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Parliament name (generic / translated) Kongreso / Congress More photos  >>> Structure of parliament Bicameral Chamber name (generic / translated) Kapulungan Ng Mga Kinatawan / House of Representatives Related chamber (for bicameral parliaments) Senado / Senate Affiliation to the IPU Yes Affiliation date(s) 1927 - 1938 1947 - 1973 1979 - 1986 1987 - LEADERSHIP President Feliciano R. Belmonte, Jr. (M)  Notes Elected on 26 Jul. 2010. Secretary General Marilyn B. Barua-Yap (F)  COMPOSITION Members (statutory / current number) 287 / 284 PERCENTAGE OF WOMEN More statistics  >>> Women (current number) 65 (22.89%) Mode of designation directly elected 284 Term 3 years Last renewal dates 10 May 2010 (View details) CONTACT INFORMATION Address House of Representatives Constitution Hills QUEZON CITY (Export mailing lists) Phone (632) 931 5979 (632) 931 5001 local 7619 Fax (632) 931 5595 E-mail iprshorphil@yahoo.com Website http://www.congress.gov.ph/

Parliament name (generic / translated) Kongreso / Congress Structure of parliament Bicameral Chamber name (generic / translated) Kapulungan Ng Mga Kinatawan / House of Representatives Related chamber (for bicameral parliaments) Senado / Senate LEGAL FRAMEWORK Electoral law 22 July 1985 Last amendment: 23/02/1995 Mode of designation directly elected 284 Constituencies - 228 single-member constituencies for majority vote - one nationwide constituency for proportional representation vote Voting system Mixed: Each elector casts two votes: one for a candidate and the other for a party. - 228 seats filled by single member plurality systems ("first past the post") - 52 seats filled by party lists nominees proposed by indigenous, but non religious, minority groups. Parties must pass a 2% vote threshold to gain parliamentary representation. A maximum of three seats is awarded to each party. Vacancies arising between general elections are filled through by elections. Voting is compulsory. Voter requirements - age: 18 years - Philippine citizenship - residence in the country for at least one year and in home constituency for at least six months immediately preceding election day - disqualifications: insanity, adjudged incompetence, conviction for crime involving disloyalty to government or against national security CANDIDATES Eligibility Qualified electors - age: 25 years - Philippine citizenship by birth - literacy - residence in district for at least one year immediately preceding the poll - ineligibility: bribery of voters or election officials, terrorist action, exceeding campaign expenses ceiling, prohibited financial dealings Incompatibilities - any other office or employment in the Government, or any subdivision, agency, or instrumentality thereof, including government-owned or controlled corporations or their subsidiaries - legal counsel (in courts, electoral tribunals or quasi-judicial and other administrative bodies) - government contractor Candidacy requirements - candidatures by parties or independents, must be submitted at least 45 days before polling to the provincial election supervisor concerned - under the party-list system, each party must submit a list of at least five nominees

Parliament name (generic / translated) Kongreso / Congress Structure of parliament Bicameral Chamber name (generic / translated) Kapulungan Ng Mga Kinatawan / House of Representatives Related chamber (for bicameral parliaments) Senado / Senate BACKGROUND Dates of election / renewal (from/to) 10 May 2010 Timing and scope of renewal Elections were held for all the seats in the House of Representatives on the normal expiry of the members' term of office. The May 2010 parliamentary elections were held concurrently with the presidential polls. At stake were 280 seats in the House of Representatives (up from 269, see note) and half of the Senate seats (12). In the previous elections held in May 2007, TEAM Unity (Together Everyone Achieves More) - a coalition formed by supporters of President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo - took nearly 170 of the 240 seats in the House of Representatives. The coalition included President Arroyo's Lakas-Kampi-CMD and the Nationalist People's Coalition (NPC). An electoral coalition called the "Genuine Opposition" (GO) took 44 seats. The GO included the Liberal Party (LP) and the Nationalist Party. Most of the 25 party nominees, proposed by indigenous groups, subsequently joined TEAM Unity. Only four pro-presidential candidates were elected to the Senate, where the GO coalition took an overall majority. Since she was elected in 2004, President Arroyo had been seeking Charter (constitutional) change, known locally as "Cha-Cha". These changes aim at transforming the country's system of government from the current presidential system to a parliamentary one. Her opponents accused her of eying the Speaker's post and trying to return to power as Prime Minister once the constitutional changes were adopted. She had risen from being the country's Vice-President to President in January 2001 after the then President, Joseph Estrada, was impeached on allegations of corruption. Ms. Arroyo was constitutionally barred from seeking a second consecutive term in 2010. Instead, she ran for a seat in the House of Representatives. She pledged to continue the Charter change. Former first lady Imelda Marcos - whose late husband, Ferdinand Marcos, served as President between 1969 and 1986, having imposed martial law in 1972 - was also vying for a House seat. Ms. Marcos had been elected to the House in 1995. The media focused on the presidential polls, placing the parliamentary polls on the back burner. President Arroyo endorsed Mr. Gilberto Teodoro of her Lakas-Kampi-CMD party as her successor. The Lakas-Kampi-CMD led a coalition with two small parties: the KABACA and the SARRO. The coalition pledged to work towards a "dynamic and progressive Philippines" by alleviating poverty and providing better infrastructure. The Lakas-Kampi-CMD coalition was challenged by the NP-NPC coalition. The NP leader, former Senate President Manny Villar, was also running for the presidency. Mr. Villar, a property tycoon, focused on his rags-to-riches story, but his image was reportedly tarnished by corruption allegations. Former actor and president, Joseph Estrada, was also running. He had been jailed in 2001 for corruption but was pardoned by President Arroyo later the same year. He reportedly remained popular thanks to his heroic gangster movies. Senator Benigno Aquino III - Mr. Teodoro's cousin and son of charismatic former President Corazon Aquino, who passed away in August 2009 - ran for the presidency on a Liberal Party (LP) ticket. The LP of former Speaker and Quezon City Mayor, Mr. Feliciano Belmonte Jr., was in coalition with the KKK (Kapayapaan, Katarungan, Kaunlaran). The LP coalition promised to lead a transparent administration. Mr. Aquino vowed to open an investigation into past allegations of corruption against President Arroyo. His running mate, Senator Manuel Roxas II, publicly criticized President Arroyo's bid for a House seat, arguing that she was seeking protection from prosecution. Mr. Aquino accused the government of supporting the candidature of Mr. Villar, reportedly a close ally of President Arroyo, so he would keep quiet on issues confronting the current administration such as corruption scandals. As the only post-war parliamentarian to have presided over both Houses of Congress, Mr. Villar criticized Mr. Aquino for not having passed a single law after serving three terms in the House and one term in the Senate. Many members of the Lakas-Kampi-CMD party reportedly supported either Mr. Aquino or Mr. Villar. In early April, Albay Governor Joey Salceda - one of President Arroyo's top economic advisers - announced that he would support Mr. Aquino. 73.42 per cent of the 50 million registered voters turned out for the polls. As in the past, the elections were marred by violence, resulting in the death of over 90 people. They included the 57 victims of a mass killing in November 2009 in Mindanao. Over 30 more people were killed during the election campaign and at least 12 others died on polling day as a result of political violence. Four municipalities in Mindanao declared that polling could not take place after poll workers reported harassment and death threats. The election commission accepted the declaration and announced that it would organize special elections there. Technical problems with new automated voting machines that were being used for the first time were reported in several polling stations. No major international organizations sent observer missions. The People's International Observers' Mission 2010 (PIOM) comprising 86 foreign observers from 11 countries - Argentina, Australia Canada, China, France, Germany, Denmark Japan, New Zealand, the United Kingdom and the United States - monitored the polls. They noted several irregularities and criticized the lack of secrecy in certain precincts. The final results for the House of Representatives gave 119 seats to the LP, 45 to the Lakas-Kampi-CMD coalition, and 22 to the NP-NPC coalition. The remainder went to small parties. In the Senate, the LP and the NP-NPC coalition won three seats each. The Lakas-Kampi-CMD and the Pwersa ng Masang Pilipino (Force of the Filipino Masses) of outgoing Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile took two seats each while the People's Reform Party (PRP) took one seat. The remaining seat went to an independent candidate. Both President Arroyo and Ms. Marcos were elected to the House of Representatives. In the presidential elections, Mr. Aquino was elected with over 40 per cent of the votes. Supporters of Mr. Aquino formed the Conscience and Reform (CORE) coalition in the House of Representatives in a bid to prevent Ms. Arroyo from obtaining the speakership. The newly-elected House of Representatives and the Senate were convened on 26 July. The House elected Mr. Feliciano R. Belmonte, Jr. (LP) as its new Speaker. The Senate re-elected Mr. Juan Ponce Enrile of the Force of the Filipino Masses (Pwersa ng Masang Pilipino, PMP) as its President. Note: The number of party nominees has been increased to 52. STATISTICS Voter turnout Round no 1 10 May 2010 Number of registered electors Voters Blank or invalid ballot papers Valid votes 50'723'733 37'243'529 (73.42%) 33'858'638 Notes Distribution of votes Round no 1 Political group Candidates Votes % of votes Liberal Party (LP) Lakas-Christian Muslim Democrats - Kabalikat ng Malayang Pilipino (Lakas-Kampi-CMD) Nationalist Party (NP) Pwersa ng Masang Pilipino (Force of the Filipino Masses, PMP) Partido Demokratiko Pilipino-Laban (Philippine Democratic Party-People's Power, PDP-Laban) Independents Laban ng Demokratikong Pilipino (LDP) Kilusang Bagong Lipunan (New Society Movement, KBL) Lapiang Manggagawa (Philippine Labour and Peasant Party) Distribution of seats Round no 1 Political Group Total of seats Liberal Party (LP) 119 Lakas-Christian Muslim Democrats - Kabalikat ng Malayang Pilipino (Lakas-Kampi-CMD) 45 Nationalist Party (NP) 22 Pwersa ng Masang Pilipino (Force of the Filipino Masses, PMP) 5 Partido Demokratiko Pilipino-Laban (Philippine Democratic Party-People's Power, PDP-Laban) 2 Independents 1 Laban ng Demokratikong Pilipino (LDP) 1 Kilusang Bagong Lipunan (New Society Movement, KBL) 1 Lapiang Manggagawa (Philippine Labour and Peasant Party) 1 Distribution of seats according to sex Men Women Percent of women 218 62 22.14% Distribution of seats according to age Distribution of seats according to profession Comments Source: IPU Group (14.07.2010, 12.01.2011, 14.01.2012)

Parliament name (generic / translated) Kongreso / Congress Structure of parliament Bicameral Chamber name (generic / translated) Kapulungan Ng Mga Kinatawan / House of Representatives Related chamber (for bicameral parliaments) Senado / Senate APPOINTMENT AND TERM OF OFFICE Title Speaker of the House of Representatives Term - duration: 3 years (term of House) - reasons for interruption of the term: resignation, removal, loss of parliamentary mandate, death, dissolution of the House Appointment - elected by all Members of the House - the election is held on the fourth Monday in July every 3 years - after the swearing-in ceremony Eligibility - any Member of the House may be a candidate Voting system - formal public vote by roll call - a simple majority is required Procedures / results - the Secretary General presides over the House during the voting - the Secretary General supervises the voting - the Secretary General announces the results without delay - the results may be challenged STATUS Status - ranks fourth in the hierarchy of the State - follows the President of the Senate in the order of precedence - represents the House with the authorities - represents the House in international bodies - the Presidents of the two Chambers preside over joint sittings - in the absence of the Speaker, the Deputy Speaker can assume his/her role and functions Board Material facilities - allowance: 240,000 pesos/yr + expense allowance - official car - secretariat - bodyguards FUNCTIONS Organization of parliamentary business - convenes sessions after consulting with the presidents of majority and minority groups - organizes the debates and sets speaking time - refers texts to a committee for study - examines the admissibility of requests for setting up committees and/or committees of enquiry, proposes or decides on the setting-up of such committees Chairing of public sittings - can open, adjourn and close sittings - ensures respect for provisions of the Constitution and Standing Orders - makes announcements concerning the House - takes disciplinary measures in the event of disturbance, and lifts such measures - establishes the list of speakers, gives and withdraws permission to speak - calls for a vote - checks the quorum - authenticates the texts adopted and the records of debates - interprets the rules or other regulations governing the life of the House, based on precedents - has discretionary power to give the floor outside the agenda and thus organizes impromptu debates Special powers - is responsible for establishing the budget - recruits, assigns and promotes staff - organizes the services of Parliament - is responsible for relations with foreign Parliaments - is responsible for safety, and in this capacity, can call the police in the event of disturbance in the Chamber Speaking and voting rights, other functions - takes the floor in legislative debates as a Member of the House - takes part in voting in case of a tie - proposes bills or amendments - intervenes in the parliamentary oversight procedure - signs laws before transmitting them to the Head of State for promulgation - checks the constitutionality of laws

Parliament name (generic / translated) Kongreso / Congress Structure of parliament Bicameral Chamber name (generic / translated) Kapulungan Ng Mga Kinatawan / House of Representatives Related chamber (for bicameral parliaments) Senado / Senate NATURE Nature of the mandate Free representation Start of the mandate · At noon on 30 June next following the election (Art. VI, S. 7 (1) of the Constitution of 15.10.1986) Validation of mandates · Validation by the Electoral Tribunal only in case of challenge (Art. VI, S. 17 of the Constitution) · Procedure (Art. VI, S. 17 and 19 of the Constitution, Rule VI, S. 17 to 20 of the Rules of the House of Representatives, Rules 15 to 17 of the Revised Rules of the Electoral Tribunal) End of the mandate · On the day when the legal term of the House ends (Law on Public Officers and Election Law, see also Art. VI, S. 7 (1) of the Constitution) Can MPs resign? Yes · Yes, of their own free will (Law on Public Officers and Election Law) (for renunciation of the office at times, see Art. VI, S. 7 (2) of the Constitution) · No specific procedure · Authority competent to accept the resignation (Rule II, S. 8 of the Rules of the House of Representatives): the Speaker Can MPs lose their mandate ? Yes (a) Definitive exclusion from Parliament by the latter (Art. VI, S. 16 (3) of the Constitution, Rule XXIII, S. 128 of the Rules of the House of Representatives, Law on Public Officers and Election Law, see also Discipline) (b) Loss of mandate by judicial decision: final judgement of a crime with accessory penalty of disqualification to hold public office (Law on Public Officers and Election Law, Art. I, S. 12 of the Omnibus Election Code of the Philippines, see also Art. 73 of the Revised Penal Code, see also Code of conduct) (c) Reaching the age limit, death or permanent disability (Law on Public Officers and Election Law) (d) Incompatibilities (Art. VI, S. 13 and 14 of the Constitution, Law on Public Officers and Election Law) (e) Abolition of office (Law on Public Officers and Election Law) (f) Conviction for a crime (Law on Public Officers and Election Law) STATUS OF MEMBERS Rank in hierarchy · Within Parliament: 1. The Speaker 2. The Deputy Speakers 3. The Chairmen, Vice-Chairmen and Members of the Standing and Special Committees 4. The Majority Floor Leader 5. The Minority Floor Leader · Outside Parliament (Chapter on Precedence of the Guide to Protocol): the official order of precedence ranks the Speaker in the 5th position, and the other Members of the House of Representatives in the 12th position (seniority in length of service). Indemnities, facilities and services · Diplomatic or official passport (S. 7 of Republic Act No. 8239 (Philippine Passport Act of 1996)) · Basic salary (Art. VI, S. 10 of the Constitution, S. 8 of Republic Act No. 6758): PHP 35,000 per month + Additional allowances (Republic Act No. 8250 (General Appropriations Act for Fiscal Year 1997)): PHP 1,530,424 · No exemption from tax · Pension scheme (Republic Act No. 8291 (Revised Government Service Insurance Act of 1997)) · Other facilities: (a) Secretariat (b) Assistants (see also Rule IV, S. 11 to 13 of the Rules of the House of Representatives) (c) Security guards (d) Postal and telephone services (e) Travel and transport expense Obligation to declare personal assets Yes Parliamentary immunity - parliamentary non-accountability · The concept does exist (Art. VI, S. 11 of the Constitution). · Parliamentary non-accountability is limited to words spoken or written by MPs and votes cast within Parliament. · Derogations: offence or insult (Rule XVI, S. 100 of the Rules of the House of Representatives, see Osmena vs. Pendatun, No. L-17144, 28 October 1960, 109 Phil. 863, and Discipline) · Non-accountability takes effect on the day when the MP takes the oath and offers, after the expiry of the mandate, protection against prosecution for opinions expressed during the exercise of the mandate. Parliamentary immunity - parliamentary inviolability · The concept does exist (Art. VI, S. 11 of the Constitution). · It applies to criminal and civil proceedings, covers all offences with the exception of those punishable by more than six years, and protects MPs only from arrest and from being held in preventive custody. See also Loss of mandate - (b) and (f). · No derogations are foreseen. But see Discipline, and Code of conduct for imprisonment ordered by Parliament. · Parliamentary inviolability does (not) prevent MPs from being called as witnesses before a judge or tribunal. · Protection is provided only during sessions. Since it does not cover judicial proceedings in general, it does not cover judicial proceedings instituted against MPs before their election. · Parliamentary immunity (inviolability) cannot be lifted. · Parliament cannot subject the prosecution and/or detention to certain conditions. · Parliament cannot suspend the prosecution and/or detention of one of its members. EXERCISE OF THE MANDATE Training · There is no training/initiation process on parliamentary practices and procedures for MPs. · Handbook of parliamentary procedure: - Rules of the House of Representatives Participation in the work of the Parliament · It is compulsory for MPs to be present at plenary sittings, committee meetings, and other meetings (Rule VIII, S. 34 of the Rules of the House of Representatives). · Penalties foreseen in case of failure to fulfil this obligation (Art. VI, Rule 16 (2) of the Constitution, Rule IX, S. 46 and 47 of the Rules of Procedure): call of the House to compel attendance, arrest, disciplinary action · Body competent to judge such cases/to impose penalties: the House of Representatives, the Speaker Discipline · The rules governing discipline within Parliament are contained in Art. VI, S. 16 (3) of the Constitution, and Rule II, S. 5 (b), Rule XVI, S. 100, and Rule XXIII, S. 128 of the Rules of the House of Representatives. · Disciplinary measures foreseen: - Deletion of words from the record (Rule XVI, S. 100 of the Rules of the House of Representatives) - Call to order (Rule XVI, S. 100 of the Rules of the House of Representatives) - Censure (Art. VI, S. 16 (3) of the Constitution, Rule XXIII, S. 128 of the Rules of the House of Representatives) - Suspension from Parliament (Art. VI, S. 16 (3) of the Constitution, Rule XXIII, S. 128 of the Rules of the House of Representatives) - Exclusion from Parliament (Art. VI, S. 16 (3) of the Constitution, Rule XXIII, S. 128 of the Rules of the House of Representatives) - Conviction to prison (Art. VI, S. 16 (3) of the Constitution, Rule XXIII, S. 128 of the Rules of the House of Representatives) · Specific cases: - Offence or insult (Rule XVI, S. 100 of the Rules of the House of Representatives): deletion of words from the record, call to order · Competent body to judge such cases/to impose penalties (Rule II, S. 5 (b) of the Rules of the House of Representatives): - Deletion of words from the record: the Speaker, the House of Representatives - Call to order: another Member - Censure, suspension from Parliament, exclusion from Parliament, conviction to prison: the House of Representatives, upon recommendation of the Committee on Ethics · Procedure (Art. VI, S. 16 (3) of the Constitution, and Rule XVI, S. 100, and Rule XXIII, S. 128 of the Rules of the House of Representatives) Code (rules) of conduct · This concept does exist in the country's juridical system (Republic Act No. 6713 (Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees, 1989)). · Penalties foreseen for violation of the code of conduct: - Imprisonment - Disqualification to hold public office Relations between MPs and pressure group · There is one legal provision in this field (Art. VIII, S. 61 (2) of the Omnibus Election Code of the Philippines; prohibition of accreditation of religious sects as political parties and of those parties seeking to achieve their goal through violence).

This page was last updated on 24 January 2012
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