The Politics Book

This book provides a handy compilation of the following basic Philippine political laws:

(1) the 1987 Philippine Constitution;

(2) the Local Government Code of 1991;

(3) the Administrative Code of 1987; and

(4) the Omnibus Election Code of the Philippines.

In addition, this book includes the following:

(1) the Universal Declaration of Human Rights; and

(2) the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights.

Two things inspired the publication of this book (which is part of a series of books on basic Philippine laws).

First, lawyers often find themselves in meetings, court hearings, or other situations where they need to make a quick check of a legal provision. With this compilation being available in electronic book format, lawyers will have easy access to basic Philippine laws wherever they may be (through their notebook computers, mobile phones, and electronic reading devices). Law students will also find this compilation useful as it includes the major political laws covered by the Philippine bar examinations.

Second, we have seen Philippine laws published online and in traditional form; we were surprised with how several provisions of law, as published, differ from how they should actually read. A case in point is Batas Pambansa Blg. 881, otherwise known as the Omnibus Election Code of the Philippines. For example, in several online versions, including the version found at the website of the Commission on Elections (COMELEC)(as last examined on February 20, 2011), Section 57 reads as follows:

SEC. 57. Measures to ensure enforcement. — For the effective enforcement of the provisions of this Code, the Commission is further vested and charged with the following powers, duties and responsibilities:

1. To issue search warrants after examination under oath or affirmation of the complainant and the witnesses

However, Section 57, as published in the Official Gazette, should read as follows:

SEC. 57. Measures to ensure enforcement. — For the effective enforcement of the provisions of this Code, the Commission is further vested and charged with the following powers, duties and responsibilities:

1. To issue search warrants after examination under oath or affirmation of the complainant and the witnesses he may produce and particularly describing the place to be searched, the things to be seized, and which power shall be exercised during the election period only (Sec. 3, Art. IV, Const.)

The portion beginning with "he may produce" is missing from several online versions.

In this compilation, we exerted effort to faithfully reproduce the law. However, for your convenience, we added appropriate notes, in italics and enclosed in parenthesis, after certain provisions to indicate that such provisions have been amended or repealed by a later law.