Evolution of Philippine Legal Systems

Before colonization, indigenous communities governed through customary laws. The barangay, a unit of governance, operated under a datu. These unwritten laws were passed orally, reflecting communal values and a decentralized form of rule.

The Spanish introduced centralized governance in 1565. The Philippines was ruled indirectly through the Laws of the Indies and later, the Spanish Constitution of 1812, which granted representation to Filipino nobility in the Spanish Cortes.

The 1897 Biak-na-Bato Constitution, influenced by the Cuban Constitution, was the first attempt at a formal constitution. It outlined revolutionary aims for Philippine independence and established a republic, but was never fully implemented due to the Pact of Biak-na-Bato.

Established in 1899, the Malolos Constitution created Asia's first democratic republic. It articulated separation of church and state, and outlined executive, legislative, and judicial branches. It existed until the Philippine-American War's end.

During American rule, the Philippines transitioned through several organic acts: the Philippine Bill of 1902, the Jones Law of 1916, and the Tydings-McDuffie Act in 1934, which promised eventual independence and established the Commonwealth of the Philippines.

The 1935 Constitution, influenced by the American system, introduced a presidential system. It was suspended during Japanese occupation but reinstated post-WWII, overseeing the birth of the Third Republic and independence in 1946.

Marcos-era amendments culminated in the 1973 Constitution, shifting to a parliamentary system amidst martial law. The 1987 Constitution, crafted after the People Power Revolution, restored democracy and emphasized human rights, sovereignty, and social justice.