Article 5 of the 1987 Constitution has the heading Suffrage, which pertains to Voting Rights.
“Suffrage” has been translated by others as Karapatan sa Halal.
There are only two Sections in Article Five.
| ARTIKULO V | ARTICLE 5 |
|---|---|
| MGA KARAPATAN SA PAGHAHALAL | SUFFRAGE |
| SEKSYON 1. Ang karapatan sa halal ay maaaring gampanan ng lahat ng mga mamamayan ng Pilipinas na hindi inalisan ng karapatan ng batas, na labingwalong taong gulang man lamang, at nakapanirahan sa Pilipinas sa loob ng isang taon man lamang, at anim na buwan man lamang sa lugar na kanilang bobotohan kagyat bago maghalalan. | SECTION 1. Suffrage may be exercised by all citizens of the Philippines not otherwise disqualified by law, who are at least eighteen years of age, and who shall have resided in the Philippines for at least one year and in the place wherein they propose to vote for at least six months immediately preceding the election. No literacy, property, or other substantive requirement shall be imposed on the exercise of suffrage. |
| SEKSYON 2. Dapat magtakda ang Kongreso ng isang sistema para maseguro ang pagiging sekreto at sagrado ng mga balota at gayon din ng isang sistema para sa pagbotong liban ng mga kwalipikadong Pilipino na nasa ibang bansa. | SECTION 2. The Congress shall provide a system for securing the secrecy and sanctity of the ballot as well as a system for absentee voting by qualified Filipinos abroad. |
| Para sa mga taong may kapansanan at mga hindi marunong bumasa at sumulat, ang Kongreso ay dapat bumalangkas ng isang pamamaraan na hindi na kakailanganin ang tulong ng mga ibang tao. Hanggang sumapit ang panahong iyon, sila ay pahihintulutang bumoto sa ilalim ng umiiral na mga batas at ng mga tuntuning maaaring ihayag ng Komisyon ng Halalan upang maprotektahan ng pagiging sekreto ng balota. | The Congress shall also design a procedure for the disabled and the illiterates to vote without the assistance of other persons. Until then, they shall be allowed to vote under existing laws and such rules as the Commission on Elections may promulgate to protect the secrecy of the ballot. |
IS THE ACTION OF OSCA LEGAL AND LAWFUL FOR DEPRIVING A SENIOR CITIZEN TO HIS PREVILIGE AND BENEFITS FOR NOT GIVING BIRTHDAY CASH GIFT BENEFITS BECAUSE HIS IS NOT A REGISTERED VOTER IN THEIR LOCALITY, BUT A LONG TIME RESIDENT OF THE PLACE?