FII?TEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session 
) 
) 
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SENATE 
S. NO. _=2-=.9-,,4,-
Introduced by Senator Antonio "Sonny" F. Trillanes IV 
Explanatory Note 
Article VII, Section 16 of the Constitution provides: 
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"The President shall nominate and, with the consent of the Commission on Appointments, 
appoint the heads <if the executive departments, ambassadors, other public ministers and consuls, 
or (ifficers qf the armed forces from the rank of colonel or naval captain, and other officers 
whose appointments are vested in him in this Constitution. He shall also appoint all other (ifficers 
of the Govemment whose appointments are not otherwise provided for by law, and those whom 
he may be authorized by law to appoint, The Congress may, by law, vest the appointment qf other 
qfficers lower in rank in the President alone, in the courts, or in the heads of departments, 
agencies, commissions, or boards, 
"The President shall have the power to make appointments during the reCess of the Congress, 
whether voluntary or compulsory, but such appointments shall be effective only until disapproval 
by the Commission on Appointments or until the next adjoumment of the Congress ... 
The Commission on Appointments is usually reluctant to reject outright the presidential 
nominees, hence, would not confirm the appointment resulting to bypass, Conversely, despite 
being bypassed, the President oftentimes reappoints the same nominees, 
This practke of simply reappointing the nominees even after several bypasses subverts the 
principle Of confirmation mandated by our Constitution, Further, this situation makes a mockery 
of the constitntional duties of the Commission on Appointments to confirm and reject 
presidential appointees on the basis of the check and balance powers of the legislative branch of 
the government. 
This bill seeks to uphold the constitutional duties of the Commission on Appointments by setting 
limits on the power of the President to reappoint bypassed nominees, 
For the foregoing reasons, the passage of this bill is earnestly sought, 
~~ 
io "Sonny" F. rillanes IV 
Senator 


FIFTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session 
) 
) 
) 
SENATE 
S NO 
294 
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Introduced by Senator Antonio "Sonny" F. Trillanes IV 
AN ACT 
SETTING LIMITS ON THE POWER OF THE PRESIDENT TO REAPPOINT 
BYPASSED NOMINEES 
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress 
assembled: 
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SECTION 1. Title.- This Act shall be known as the "Appointments Confirmation Act 
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of2010". 
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SEC. 2. Declaration of Policy.-
It is the policy of the state to subject certain 
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appointments by the President to a confirmation process in Congress to ensure that the persons 
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appointed have integrity and proven track record and are not disqualified to such positions. 
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SEC. 3. Presidential Appointments subject to Confirmation by the Commission on 
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Appointments.- The President shall nominate and with the consent of the Commission on 
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Appointments, the heads of the executive departments; ambassadors, or other public ministers 
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and consuls and officers of the armed forces from the rank of colonel or naval captain. 
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SEC. 4. Presidential Appointments during recess of the Congress.- The President 
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shall have the power to make appointments during the recess of the Congress, whether voluntary 
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or compulsory, but such appointments shall be effective only until disapproval by the 
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Commission on Appointments or until the next adjoumment of the Congress. 
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SEC. S. Duty of the Nominees.- The nominees shall submit to the Commission on 
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Appointments the documentary requirements within thirty (30) days from receipt of his 
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nomination or appointment. Failure to submit the same within the required period is equivalent 
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to one (1) bypass. Failure to submit the said requirements within sixty (60) days shall cause the 
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disapproval of said nomination or appointment. 
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SEC. 6. Effect of Two (2) Bypasses.- Nominees who have been bypassed twice shall 
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no longer be eligible for reappointment by the President. 
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SEC. 7. Effect of Disapproval by the Commission on Appo;ntmenls.- Nominees who 
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have been disapproved by a vote of the Commission on Appointments shall no longer be eligible 
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for reappointment by the President. 
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SEC. 8. Separability Clause.- If any provision or part hereof is held invalid or 
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unconstitutional, the remainder of the law or the provision not otherwise affected shall remain 
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valid and subsisting. 
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SEC. 9. Repealit/g Clause.- Any law, presidential decree or issuance, executive order, 
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letter of instruction, administrative order, rule or regulation contrary to, or inconsistent with, the 
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provisions of this Act, is hereby repealed, modified, or amended accordingly. 
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SEC. to. Effectivity Clause.- This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its 
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complete publication in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation. 
Approved, 
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