The 1987 Constitution strengthened the Judiciary by putting limits on the use of the political question doctrine. Article VIII, Section 1 broadened the scope of judicial inquiry to include the determination of grave abuse of discretion by any branch or instrumentality of the government. The Supreme Court, however, has refused to exercise this power, deferred to the Chief Executive, and effectively created political questions where there should have been none.
This paper discusses three specific instances of such deference by the Court, demonstrating how this practice renders inert innovations introduced by our Constitution.