EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS OE THE 
) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
)
First Regular Session 
)
^  PrtV tP flitp  of tiK  fe>fcri ta rp
'19 SEP-2 P3 :35
S E N A T E
S. No. 
996
Introduced by Senator Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel HI
AN ACT
PROVIDING FOR THE MANNER OF SELECTING AN ACTING 
PRESIDENT, AS REQUIRED UNDER ARTICLE VII, SECTION
7 OF THE CONSTITUTION
EXPLANATORY NOTE
Article VII, Section 7 of the Constitution provides that where no 
President and Vice-President shall have been chosen or shall have 
qualified, or where both shall have died or become permanently 
disabled, the President of the Senate shall act as President until a 
President or a Vice- President shall have been chosen and qualified. If 
the President of the Senate is unable to act as President, the Speaker of 
the House of Representatives shall do so. Congress is mandated to 
provide for the manner in which one who is to act as President shall be 
selected in the event that both the President of the Senate and the 
Speaker of the House of Representatives are unable to act as President 
until a President or a Vice-President shall have qualified.
For thirty-two (32) years. Congress has not acted on this mandate.
It is in line with the foregoing mandate that this bill is filed. Apart 
from the fact that Congress is obligated to provide for this contingency,


it is important to prepare for all possible scenarios that may arise relating 
to vacancies in the leadership of our government.
For these reasons, passage of this measure is earnestly sought.
AQUILINO'“KOKO” PIMENTEL III


EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
)
First Regular Session 
)
.Senate
of ll;r ft-rrri'tn rp
•19 SEP-2 P3 35
S E N A T E
S. No. 
996
Introduced by Senator Aqiiilino “Koko” Pimentel HI
AN ACT
PROVIDING FOR THE MANNER OF SELECTING AN ACTING 
PRESIDENT, AS REQUIRED UNDER ARTICLE VII, SECTION
7 OF THE CONSTITUTION
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled:
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SECTION 1. Policy. -  It is the policy of the State, in accordance
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with the Constitution, to provide the manner of selecting who shall act as
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President until a President or Vice-President shall have qualified, in case
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of death, pennanent disability, or inability of the President of the Senate
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and the Speaker of the House of Representatives to act as President.
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SEC. 2. Manner of Selection. — In the event that the President of
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the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives are both
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unable to act as President as provided in Article VII, Section 7,
10 paragraph 6 of the Constitution, then the government official who is
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highest on the following list, whose nomination or appointment has been
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confirmed or approved by the Commission on Appointments, and who
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is not under any disability to discharge the powers and duties of the
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office of President shall act as President until a President or Vice-
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President shall have been qualified:
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(1) The Secretary of the Department of Foreign Affairs;
(2) The Secretary of the Department of the Interior and Local 
Government; or
(3) The Secretary of the Department of National Defense.
SEC. 3. Repealing Clause. -  Any law, presidential decree or 
issuance, executive order, letter of instruction, or rule or regulation 
inconsistent with the provisions of this Act is hereby repealed modified 
accordingly.
SEC. 4. Effectivity. -  This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days 
after its complete publication in the Official Gazette or in two (2) 
newspapers of general circulation.
Approved,