ARTICLE XVIGENERAL PROVISIONS
Section 1. The flag of the Philippines
shall be red, white, and blue, with a sun and three stars, as
consecrated
and honored by the people and recognized by law.
Section 2. The Congress may,
by law, adopt a new name for the country, a national anthem, or a
national
seal, which shall all be truly reflective and symbolic of the ideals,
history,
and traditions of the people. Such law shall take effect only upon its
ratification by the people in a national referendum.cralaw:red
Section 3. The State may
not be sued without its consent.cralaw:red
Section 4. The Armed Forces
of the Philippines shall be composed of a citizen armed force which
shall
undergo military training and serve as may be provided by law. It shall
keep a regular force necessary for the security of the State.cralaw:red
Section 5. (1) All members
of the armed forces shall take an oath or affirmation to uphold and
defend
this Constitution.cralaw:red
(2) The State shall strengthen
the patriotic spirit and nationalist consciousness of the military, and
respect for people's rights in the performance of their duty.cralaw:red
(3) Professionalism in the
armed forces and adequate remuneration and benefits of its members
shall
be a prime concern of the State. The armed forces shall be insulated
from
partisan politics.cralaw:red
No member of the military
shall engage, directly or indirectly, in any partisan political
activity,
except to vote.cralaw:red
(4) No member of the armed
forces in the active service shall, at any time, be appointed or
designated
in any capacity to a civilian position in the Government, including
government-owned
or controlled corporations or any of their subsidiaries.cralaw:red
(5) Laws on retirement of
military officers shall not allow extension of their service.cralaw:red
(6) The officers and men
of the regular force of the armed forces shall be recruited
proportionately
from all provinces and cities as far as practicable.cralaw:red
(7) The tour of duty of the
Chief of Staff of the armed forces shall not exceed three years.
However,
in times of war or other national emergency declared by the Congress,
the
President may extend such tour of duty.cralaw:red
Section 6. The State shall
establish and maintain one police force, which shall be national in
scope
and civilian in character, to be administered and controlled by a
national
police commission. The authority of local executives over the police
units
in their jurisdiction shall be provided by law.cralaw:red
Section 7. The State shall
provide immediate and adequate care, benefits, and other forms of
assistance
to war veterans and veterans of military campaigns, their surviving
spouses
and orphans. Funds shall be provided therefor and due consideration
shall
be given them in the disposition of agricultural lands of the public
domain
and, in appropriate cases, in the utilization of natural resources.cralaw:red
Section 8. The State shall,
from time to time, review to increase the pensions and other benefits
due
to retirees of both the government and the private sectors.cralaw:red
Section 9. The State shall
protect consumers from trade malpractices and from substandard or
hazardous
products.cralaw:red
Section 10. The State shall
provide the policy environment for the full development of Filipino
capability
and the emergence of communication structures suitable to the needs and
aspirations of the nation and the balanced flow of information into,
out
of, and across the country, in accordance with a policy that respects
the
freedom of speech and of the press.cralaw:red
Section 11. (1) The ownership
and management of mass media shall be limited to citizens of the
Philippines,
or to corporations, cooperatives or associations, wholly-owned and
managed
by such citizens.cralaw:red
The Congress shall regulate
or prohibit monopolies in commercial mass media when the public
interest
so requires. No combinations in restraint of trade or unfair
competition
therein shall be allowed.cralaw:red
(2) The advertising industry
is impressed with public interest, and shall be regulated by law for
the
protection of consumers and the promotion of the general welfare.cralaw:red
Only Filipino citizens or
corporations or associations at least seventy per centum of the
capital of which is owned by such citizens shall be allowed to engage
in
the advertising industry.cralaw:red
The participation of foreign
investors in the governing body of entities in such industry shall be
limited
to their proportionate share in the capital thereof, and all the
executive
and managing officers of such entities must be citizens of the
Philippines.cralaw:red
Section 12. The Congress
may create a consultative body to advise the President on policies
affecting
indigenous cultural communities, the majority of the members of which
shall
come from such communities.
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