The Permanent Commission

The Permanent Commission

In the Philippines, the Permanent Commission in the Revolutionary Government may be considered a precursor of the present Office of the Ombudsman. Article 21 of the Decree of June 23, 1898 creating the Revolutionary Government of the Philippines provided for a Permanent Commission, presided over by the Vice President, that shall decide on appeal all criminal cases decided by provincial councils. These cases were those filed against Department Secretaries and provincial and municipal officials.

The Permanent Commission continued its existence after the ratification of the Constitution of 1899, popularly known as the Malolos Constitution. Under No. 1, Article 55 of said Constitution, one of the powers of the Commission was to “declare if there is sufficient cause to proceed against the President of the Republic, the Representatives, Department Secretaries, the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court and the Solicitor General in the cases provided by the Constitution.

Reference:

National Historical Institute, Letter dated July 28, 1998 to Special Prosecutor Leonardo P. Tamayo from Hon. Samuel K. Tan, NHI Chairman and Executive Director

Office of the Ombudsman, Ombudsman’s Journal Anniversary Issue, Vol. 1, No. 1, May 9, 1996

Office of the Tanodbayan “Primer on the Tanodbayan” September 21, 1980

Tanglao-Dacanay, Corazon, D.L.P., Case Notes on RA 6770, July 26, 2000