Samar, San Carlos* (in Negros Occidental), San Carlos* (in
Pangasinan), San Jose*, San Pablo*, Silay*, Siquijor, Sorsogon, South
Cotabato, Southern Leyte, Sultan Kudarat, Sulu, Surigao*, Surigao del
Norte, Surigao del Sur, Tacloban*, Tagaytay*, Tagbilaran*, Tangub*,
Tarlac, Tawitawi, Toledo*, Trece Martires*, Zambales, Zamboanga*,
Zamboanga del Norte, Zamboanga del Sur

Independence: 4 July 1946 (from US)

National holiday: Independence Day, 12 June (1898) (from Spain)

Constitution: 2 February 1987, effective 11 February 1987

Legal system: based on Spanish and Anglo-American law; accepts
compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations

Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:
chief of state: President Fidel Valdes RAMOS (since 30 June 1992) and
Vice President Joseph Ejercito ESTRADA (since 30 June 1992); note-the
president is both the chief of state and head of government
head of government: President Fidel Valdes RAMOS (since 30 June 1992)
and Vice President Joseph Ejercito ESTRADA (since 30 June 1992);
note-the president is both the chief of state and head of government
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president with the consent of the
Commission of Appointments
elections: president and vice president elected on separate tickets by
popular vote for six-year terms; election last held 11 May 1992 (next
to be held 11 May 1998)
election results: Fidel Valdes RAMOS elected president; percent of
vote-Fidel Valdes RAMOS 23.6% (a narrow plurality); Joseph Ejercito
ESTRADA elected vice president; percent of vote-NA%

Legislative branch: bicameral Congress or Kongreso consists of the
Senate or Senado (24 seats-one-half elected every three years; members
elected by popular vote to serve six-year terms) and the House of
Representatives or Kapulungan Ng Mga Kinatawan (204 seats; members
elected by popular vote to serve three-year terms; note-an additional
50 members may be appointed by the president)
elections: Senate-last held 8 May 1995 (next to be held 11 May 1998);
House of Representatives-elections last held 8 May 1995 (next to be
held 11 May 1998)
election results: Senate-percent of vote by party-NA; seats by
party-LDP 15, Lakas-NUCD 6, NPC 1, PRP 1, independent 1; House of
Representatives-percent of vote by party-NA; seats by party-Lakas-NUCD
126, LDP 28, NPC 28, NP 2, KBL 2, other 18

Judicial branch: Supreme Court, justices are appointed for four-year
terms by the president on the recommendati