Republic of the Philippines  
House of Representatives     
Quezon City, Metro Manila 
NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO._____ 
Introduced by Congressman Jorge “PATROL” Bustos 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
The President of our Republic functions as the Head of State and the head 
of the government. As enunciated under Article VII Section I of the 1987 
Constitution, “Executive Power shall be vested in the President of the 
Philippines.” As such, the President leads the Executive Department, which 
ensures the faithful execution of laws, and ensures compliance with the same. He 
is also the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Philippines.  
It is therefore imperative that the state ensures the continuity and stability 
of the operations in government no matter the circumstances, as it is also 
constitutionally provided who shall succeed the President in the event that he is 
unable to discharge the duties of his office, for the following reasons: death, 
disability, removal, or resignation from office.  
As provided in Article 7 Section 8, of the 1987 Constitution, “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.” 
As culled from the above, the legislature is tasked to enact a law to 
enumerate those who will succeed him in such cases when he may no longer 
discharge the functions of his office, whether voluntarily or not, until such a time 
that his duly election successor has been elected and has qualified to be the new 
President, or Vice-President, as the case may be. 
September 5, 2022
2:49 pm
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This bill proposes the natural order of presidential succession as may be 
based from the sound evaluation of functions from each branch of the 
government, which exhaustively determines how important it is to have an Acting 
President no matter the circumstance, and to make sure that there will be smooth 
transition from an ad interim one to a duly elected, qualified, and legitimate 
President. The need to have this bill immediately enacted cannot be 
overemphasized in this unprecedented time of volatility and uncertainty. 
The enactment of this bill is immediately sought. 
 
 
 
 
 
CONG. JORGE “PATROL” BUSTOS 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 


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Republic of the Philippines  
House of Representatives     
Quezon City, Metro Manila 
NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO. ________ 
Introduced by Congressman Jorge “PATROL” Bustos 
AN ACT  
1 
PRESCRIBING THE ORDER OF PRESIDENTIAL SUCCESSION 
2 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in Congress assembled: 
3 
SECTION 1. In case of death, permanent disability, removal from office, 
4 
or resignation of both the President and Vice-President, the President of the 
5 
Senate or, in case of his inability, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, 
6 
shall serve as the Acting President until the President or Vice-President shall have 
7 
been elected and qualified.  
8 
SECTION 2. In the event of pennanent disability, death, removal from 
9 
office or resignation of the Acting President before the President or Vice-
10 
President shall have been elected and qualified, the following elected and 
11 
appointed officers of the Republic of the Philippines and who is not under any 
12 
disability to discharge the powers and duties of the Office of the President shall 
13 
act as President in the following order: 
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(1) the most senior Senator based on the length of service in
15 
the Senate or if there be none, or in the event of his removal, death, 
16 
resignation or of his inability to act as President,  
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(2) the most senior Representative based on the length of 
1 
service in the House of Representatives or if there be none, or in 
2 
the event of his removal, death, resignation or of his inability to act 
3 
as President,  
4 
(3) the member of the Cabinet designated by the President.  
5 
Prior to any public or private activity, event or function with the attendance 
6 
of the President, Vice President and other high ranking officials which may 
7 
include those mentioned in Sections 1 and 2 of this Act, the President shall 
8 
designate a member of the Cabinet to be sequestered in a secret and secure 
9 
location. In the event of an extraordinary circumstance resulting in the death or 
10 
permanent disability of the President, Vice President and the officials mentioned 
11 
in Sections 1 and 2 of this Act, the designated member of the cabinet shall act as 
12 
President.  
13 
SECTION 3. Official actions of the Acting President pertaining to the day- 
14 
to-day operation of the Government of the Republic of the Philippines shall 
15 
remain effective unless revoked by the elected President within ninety days from 
16 
his or her assumption or reassumption of office.  
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SECTION 4. This Act shall take effect upon its approval.  
18 
Approved
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