Being analyzed by the web application Visible Threads, Articles 10 and 11 of the 1987
Philippine Constitution contain a total of 2514 words in the English language. It contains 44
long sentences which is almost 32.35% of the two articles.
It is highly recommended that the long sentences be separate into parts, split them or
be formatted into list or dot pointed sentences.
Consequently, both articles have only eight sentences containing passive voices.
However, the words “may be removed” found in Article 11, Section 2, “may be filed” found in
Section 2 of the same article, “be known” of section 5 Article 11, “be appointed” of the same
section , and some similar phrases can be rephrased into an active voice.
The score as for the grade level is 13.3. It is two points better than the average reading
level among US adults. However, it can still be improved since the readability is only at 31
points. According to VT Docs, 100 is the top mark and at least 50 points must be achieved.
In summary, it is recommended to fix the passive languages, hidden verbs, long words
and long sentences which are found in both articles.

ANNEX – VT ANNOTATED REPORT

ARTICLE X
LOCAL GOVERNMENT

GENERAL PROVISIONS

Section 1. The territorial and political subdivisions of the Republic of the Philippines are
the provinces, cities, municipalities, and barangays. There shall be autonomous regions in
Muslim Mindanao and the Cordilleras as hereinafter provided.

Section 2. The territorial and political subdivisions shall enjoy local autonomy.

Section 3. The Congress shall enact a local government code which shall provide for a more
responsive and accountable local government structure instituted through a system of
decentralization with effective mechanisms of recall, initiative, and referendum, allocate
among the different local government units their powers, responsibilities, and resources,
and provide for the qualifications, election, appointment and removal, term, salaries,
powers and functions and duties of local officials, and all other matters relating to the
organization and operation of the local units.
Section 4. The President of the Philippines shall exercise general supervision over local
governments. Provinces with respect to component cities and municipalities, and cities and
municipalities with respect to component barangays, shall ensure that the acts of their
component units are within the scope of their prescribed powers and functions.

Section 5. Each local government unit shall have the power to create its own sources of
revenues and to levy taxes, fees and charges subject to such guidelines and limitations as
the Congress may provide, consistent with the basic policy of local autonomy. Such taxes,
fees, and charges shall accrue exclusively to the local governments.

Section 6. Local government units shall have a just share, as determined by law, in the
national taxes which shall be automatically released to them.

Section 7. Local governments shall be entitled to an equitable share in the proceeds of the
utilization and development of the national wealth within their respective areas, in the
manner provided by law, including sharing the same with the inhabitants by way of direct
benefits.

Section 8. The term of office of elective local officials, except barangay officials, which shall
be determined by law, shall be three years and no such official shall serve for more than
three consecutive terms. Voluntary renunciation of the office for any length of time shall
not be considered as an interruption in the continuity of his service for the full term for
which he was elected.

Section 9. Legislative bodies of local governments shall have sectoral representation as may
be prescribed by law.

Section 10. No province, city, municipality, or barangay may be created, divided, merged,
abolished, or its boundary substantially altered, except in accordance with the criteria
established in the local government code and subject to approval by a majority of the votes
cast in a plebiscite in the political units directly affected.
Section 11. The Congress may, by law, create special metropolitan political subdivisions,
subject to a plebiscite as set forth in Section 10 hereof. The component cities and
municipalities shall retain their basic autonomy and shall be entitled to their own local
executive and legislative assemblies. The jurisdiction of the metropolitan authority that will
thereby be created shall be limited to basic services requiring coordination.

Section 12. Cities that are highly urbanized, as determined by law, and component cities
whose charters prohibit their voters from voting for provincial elective officials, shall be
independent of the province. The voters of component cities within a province, whose
charters contain no such prohibition, shall not be deprived of their right to vote for elective
provincial officials.

Section 13. Local government units may group themselves, consolidate or coordinate their
efforts, services, and resources for purposes commonly beneficial to them in accordance
with law.

Section 14. The President shall provide for regional development councils or other similar
bodies composed of local government officials, regional heads of departments and other
government offices, and representatives from non-governmental organizations within the
regions for purposes of administrative decentralization to strengthen the autonomy of the
units therein and to accelerate the economic and social growth and development of the
units in the region.

AUTONOMOUS REGIONS

Section 15. There shall be created autonomous regions in Muslim Mindanao and in the
Cordilleras consisting of provinces, cities, municipalities, and geographical areas sharing
common and distinctive historical and cultural heritage, economic and social structures,
and other relevant characteristics within the framework of this Constitution and the
national sovereignty as well as territorial integrity of the Republic of the Philippines.

Section 16. The President shall exercise general supervision over autonomous regions to
ensure that laws are faithfully executed.
Section 17. All powers, functions, and responsibilities not granted by this Constitution or by
law to the autonomous regions shall be vested in the National Government.

Section 18. The Congress shall enact an organic act for each autonomous region with the
assistance and participation of the regional consultative commission composed of
representatives appointed by the President from a list of nominees from multi-sectoral
bodies. The organic act shall define the basic structure of government for the region
consisting of the executive department and legislative assembly, both of which shall be
elective and representative of the constituent political units. The organic acts shall likewise
provide for special courts with personal, family, and property law jurisdiction consistent
with the provisions of this Constitution and national laws.

The creation of the autonomous region shall be effective when approved by majority of the
votes cast by the constituent units in a plebiscite called for the purpose, provided that only
provinces, cities, and geographic areas voting favorably in such plebiscite shall be included
in the autonomous region.

Section 19. The first Congress elected under this Constitution shall, within eighteen months
from the time of organization of both Houses, pass the organic acts for the autonomous
regions in Muslim Mindanao and the Cordilleras.

Section 20. Within its territorial jurisdiction and subject to the provisions of this
Constitution and national laws, the organic act of autonomous regions shall provide for
legislative powers over:

Administrative organization;
Creation of sources of revenues;
Ancestral domain and natural resources;
Personal, family, and property relations;
Regional urban and rural planning development;
Economic, social, and tourism development;
Educational policies;
Preservation and development of the cultural heritage; and
Such other matters as may be authorized by law for the promotion of the general welfare of
the people of the region.
Section 21. The preservation of peace and order within the regions shall be the
responsibility of the local police agencies which shall be organized, maintained, supervised,
and utilized in accordance with applicable laws. The defense and security of the regions
shall be the responsibility of the National Government.

ARTICLE XI
ACCOUNTABILITY OF PUBLIC OFFICERS

Section 1. Public office is a public trust. Public officers and employees must, at all times, be
accountable to the people, serve them with utmost responsibility, integrity, loyalty, and
efficiency; act with patriotism and justice, and lead modest lives.

Section 2. The President, the Vice-President, the Members of the Supreme Court, the
Members of the Constitutional Commissions, and the Ombudsman may be removed from
office on impeachment for, and conviction of, culpable violation of the Constitution,
treason, bribery, graft and corruption, other high crimes, or betrayal of public trust. All
other public officers and employees may be removed from office as provided by law, but
not by impeachment.

Section 3.

The House of Representatives shall have the exclusive power to initiate all cases of
impeachment.

A verified complaint for impeachment may be filed by any Member of the House of
Representatives or by any citizen upon a resolution or endorsement by any Member
thereof, which shall be included in the Order of Business within ten session days, and
referred to the proper Committee within three session days thereafter. The Committee,
after hearing, and by a majority vote of all its Members, shall submit its report to the House
within sixty session days from such referral, together with the corresponding resolution.
The resolution shall be calendared for consideration by the House within ten session days
from receipt thereof.

A vote of at least one-third of all the Members of the House shall be necessary either to
affirm a favorable resolution with the Articles of Impeachment of the Committee, or
override its contrary resolution. The vote of each Member shall be recorded.

In case the verified complaint or resolution of impeachment is filed by at least one-third of

all the Members of the House, the same shall constitute the Articles of Impeachment, and
trial by the Senate shall forthwith proceed.

No impeachment proceedings shall be initiated against the same official more than once
within a period of one year.

The Senate shall have the sole power to try and decide all cases of impeachment. When
sitting for that purpose, the Senators shall be on oath or affirmation. When the President of
the Philippines is on trial, the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court shall preside, but shall not
vote. No person shall be convicted without the concurrence of two-thirds of all the
Members of the Senate.

Judgment in cases of impeachment shall not extend further than removal from office and
disqualification to hold any office under the Republic of the Philippines, but the party
convicted shall nevertheless be liable and subject to prosecution, trial, and punishment,
according to law.

The Congress shall promulgate its rules on impeachment to effectively carry out the
purpose of this section.

Section 4. The present anti-graft court known as the Sandiganbayan shall continue to
function and exercise its jurisdiction as now or hereafter may be provided by law.

Section 5. There is hereby created the independent Office of the Ombudsman, composed of
the Ombudsman to be known as Tanodbayan, one overall Deputy and at least one Deputy
each for Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao. A separate Deputy for the military establishment
may likewise be appointed.

Section 6. The officials and employees of the Office of the Ombudsman, other than the
Deputies, shall be appointed by the Ombudsman, according to the Civil Service Law.

Section 7. The existing Tanodbayan shall hereafter be known as the Office of the Special
Prosecutor. It shall continue to function and exercise its powers as now or hereafter may be
provided by law, except those conferred on the Office of the Ombudsman created under
this Constitution.

Section 8. The Ombudsman and his Deputies shall be natural-born citizens of the
Philippines, and at the time of their appointment, at least forty years old, of recognized
probity and independence, and members of the Philippine Bar, and must not have been
candidates for any elective office in the immediately preceding election. The Ombudsman
must have, for ten years or more, been a judge or engaged in the practice of law in the
Philippines.

During their tenure, they shall be subject to the same disqualifications and prohibitions as
provided for in Section 2 of Article 1X-A of this Constitution.

Section 9. The Ombudsman and his Deputies shall be appointed by the President from a list
of at least six nominees prepared by the Judicial and Bar Council, and from a list of three
nominees for every vacancy thereafter. Such appointments shall require no confirmation.
All vacancies shall be filled within three months after they occur.

Section 10. The Ombudsman and his Deputies shall have the rank of Chairman and
Members, respectively, of the Constitutional Commissions, and they shall receive the same
salary which shall not be decreased during their term of office.

Section 11. The Ombudsman and his Deputies shall serve for a term of seven years without
reappointment. They shall not be qualified to run for any office in the election immediately
succeeding their cessation from office.
Section 12. The Ombudsman and his Deputies, as protectors of the people, shall act
promptly on complaints filed in any form or manner against public officials or employees of
the Government, or any subdivision, agency or instrumentality thereof, including
government-owned or controlled corporations, and shall, in appropriate cases, notify the
complainants of the action taken and the result thereof.

Section 13. The Office of the Ombudsman shall have the following powers, functions, and
duties:

Investigate on its own, or on complaint by any person, any act or omission of any public
official, employee, office or agency, when such act or omission appears to be illegal, unjust,
improper, or inefficient.

Direct, upon complaint or at its own instance, any public official or employee of the
Government, or any subdivision, agency or instrumentality thereof, as well as of any
government-owned or controlled corporation with original charter, to perform and
expedite any act or duty required by law, or to stop, prevent, and correct any abuse or
impropriety in the performance of duties.

Direct the officer concerned to take appropriate action against a public official or employee
at fault, and recommend his removal, suspension, demotion, fine, censure, or prosecution,
and ensure compliance therewith.

Direct the officer concerned, in any appropriate case, and subject to such limitations as may
be provided by law, to furnish it with copies of documents relating to contracts or
transactions entered into by his office involving the disbursement or use of public funds or
properties, and report any irregularity to the Commission on Audit for appropriate action.

Request any government agency for assistance and information necessary in the discharge
of its responsibilities, and to examine, if necessary, pertinent records and documents.

Publicize matters covered by its investigation when circumstances so warrant and with
due prudence.
Determine the causes of inefficiency, red tape, mismanagement, fraud, and corruption in
the Government and make recommendations for their elimination and the observance of
high standards of ethics and efficiency.

Promulgate its rules of procedure and exercise such other powers or perform such
functions or duties as may be provided by law.

Section 14. The Office of the Ombudsman shall enjoy fiscal autonomy. Its approved annual
appropriations shall be automatically and regularly released.

Section 15. The right of the State to recover properties unlawfully acquired by public
officials or employees, from them or from their nominees or transferees, shall not be
barred by prescription, laches, or estoppel.

Section 16. No loan, guaranty, or other form of financial accommodation for any business
purpose may be granted, directly or indirectly, by any government-owned or controlled
bank or financial institution to the President, the Vice-President, the Members of the
Cabinet, the Congress, the Supreme Court, and the Constitutional Commissions, the
Ombudsman, or to any firm or entity in which they have controlling interest, during their
tenure.

Section 17. A public officer or employee shall, upon assumption of office and as often
thereafter as may be required by law, submit a declaration under oath of his assets,
liabilities, and net worth. In the case of the President, the Vice-President, the Members of
the Cabinet, the Congress, the Supreme Court, the Constitutional Commissions and other
constitutional offices, and officers of the armed forces with general or flag rank, the
declaration shall be disclosed to the public in the manner provided by law.

Section 18. Public officers and employees owe the State and this Constitution allegiance at
all times and any public officer or employee who seeks to change his citizenship or acquire
the status of an immigrant of another country during his tenure shall be dealt with by law.