A bill has been filed in the Senate to ensure the government will continue to operate and the succession of power will remain clear even in the event of a disaster or “exceptional circumstances” that result in the death or permanent disability of the President and other constitutional successors.
Sen. Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson filed the “Presidential Succession Act,” seeking to extend the current presidential line of succession beyond the Vice President, Senate President, and House Speaker, as provided under the 1987 Philippine Constitution.
“This bill … seeks to provide an exhaustive line and order of 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,” the returning senator stated.
Under the proposed measure, the line of succession would include the most senior senator and the most senior representative, based on length of service in their respective chambers, followed by a Cabinet member designated by the President, provided they are not under any disability to discharge the powers and duties of the presidency.
The bill also provides for a “designated survivor,” requiring the President to designate a Cabinet member to be sequestered in a secure and secret location before any public or private event attended by the President, Vice President, and other ranking officials.
This designated official, to be secured by the Presidential Security Group, would be ready to act as President if an extraordinary circumstance results in the death or permanent disability of the President and other officials in the constitutional line of succession.
Moreover, actions carried out by an Acting President under the measure, particularly those related to the day-to-day operation of the government, would remain effective unless revoked by the elected President within 90 days from assumption of office.
According to the bill’s proponent, the proposed measure, first filed in the 18th Congress as the “Designated Survivor” bill, aligns with the Constitution mandate.
“The Congress shall, by law, provide for the manner in which one who is to act as President shall be selected until a President or a Vice-President shall have qualified, in case of death, permanent disability, or inability of the officials mentioned in the next preceding paragraph,” Section 7, Article VII of the Constitution provides.
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