HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES:

RECEIVED

SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS pate: 30 JUN 2016

) a
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES ) qe DIT
First Regular Session ) By:

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,
REGISTRATION UNIT

“Introduced by Representative Maximo B. RodrlubS, XD INDIEX SERVICE

House Bill No. 81
EXPLANATORY NOTE

Since the birth of the Filipino Nation, it has always been the firm desire of the
sovereign Filipino people to work toward the establishment of a just, free, progressive and
democratic constitutional order. For the fulfilment of such firm desire, the Filipino people
have in the past tasked two (2) constitutional conventions and one (1) constitutional
commission with proposing a new charter truly reflective of the ideals and aspirations of the
Filipino people.

Thus, on July 10, 1934, election of delegates to a constitutional convention pursuant
to the Philippine Independence Act of 1934 (Tydings-McDuffie Law of 1934) was held
resulting in the election of 202 delegates. The 1934 Convention opened its session on July
30, 1934. After deliberations of a little over seven (7) months, the convention voted and
approved on February 8, 1935 the final draft of the proposed new Constitution. Submitted to
the U.S. President pursuant to specific provision in the Tydings-McDuffie Act, U.S. President
Franklin D. Roosevelt approved the Consfitution on March 23, 1936. In a plebiscite held on
May 14, 1935, the Filipino people ratified by an overwhelming majority of all the votes cast
by the electorate what became known as the 1935 Constitution of the Philippines.

Subsequently, seeing the need to attune the Constitution to the changing needs and
poitical realities of the time, Congress passed Resolution No. 2 on March 18, 1967, which
was amended by Resolution No. 4 adopted on June 17, 1969, calling a convention to
propose amendments to the Constitution of the Philippines. Said Resolution No. 2, as
amended, was implemented by Republic Act No. 6132 approved on August 24, 1970,
pursuant to the provisions of which three hundred twenty six (326) delegates — with a
prescribed maximum campaign expenditure of not exceeding thirty two thousand pesos
(P32,000.00) per candidate — were elected on November 10 1970. The 1971 Convention
opened its session on June 1, 1971. After deliberations lasting eighteen (18) months with
each delegate entitled to a per diem of one hundred pesos (P100.00) for every day of
attendance in the Convention or any of its committees and to the necessary traveling
expenses to and from his residence when attending the sessions of the Convention or of its
committees and twelve million pesos (P12,000,000.00) appropriated budget for the operating
expenses of said convention plus seventeen million pesos (P17,000,000.00) appropriated
budget for the holding of the election of delegates to the said convention — with the
supervening issuance by then President Ferdinand E. Marcos of Proclamation No. 1081
placing the entire Philippines under Martial Law — the convention voted and approved on
November 29, 1972 the final draft of the proposed new Constitution. Submitted by then
President Marcos to a plebiscite during the period comprised between January 10 and
January 15, 1973 by the so-called Citizens’ Assemblies, the President Marcos issued
Proclamation No. 1102 dated January 17, 1973 announcing the ratification by the Filipino
people by an overwhelming majority of the votes cast by the members of all the Citizens’
Assemblies throughout the Philippines what became known as the 1973 Constitution. The
Supreme Court, in the case of Javeliana vs. Executive Secretary (No. L-36142, March 31,
1973) which assailed the validity of the ratification of the 1973 Constitution, declared “no


further judicial obstacle to the new Constitution being considered in forced and effect” in the
absence of “not enough votes to declare that the new Constitution is not in force”

Finally, folowing the successful people power revolution in 1986 and the
promulgation of Proclamation No. 3 by then President Corazon C. Aquino instituting the
Freedom Constitution under a revolutionary government and creating under Article V thereof
a constitutional commission tasked with proposing a new charter, then President Corazon C.
Aquino subsequently promulgated Proclamation No. 9 dated April 23, 1986 instituting the
law governing the Constitutional Commission of 1986. Forty eight (48) national, regional and
sectoral representatives were appointed by then President Aquino to the commission. The
1986 Commission opened its session on June 2, 1986 and after deliberations of a little over
four (4) months with each commissioner entitled to a per diem of five hundred pesos
(P500.00) for every day of attendance in the Commission or any of its committees and to the
necessary traveling expenses to and from his residence when attending the sessions of the
Commission or of its committees in addition to an amount for the office and staff expenses of
its members and twenty million pesos (P20,000,000.00) appropriated budget for the
operating expenses of said convention, the Commission voted and approved on October 12
1986 the final draft of the proposed new constitution. In a plebiscite held on February 2
1987, the Filipino people ratified by an overwhelming majority of all the votes cast by the
electorate what became known as the 1987 Constitution of the Philippines.

The Constitution as the fundamental law of the land must be adaptive to present
situations in order for it to truly represent the nation and enhance the well-being of its people.
With this in mind, it is worthy to note that our 1987 Constitution contains provisions that have
been out dated and are in need of amendments to make them conform to the present
situation and make the Philippines globally competitive. Many different business
organizations and research groups have identified provisions in the 1987 Constitution that
need to be amended to address the needs of the citizenry in times where change is very
Vital. These amendments include both economic and political amendments to the 1987
Constitution

The country's high unemployment rate is a clear and compelling reason to ease the
economic restrictions in the Constitution especially now that the country has had good
growth, low inflation and good credit ratings. Also, we have one of the lowest, if not the
lowest foreign direct investments in Southeast Asia and we could be overtaken by Cambodia
and Myanmar if we do not act and remain paralyzed by unfounded fears on amending the
Constitution, We need an investment revolution if we want true and inclusive growth,

Now is the perfect time to push for a Constitutional Convention given that the
businessmen and the people have full trust and confidence in President Rodrigo Duterte.
The people can see the President as someone who will pursue Charter change without any
hidden agenda. In the light of expanding global demands and the present economic and
political realities, there is a most urgent need to address economic and political areas which
have been widely recognized as prime sources of the nation’s difficulties. Thus, the
Constitutional Convention created under this Act shall propose amendments to the 1987
Constitution including, but not limited to:

A. Economic Amendments
a. The lifting of all nationality requirements in the exploration and utilization of all
natural resources, all areas of investments, all public utilities, all educational
institutions, all fields of mass media and advertising
b. The provisions on ownership of land which shall remain exclusively to
Filipinos until distribution of farms lots to qualified farmers/beneficiaries under
the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program is completed


B. Political Amendments

Shift from the unitary system of government to a federal system;

Shift from presidential to a parliamentary form of government;

Shift from bicameral to a unicameral legislature;

Restoration of a Board of Election Inspectors with a teacher as Chairman

and two members from both the majority and minority parties;

€. Appointment of magistrates to the judiciary by the Judicial and Bar
Council subject to confirmation by the Parliament's commission on
appointments.

f. Amending the term of Members of Parliament and local officials to four (4)
years without term limits;

aogo

One of the modes provided in the 1987 Constitution for amending it is the calling for
a Constitutional Convention which is the most democratic and most transparent.

In view of the foregoing, immediate passage of this bill is earnestly requested.

MAXIMO B. RODRIGUEZ, JR.


SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS )
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES )
First Regular Session )

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Introduced by Representative Maximo B. Rodriguez, Jr.

81

House Bill No.

AN ACT
CALLING FOR A CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION TO REVISE THE 1987
CONSTITUTION, PROVIDING FOR PROPORTIONAL REPRESENTATION THEREIN AND.
OTHER DETAILS RELATING TO THE ELECTION OF DELEGATES TO AND THE
HOLDING OF THE CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION, APPROPRIATING FUNDS
THEREFOR AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES

Section 1. Short Title — This Act shall be known as "The Constitutional Convention
Act of 2016",

Section 2. Composition of the Convention; Qualifications of Delegates — The
Constitutional Convention shall be composed of Two Hundred and Thirty Four (234)
delegates representing the Two Hundred and Thirty Four Legislative Districts of the
Philippines as certified by the House of Representatives and the Commission on Elections
(COMELEC).

Each delegate shall have the same qualifications as those required of Members of
the House of Representatives

Section 3. Election of Delegates — The election of delegates to the Constitutional
Convention by the qualified electors of each district shall be held on the fourth Tuesday in
October, two thousand and sixteen (October 25, 2016) in synchronization with the barangay
and sangguniang kabataan elections.

Section 4, Persons Holding Office — Any person holding a public office or position,
whether elective or appointive, including members of the armed forces and officers and
employees of corporations or enterprises owned and/or controlled by the government, shall
be considered resigned upon the filing of his certificate of candidacy: Provided, That any
government official who resigns in order to run for delegate and who does not yet qualify for
retirement under existing laws, may, if elected, add to his length of service in the government
the period from the filing of his certificate of candidacy until the final adjournment of the
Constitutional Convention.

Section 5. Disqualification to Run - Any person elected as delegate to the
Constitutional Convention shall not be qualified: a) to run for any public office in any election
or to assume any appointive office or position in any branch of the Government including
government owned or controlled corporations while the Constitutional Convention is in
Session, b) to run for office in the first local and first national elections to be held after the
ratification of the new Constitution or amendments thereto, or c) to be appointed to any office
or position in any branch of the Government including government owned or controlled
corporations during the period of one year after the final adjournment of the Constitutional
Convention

Section 6. Provisions Governing the Election of Delegates — (1) The registration of
voters, voting, counting of votes, canvass and proclamation of winning candidates, protests
and all other related matters in the election of delegates shall be governed by the provisions


of the Batas Pambansa Big 881 (Omnibus Election Code), all other relevant election statutes
and Commission on Elections resolutions, except as herein otherwise provided;

(2) The election period for election of delegates shall commence forty five (45) days
before the day of election and shall end fifteen (15) days thereafter;

(3)The campaign period shalll be thirty (30) days before the day of election;

(4) The filing of certificates of candidacy shall be determined by the Commission on
Elections;

(8) The certificate of candidacy for delegates to the Constitutional Convention
representing legislative districts in the provinces shall be filed with the provincial election
supervisor of the province concemed. Those for legislative districts in the National Capital
Region shall be filed with the regional election director of said region and those for legislative
districts in cities outside the National Capital Region which comprise one or more legislative
districts shall be filed with the city election registrar concerned. The certificate of candidacy
shall be in such form as prescribed by the Commission on Elections. The candidate may
include a concise statement, not exceeding one hundred words, of the principal
constitutional reforms, programs or policies he proposes to advocate if elected to the
Convention

(6) The aggregate amount that a candidate may spend for election campaign shall be
Ten Pesos (P10.00) for every voter currently registered in the constituency where he filed his
certificate of candidacy.

(7) Every candidate shall, within fifteen (15) days after the day of the election, file in
triplicate with offices of the Commission on Elections where he filed his certificate of
candidacy the full, true and itemized statement of all contributions and expenditures in
connection with the election in such forms as the Commission on Elections may prescribe.
No person elected as delegate shall enter upon the duties of his office until he has filed the
statement of contributions and expenditures herein required. Failure of any candidate,
whether winning or losing, to file the required statement in connection with electoral
contributions and expenditures shall constitute an administrative offense for which the
offender shalll be liable to pay an administrative fine of Thirty Thousand Pesos (P30,000.00)
payable within ten (10) days from receipt of notice of such failure; otherwise, it shall be
enforceable by a writ of execution issued by Commission on Elections against the properties
of the offender.

Section 7. Conduct of Elections — The election of delegates shall be non-partisan
and shall be conducted in an expeditious and inexpensive manner. No candidate for
delegate to the Convention shall represent or allow himseff to be represented as a candidate
of any political party or any other organization, and no political party, political group, political
committee, civic, religious, professional, or other organization or organized group of
whatever nature shall intervene in the nomination of any such candidate or in the filing of his
certificate of candidacy or give aid or support, directly or indirectly, material or otherwise,
favorable to or against his campaign for election: Provided, That this provision shall not
apply to the members of the family of a candidate within the fourth civil degree of
consanguinity or affinity, nor to the personal campaign staff of the candidate, which shall not
be more than one for every ten precincts in his district: Provided, however, That without
prejudice to any liability that may be incurred, no permit to hold a public meeting shall be
denied on the ground that the provisions of this paragraph may or will be violated: Provided,
further, That nothing contained herein shall be construed to impair or abridge the freedom of
civic, political, religious, professionals, trade organization or organized groups of whatever
nature to disseminate information about, or arouse public interest in, the forthcoming
Constitutional Convention or to advocate constitutional reforms, programs, policies, or
proposals for amendment of the present Constitution, and no prohibition contained herein
shall limit or curtail the right of their members, as long as they act individually, to support or
oppose any candidate for delegate to the Constitutional Convention: Provided, finally, that no
head of any executive department, bureau or office, official or officer nominated or appointed
by the President of the Philippines, head or appointing officer of any government-owned or


controlled corporation, shalll intervene in the nomination of any such candidate, or in the filing
of his cerfificate of candidacy or give aid or support, directly or indirectly, material or
otherwise, in favor of or against his campaign for election.

Section 8. Prohibited Acts — The following acts are prohibited in the election of
delegates during the periods herein provided, to wit:

a) During the election period

a

Issuance of appointments, promotions, creation of new positions, or giving of
salary increases in government offices, agencies or instrumentalities as
provided under Section 261 (g) of BP 881;

Alteration of territory of a precinct or establishment of a new precinct as
provided under Section 5 of Rep. Act, 8189;

Illegal release of prisoners as provided under Section 261 (n) of BP 881;
Raising of funds, thru dances, lotteries, cockfights, etc. as provided under
Section 97 of BP 881

Carrying of firearms/deadly weapons, including wearing of uniforms,
insignias, etc. as provided under Section 261 (p),(q) and (s) of BP 881;
Organizing or maintaining reaction/strike forces or similar forces as provided
under Section 261 (u) of BP 881;

Transfer and detail of officers and employees in the civil service including
public school teachers as provided under Section 261 (h) of BP 881;
Suspension of any elective provincial, city, municipal or barangay officer as
provided under Section 261 (x) of BP 881;

Use of security personnel of bodyguards by candidates whether or not such
bodyguards are regular members of officers of the Philippine National Police
(PNP) or the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) or other government law
enforcement agency as provided under Section 261 (f) of BP 881, as
amended Section 33 of Republic Act 7166.

b) During the campaign period

a

Removing, destroying, obliterating, defacing, tampering or preventing
distribution of lawful election propaganda as provided under Section 83 of BP
881;

Making any donation or gift in cash or in kind, etc. as provided under Section
104 of BP 881;

Use of armored/land/water/air craft as provided under Section 261 (r) of BP
881;

Appointing or using special policemen, special/confidential agents or the like
as provided under Section 261 (m) of BP 881

Construction maintenance of provincial, city, municipal or barangay-funded
roads and bridges as provided under Section 3 of Republic Act 6679;

©) During eve of election

a.

b.

iC.

‘Campaigning as provided under Section 3 of BP 881;
Selling, furnishing, offering, buying, serving or taking intoxicating liquor, ete.
as provided under Section 261 (dd), (1) of BP 881;

Giving, accepting, free transportation, food, drinks and things of value as
provided under Section 89 of BP 881;

d) During election day

a.
b.

Vote buying and vote selling as provided under Section 261 (a) of BP 881;
Voting more than once or in substitution of another as provided under Section
261 (z), (2) and (3) of BP 881;


¢. Soliciting votes or undertaking any propaganda for or against any candidate
or any political party within the polling place or within thirty (30) meters thereof
as provided under Section 261 (cc), (6) of BP 881

d. Opening of booths or stalls for the sale, etc., of wares, merchandise or
refreshments within thirty (30) meters radius from the polling place as
provided under Section 261 (dd), (2) of BP 881;

e. Holding of fairs, cockfights, boxing, horse races or similar sports as provided
under Section 261 (dd), (3) of BP 881;

f. Campaigning as provided under Section 3 of BP 881;

g. Selling, fumishing, offering, buying, serving or taking intoxicating liquor, ete.
as provided under Section 261 (dd), (1) of BP 881;

h. Giving, accepting, free transportation, food, drinks and things of value as
provided under Section 89 of BP 881

All other acts prohibited during regular or special elections under existing laws are
likewise prohibited during the election of delegates insofar as applicable in addition to and
supplementing the foregoing prohibited acts.

Section 9. Vacancy in the Position of Delegate — Whenever a vacancy occurs in the
position of Delegate, the Commission on Elections, upon due certification of the existence of
such vacancy and recommendation by the Convention, shall immediately call a special
election to fill the vacancy, which election shall be held within thirty days from the date of
said call. Should the vacancy occur before the start of the convention, the Commission on
Elections, after verification of the said vacancy, shall call and hold a special election as
above provided.

Section 10. Regulation of Election Propaganda — The following provisions shall
gover election propaganda in the election provided for in this Act:

(1) The Commission on Elections shall construct at least one billboard which
shall be known as Comelec billboard as centrally as possible in every city, municipality,
municipal district, and barrio of sufficient population density. Such billboard shall be of
sufficient size and permanency to allow each candidate in the district adequate space
therein to announce his candidacy with such design and with such brief statement of his
qualifications and/or views on constitutional reforms as the candidate may desire, subject to
space limitations which shall be allocated by lottery by the Commission equally and
impartially among the candidates of the district.

(2) The franchises of all radio broadcasting and television stations are hereby
amended so as to require each such station to fumiish to the Commission on Elections, free
of charge, during the period of the campaign, at least one but not more than two hours of
prime time at least once each week, but not oftener than every other day, which the limits
herein set, how much time is required and shall allocate the Comelec time by lottery equally
and impartially among the candidates in the districts within the area of coverage of said radio.
broadcasting and television stations.

(3) Outside Comelec billboards and Comelec time, any candidate or other person
may produce or distribute, or cause to be produced or distributed, for the purpose of
furthering or opposing the candidacy of any person, only the following forms of election
propaganda: a) pamphlets, leaflets, cards or other written or printed material of a size not
more than eight and one-half inches in width by fourteen inches in length, containing the
candidate's picture, activities, special qualifications or his views on the issues of
Constitutional Reform or other data relevant to his candidacy and b) handwritten or printed
letters, urging voters to vote for or against any particular candidate.

(4) — It shall be unlawtul for any candidate to avail of the franking privilege, and for
any official of the government to use or extend such privilege, for the purpose of furthering or
opposing the candidacy of any person as delegate to the Constitutional Convention.


(5) _Allother forms of propaganda are prohibited. Accordingly, outside of Comelec
billboards, it shall be unlawful to erect, attach, float or display any billboard, streamer,
tinplate poster, balloon and the like, of whatever size, shape, form or kind, advertising the
name of any candidate; and it shall likewise be unlawful to purchase, produce, request or
distribute sample ballots, or electoral propaganda gadgets such as pens, lighters, fans (of
whatever nature), flashlights, athletic goods or material, wallets, bandanas, shirts, hats,
matches, cigarette, and the like, whether of domestic or foreign origin. Any prohibited
election propaganda, propaganda gadgets or advertising may be confiscated or torn down
by the Comelec Supervisor upon authority of the Commission on Elections. In no case.
however, shail election supervisors or registrars be assigned to a district or districts where
they are related to any candidate within the fourth civil degree of consanguinity or affinity.
Similarly, apart from Comelec time, it shall be unlawful for any radio broadcasting or
television station, moviehouse or theater to show, to display or to give any advertising or
propaganda to any candidate; nor may any candidate appear on any interview or program,
Unless all other candidates in the district are also invited to appear.

(6) The Commission on Elections shall endeavor to obtain free space from
newspapers, magazines and periodicals which shall be known as Comelec Space, and shall
allocate this space equally and impartially among all candidates within the areas in which the
newspapers are circulated. Outside of said Comelec space, it shall be unlawful to print or
publish, or cause to be printed or published, any advertisement, paid comment or paid article
in furtherance of or in opposition to the candidacy of any person for delegate, or mentioning
the name of any candidate and the fact of his candidacy, unless all the names of all other
candidates in the district in which the candidate mentioned is running are also mentioned
with equal prominence.

(7) All candidates and all other persons making or receiving expenditures,
contributions or donations which in their totality exceed fifty pesos, in order to further or
oppose the candidacy of any candidate, shall file a statement of all such expenditures and
contributions made or received on such dates and with such details as the Commission on
Elections shall prescribe by rules.

(8) Nothing in this section shall preclude news coverage by the mass media of
significant and newsworthy events, views, public meetings or rallies involving any candidate
in any news program, newsreel, newspaper, magazine, or other periodical: Provided, That it
shall be unlawful for any radio broadcasting and television station to schedule any program
or permit any sponsor to manifestly favor or oppose any candidate by unduly referring to him
or including him in its programs or newscast.

Section 11. Organization of the Convention. (1) The Chairman of the Commission on
Elections .shall take charge of all arrangements for the convening of the Constitutional
Convention.

(2)The opening session of the convention shall be held in the plenary hall of the
Philippine International Convention Center on January 9, 2017 at ten o'clock in the morning.

(3) The President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives
shall jointly preside at its opening session. The election of a President and presiding officer
from among its members shall be the first order of business. The Convention shall be
deemed organized upon the election and qualification of a President and presiding officer.

(4) A majority of all its members shall constitute a quorum to do business, but a
smaller number may meet, adjourn from day to day, and compel the attendance of absent
members in such manners and under such penalties as the convention may provide.

(5) The Convention shall be the sole judge of the election, returns and qualifications
of its members and it may organize as it may see fit. The Convention may determine the
rules of its proceedings, punish its Members for disorderly behavior, and with the
concurrence of two-thirds of all its Members, expel a Member.

(6) The plenary sessions of the Convention shall be public and duly recorded. It may
in its discretion hold its session in any place in the Philippines. The Convention shall conduct


public hearings to ensure that Filipino people will have adequate participation in the
formulation of a new Constitution or amendments to and revisions of the 1987 Constitution.

(7) The Philippine International Convention Center building and premises are hereby
made available for use of the Convention. All government entities, agencies and
instrumentalities, including the Senate and House of Representatives, shall place at the
disposal of the Convention such personnel, premises and furniture thereof as can, in their
judgment, be spared without detriment to the public service, without cost, refund or
additional pay.

Section 12. Parliamentary Immunity. The laws relative to parliamentary immunity of
the Members of Congress shall be applicable to the delegates to the Constitutional
Convention, and the penalties imposed in Articles one hundred forty-three, one hundred
forty-four and one hundred forty-five of the Revised Penal Code, as amended, for offenses
defined therein against the Congress of the Philippines, its committees or subcommittees, or
its Members shall likewise apply if such offenses are committed against the Constitutional
Convention, its committees or subcommittees, or the delegates thereto.

Section 13. Per diems — Each delegate shall be entitled to a per diem of Two
Thousand Five Hundred Pesos (P2,500.00) for everyday of attendance in the Convention or
any of its Committees and to necessary traveling expenses to and from his residence when
attending the sessions of the Convention or of its Committees. The Convention may
determine the amount for the office and staff expenses of its Members.

Section 14. Powers of the Commission on Elections — The Commission on Election
shall, in addition to the powers and functions conferred upon it by the Constitution, BP 881
and other relevant election laws, have the following powers:

(a) To promulgate rules and regulations to carry out the provisions of this Act within
fifteen days after its approval:

(b) To require all law-enforcement agencies and instrumentalities of the goverment
to act as deputies for the purpose of insuring a free, orderly and honest election; and

(c) To execute its decisions, directives, orders and instructions on any matter
affecting the conduct of the election of delegates to the Constitutional Convention; and, in
the implementation thereof, the same decisions, directives, orders and instructions shall
have precedence over those emanating from any other authority except the Supreme Court,
and those issued in habeas corpus proceedings:

Section 15. Completion and Ratification - The Constitutional Convention created
under this Act shall perform its duties from January 9, 2017 and shall endeavor to complete
its work on or before July 10, 2017 and, thereafter present to the President the proposed
new Constitution or amendments to and revisions of the 1987 Constitution. The President
shall fix the date of the plebiscite for the ratification or rejection of the proposed new
Constitution or amendments to and revisions of the 1987 Constitution which shall not be
earlier than sixty (60) days nor later than ninety (90) days after the approval by the
Convention of such proposed new Constitution or amendments to and revisions of the 1987
Constitution.

Section 16. Appropriation - There is hereby appropriated out of any funds in the
National Treasury not otherwise appropriated: a) the sum of Two Hundred Fifty Million Pesos
(P250,000,000.00) for the holding of the election of delegates to the Constitutional
Convention which shall upon request be made immediately available to the Commission of
Elections only for purposes of this Act, and b) the sum of Five Hundred Million Pesos
(P500,000,000.00) for the operational expenses of the Constitutional Convention. The
Convention shall not be subject to the rules and regulations of the Department of Budget on
allocations and release of funds; however, it shall account for and report on its expenses to
the Commission on Audit at the termination of its work


Section 17. Penalty Clause — A violation of any of the provisions of this Act shall be
considered a serious election offense carrying a penalty of imprisonment of not less than
one year and one day but not more than five years. The offender shall be further sentenced
to suffer disquaiifications to hold any public office and deprivation of the rights of suffrage for
not less than one year but not more than nine years; and, if he is a foreigner, he shall be
deported immediately after service of his prison term. Should the violation be committed by a
political party or any organized group hereinbefore prohibited, the individuals who induced,
ordered, directly participated, or indispensably cooperated in the commission of the same
shall be equally liable, and shall suffer the penalties herein provided.

Section 18. Separability Clause — If for any reason any section or provision of this
Act, or any portion thereof, or the application of such section, provision or portion to any
Person group or circumstance, is declared invalid or unconstitutional, the remainder of the
Act or the application of such provision to other persons, group or circumstances shalll not be
affected by such declaration,

Section 19. Repealing Clause — All laws, rules, regulations, or parts thereof which
are inconsistent with this Act are hereby repealed, amended or modified accordingly for
purposes of the election of delegates as herein provided.

Section 20. Effectivity Clause — This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its
complete publication in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation

Approved.