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"04 JUN 30 P5 :I5 
THIRTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
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OF THE PHILIPPINES 
1 
First Regular Session 
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S. No. 40 
Introduced by Senator S. R. Osmeiia 111 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
Article VII, Sections 7 and 8 of the Constitution provides for the order of 
succession to the Office of the President in case of vacancy therein, whether 
permanent or temporary, occurring either at the beginning of the term of the 
President or during his incumbency. The order of succession provided therein 
stops at the Speaker of the House of Representatives who is the fourth ranking 
official of the State. In case of inability of the latter official to act as president, the 
Constitution provides that Congress shall, by law, provide for the manner in 
which one who is to act or serve as President shall be selected until a President 
or vice-president shall have been chosen or elected and qualified. 
A succession law is required to fill a dangerous lacuna. There should be 
no interruption in the exercise of executive power. The political and economic 
stability, as well as the security of the nation could be severely tested if certain 
unforeseen contingencies arose. 
This bill seeks to implement the aforecited constitutional provision on 
presidential succession. It is proposed that Senate President Pro Tempore shall 
serve as President until the President or the Vice-president shall have been 
elected and qualified. 
It is believed that ifhe official who is to act or serve as President under the 
circumstances provided ,in the Constitution should be an elected national official 
instead of an appointed one. Considering the vast powers and responsibilities 
vested upon the President, it is only appropriate and advisable that the one who 
will discharge the same even in a temporary capacity and no matter how short 
the period may be, should be an official who has obtained popular mandate from 
the people. 
In view of the foregoing, the early passage of this bill is earnestly 
requested. 
SERGIO OSMENA 111 
Senator 


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THIRTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
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OF THE PHILIPPINES 
"04 JUN 30 P5 :I 5 
Firsf Regular Session 
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S E N A T  
S. No. 409 
introduced by Senator S. R. Osmefia 111 
AN ACT 
IMPLEMENTING THE PROVISIONS OF SECTlONS 7 AND 8 OF ARTJCLE VI1 
OF THE CONSTITUTION ON PRESIDENTIAL SUCCESSION 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled: 
SECTION 1. Where no President and Vice President shall have been 
chosen or shall have qualified, or where both shall have died or become 
permanently disabled, and the officials who are to act as President pursuant to 
Section 7, Article VI1 of the Constitution both fail to discharge such responsibility 
due to death, permanent disability, or inability, the Congress shall convene 
immediately in accordance with its rules without need of a call, and shall, by 
majority vote of all the Members of both Houses, voting separately, elect from 
among its Members one who is to act as President until President or Vice - 
President shall have been chosen and qualified. 
SEC. 2. In case of death, permanent disability, removal from office, or 
resignation of both the President and the Vice President, and the Acting 
President referred to under the second paragraph of Section 8, Article VI1 of the 
Constitution fails to discharge his responsibilities as such due to death, 
permanent disability, or resignation, the Senate President Pro Tempore shall 
serve as President until the President or the Vice-president shall have been 


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elected and qualified, and be subject to the same restrictions of powers and 
disqualifications as the aforesaid Acting President. 
SEC. 3. All laws, decrees, executive orders, rules and regulations or parts 
thereof which are contrary or inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are 
hereby modified or repealed accordingly. 
SEC. 4. This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days following its publication 
in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation. 
Approved,