FOURTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES ) 
First Regular Session 
1 
SENATE 
S. NO. 752 
Introduced by Senator Antonio F. Trillanes IV 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
Among the powers of the President of the Philippines as the Chief Executive of 
the land, is to act on behalf of our country in its dealing and relations with other 
countries. As such, he exercises the treaty-making power. This power is not, however, 
absolute because Article VII, Section 21 of the Constitution provides that “No treaty or 
international agreement shall be valid and effective unless concurred in by at least two- 
thirds of all the Members of the Senate.” 
The primary objective of the abovecited constitutional provision is to ensure that 
any international commitment made by the President, whether under bilateral or 
multilateral arrangements, does not go against our national security and interests, and that 
Philippine sovereignty is at all times upheld. 
This bill is, therefore, being introduced to re-assert the power and to discharge the 
responsibility of the Legislature, acting through the Senate, as vested under the 
Constitution, to review any international agreement providing for the deployment abroad 
of Filipino troops, whether for peacekeeping missions or combat operations, and 
regardless of the size or number thereof. 
The bill will also cover international agreements involving other forms of military 
assistance such as military equipment and munitions which may be requested from the 
Philippines. 
On the other hand, the sending of medical missions to a war-torn country for 
humanitarian reasons, whether composed of Philippine government personnel or private 
volunteer groups, is not covered under the bill, provided the same is effected through the 
Philippine National Red Cross and coordinated with the International Red Cross. 
In light of the foregoing considerations, the immediate approval is 
earnestly requested. 
ANTONIO F. TRILLANES IV 
Senator 
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FOURTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PEtLIPPINES ) 
First Regular Session 
1 
SENATE 
S. NO. 752 
Introduced by Senator Antonio F. Trillanes IV 
AN ACT 
REQUIRING THE CONCURRENCE OF THE SENATE OF THE PHILIPPINES 
IN 
ANY 
INTERNATIONAL 
AGREEMENT 
PROVIDING 
FOR 
THE 
DEPLOYMENT ABROAD OF PHILIPPINE MILITARY TROOPS WHETHER 
FOR PEACEKEEPING MISSIONS OR COMBAT OPERATIONS PURSUANT 
TO ARTICLE W, 
SECTION 21 OF THE CONSTITUTION. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
congress assembled: 
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SECTION 1. Definition of terms: 
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(a) 
The term “international agreement” refers to a treaty, convention, act, 
general act, protocol, or any agreement with an external entity, involving political issues 
or changes of national policy and those involving international agreements of a 
permanent character; and 
(b) 
The term “executive agreement” refers to an agreement embodying 
adjustments of detail canying out a law or a well-established national policy or tradition, 
or an agreement involving arrangements of a more or less temporary nature. 
SEC. 2. No international agreement or executive agreement shall be valid and 
effective unless concurred in by at least two-thirds of all members of the Senate. 
SEC. 3. Any international agreement or executive agreement or any part of 
provisions thereof, which conflicts with or is contrary to the Constitution shall have no 
force and effect. 
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SEC. 4. Exceptions. -The following agreements do not need Senate concurrence: 
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a. 
Executive agreements concluded by the President in pursuance of an 
authorization contained in a prior treaty that was concurred by the Senate; 
b. 
Executive agreements concluded by 
the President after prior 
Congressional authorization; 
c. 
Executive agreements concluded by the President based on his exclusive 
powers, such as his power to receive ambassadors and recognize foreign governments, 
and to authorize the sending of medical missions for humanitarian reasons, provided that 
the same is effected through the Philippine National Red Cross and coordinated with the 
International Red Cross; and 
d. 
The acts of the President in his power as Commander-in-Chief of the 
Armed Forces of the Philippines, except when otherwise provided in Section 5 and 6. 
All agreements negotiated by the President not covered by the foregoing shall be 
confirmed by at least two-thirds of all members of the Senate. 
SEC. 5. The deployment or assignment of Philippine military troops to any 
foreign country whether for peacekeeping missions or combat operations and regardless 
of the size or number thereof, can be authorized by the President of the Philippines only 
with the concurrence of the Philippine Senate in accordance with the provisions of 
Article VII, Section 21 of the Constitution. 
For this purpose, the President shall submit to the Senate for its concurrence, the 
corresponding international agreement or document which provides for the sending by 
the Philippine Government of military troops to another country for such purposes as 
specified therein. 
Upon concurrence by the Senate to any such international agreement involving 
the deployment of Philippine military troops to another country, the President shall keep 
the Senate regularly posted on the status of such military contingents assigned abroad. 
SEC. 6. The provisions of Section 5 hereof shall also apply to international 
agreements involving other forms of military assistance such as military equipment and 
munitions which may be requested from the Philippine Government. 
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SEC. 7. If any part hereof, is held invalid or unconstitutional, the remainder of the 
law, or the provision not otherwise affected shall remain valid and subsisting. 
SEC. 8. Any law, presidential decree or issuance, executive order, letter of 
instruction, administrative order, rule or regulation contrary to or inconsistent with the 
provisions of this Act is hereby repealed, modified or amended accordingly. 
SEC. 9. This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication in at least 
two (2) newspapers of general circulation. 
Approved, 
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