THE PHILIPPINES- Towards New Democracy

Nirmal Sengupta ON February 2 the Philippines votes for the ratification of the proposed new constitution- If adopted, it will be the sixth constitution of the country. Only the short-lived first constitution of 1899, effective for a few days between liberation from Spanish rule and annexation by the US, apart from the present one, can claim to be a popular or a revolutionary constitution. The first constitution of the post-war republic was drafted under strict, formal supervision of the US. This was revised by a dictator in 1973 who sought approval from only a dozen of his lackeys. When the 'elected' President