1987 Philippine legislative election

Background

In the aftermath of then 1986 Philippine presidential election, incumbent Ferdinand Marcos and his running mate Arturo Tolentino were declared winners. There were widespread protests denouncing Marcos' victory, alleging massive fraud. The protests evolved into the People Power Revolution, driving Marcos into exile. Corazon Aquino, the candidate Marcos supposedly defeated, became president. A month after taking power, she proclaimed the Freedom Constitution, abolishing the Batasang Pambansa (parliament). The Freedom Constitution contained provisions for Aquino appointing a constitutional commission that shall draft a new constitution. The constitutional commission indeed drafted a new constitution, which was approved by the voters in February 2, 1987.

Electoral system

Senate

The new constitution restored the Senate and its plurality block voting system in use from 1941 to 1972. In this election, all 24 seats are up, and the winners' terms will start in June 30, 1987, and end five years later.

House of Representatives

The new constitution reverted to the House of Representatives, in use from 1935 to 1972. Unlike its original iteration, the House now adopts the additional seats reserved for sectors first applied in the Batasang Pambansa. There are now 200 districts from congressional districts, then 20% of the seats will be reserved for the party-list system; in lieu of the adoption of such a system, the constitution allows for the old sectoral representation from the Batasang Pambansa to be continued.

Campaign

The pro-Aquino forces coalesced to the Lakas ng Bayan (People Power), while the anti-Aquino forces were split into the Grand Alliance for Democracy, and the Kilusang Bagong Lipunan (New Society Movement), composed mostly of pro-Marcos forces. The left ran candidates under the Partido ng Bayan (People's Party, forerunner of Makabayan) banner.

In the House elections, the constituent parties under Lakas ng Bayan split up and ran against each other on multiple districts.

Results

The Lakas ng Bayan had a resounding victory, winning a majority on both chambers of Congress.

Senate

House of Representatives

Aftermath

The first local elections above the barangay level under the 1987 constitution was held in 1988. The first barangay elections under the 1987 constitution was held in 1989. The first presidential and vice presidential elections held under the 1987 constitution was held in 1992.

References

References

1. "1986 Provisional (Freedom) Constitution of the Philippines".
2. Guanzon, Sofia. (2022-03-17). "FALSE: Cory Aquino handpicked 48 persons to draft Constitution for business, foreign interests".
3. Paredes, Divina C.. (1987-02-12). "Aquino proclaims Constitution". [[Manila Standard]].
4. "David Wurfel: The Party-list System: Sectoral or National? Success or Failure?".
5. (March 9, 1989). "The barangay elections". Manila Standard News, Inc..