EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session
SENATE 
Senate Bill No. 982
Senate
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*19 AUG 28 P3:10
RECEiV. D B V ;_ _ _ _
Introduced by SENATOR LACSON
AN ACT PRESCRIBING THE ORDER OF PRESIDENTIAL
SUCCESSION
EXPLANATORY NOTE
According to Article VII Section I of the 1987 Constitution, “Executive 
Power shall be vested in the President of the Philippines.” The position of the 
President is of paramount importance as it functions as the head of the executive 
branch of government responsible for the faithful execution of laws. Further, the 
President is the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Philippines.
To ensure continuity and stability of operations in government, the framers 
of our Constitution provided a line of succession in the event that the President is 
unable to discharge the duties of his office due to death, disability or resignation in 
this wise -
“Section 8. In case of death, permanent disability, removal from office, or 
resignation of the President, the Vice-President shall become the President to 
serve the unexpired term. In case of death, permanent disability, removal from 
office, or resignation of both the President and Vice-President, the President of 
the Senate or, in case of his inability, the Speaker of the House of 
Representatives, shall then act as President until the President or Vice-President 
shall have been elected and qualified, xxx” (Article 7 Section 8, 1987 
Constitution)
The same constitutional provision mandates the legislature to enact a law 
identifying who shall serve as President in case of death, permanent disability, or 
resignation of the Acting President until the election and qualification of a new 
President or Vice-President.
This bill adheres to the abovementioned mandate and seeks to provide an 
exhaustive line / order of presidential succession in the event of death, permanent 
disability, removal from office or resignation of the Acting President to ensure that 
the office of the President is never vacated even in exceptional circumstances.
In view of the foregoing, the immediate enactment of this bill is earnestly
sought.
P AN 
AC SON
\Senator


EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session
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•19 
AUG 28 P3 :10
SENATE 
Senate Bill No.
RECEiV.-D BY;
Introduced by SENATOR LACSON
AN ACT PRESCILIBING THE ORDER OF PRESIDENTIAL
SUCCESSION
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in Congress 
assembled:
1 
SECTION 1. In case of death, permanent disability, removal from office, or
2 
resignation of both the President and Vice-President, the President of the Senate or,
3 
in case of his inability, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, shall serve as
4 
the Acting President until the President or Vice-President shall have been elected
5 
and qualified.
6
7 
SECTION 2. In the event of pennanent disability, death, removal from
8 
office or resignation of the Acting President before the President or Vice-President
9 
shall have been elected and qualified, the following elected and appointed officers
10 
of the Republic of the Philippines and who is not under any disability to discharge
11 
the powers and duties of the Office of the President shall act as President in the
12 
following order;
13 
(1) the most senior Senator based on the length of service in the Senate or if
14 
there be none, or in the event of his removal, death, resignation or of his
15 
inability to act as President,
16 
(2) the most senior Representative based on the length of service in the House
17 
of Representatives or if there be none, or in the event of his removal, death,
18 
resignation or of his inability to act as President,
19 
(3) the member of the Cabinet designated by the President.
20 
Prior to any public or private activity, event or function with the attendance
21 
of the President, Vice President and other high ranking officials which may include
22 
those mentioned in Sections 1 and 2 of this Act, the President shall designate a
23 
member of the Cabinet to be sequestered in a secret and secure location. In the event
24 
of an extraordinary circumstance resulting in the death or permanent disability of


1 
the President, Vice President and the officials mentioned in Sections 1 and 2 of this
2 
Act, the designated member of the cabinet shall act as President.
3 
SECTION 3. Official actions of the Acting President pertaining to the day-
4 
to-day operation of the Government of the Republic of the Philippines shall remain
5 
effective unless revoked by the elected President within ninety days from his or her
6 
assumption or reassumption of office.
7 
SECTION 4. This Act shall take effect upon its approval.
Approved,