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Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

House sit no. £25?

Introduced by Rep. Precious Hipolito Castelo

EXPLANATORY NOTE

Every year, the President delivers his State of the Nation Address (SONA). Numerous high-
ranking officials, including the Vice President, the Senate President and the Speaker of the
House of Representatives gather to personally witness this annual momentous event.

While the strongest and strictest security measures have always been implemented and
enforced during SONA, there is always a chance, however slim, that a tragedy can happen.
It is true that the Philippine Constitution provides for a line of succession in case of
incapacity, death, resignation, or removal of the President from office.' The line of
presidential succession follows the order of the Vice President, the Senate President, and
the Speaker of the House of Representatives.

However, in the unlikely chance that all of these officials become unavailable to fill in the role
of the President, our supreme law does not provide a rule. During SONA, or during any other
assembly where these officials are gathered, the probability of this happening becomes
greater.

In the United States, dating back to the Cold War era, the practice is to keep a “designated
successor” away from events at which numerous high-ranking federal officers gather.” This
is done in order to guarantee that there will always be someone to assume the reins of the
government in case an unimaginable disaster happens and all the officers in the presidential
line of succession are Killed.

Since our Constitution does not provide for the same rule, we can only imagine how tragic
the outcome will be in case the unthinkable happens. The absence of a leader can lead to
lawlessness and disorder, and worst, to anarchy.

As such, the passage of this measure is collectively soyd

' Section 8, Article VII
a https://www.usatoday.com/storyinews/politics/2018/0 1/30/sonny-perdue-trumps-designated-

survivor-state-union-2018/1079325001/


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL NO. 4062

Introduced by Rep. Precious Hipolito Castelo

AN ACT
GIVING THE PRESIDENT THE POWER TO DELEGATE OR DESIGNATE A SUCCESSOR
IN THE UNLIKELY EVENT THAT THE PRESIDENT, THE VICE PRESIDENT, THE
‘SENATE PRESIDENT AND THE SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
DIE OR BECOME INCAPACITATED TO FILL IN THE ROLE OF THE PRESIDENT

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Republic of the Philippines
in Congress assembled:

SECTION 1. This Act shall be known as the “Presidential Succession Act’.

SEC. 2. During occasions when the President, the Vice-President, Senate President
and the Speaker of the House of Representatives are all gathered in one place, the
President shall delegate a successor from among his Cabinet officials, who shall take over
the Presidency in the unlikely event that the President and all his Constitutional successors
die or become incapacitated to fill in the role of the President.

SEC. 3. Such delegated successor shall be kept in a secure and undisclosed place
during the occasion or gathering for which his appointment was made.

SEC. 4. The appointment of the delegated successor shall be pro hac vice and shall
be limited to the circumstances under which it is made. The appointment shall be of no effect
in case the President and/or any of his Constitutional successors survive the occasion or
gathering.

SEC. 5. All issuances, laws, decrees, orders, rules and regulations or parts thereof
not consistent with this Act are hereby repealed or modified accordingly.

SEC. 6. This Act shall take effect after fifteen (15) days following its publication in the
Official Gazette or in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation

Approved,