A bill by Sen. Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson seeks to ensure the government will keep running even in case of a disaster or “exceptional circumstances” where the President and his/her constitutional successors are killed or disabled.
Lacson’s Senate Bill 36 or the “Presidential Succession Act” extends the list of succession beyond the Vice President, Senate President and House Speaker, the current line of presidential succession under the 1987 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,” Lacson said in his bill.
In Filipino: ‘Presidential Succession Act’ ni Ping Lacson, Titiyakin ang Patuloy na Takbo ng Pamahalaan kung may Sakuna o ‘Exceptional Circumstances’
Skip to PDF contentHe also noted the Constitution mandates Congress 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.
Under Lacson’s bill – which was filed in the 18th Congress as the “Designated Survivor” bill – the following elected and appointed officers who are not under any disability to discharge the powers and duties of the Office of the President shall act as President in the following order, in case of the death or permanent disability of those specified in the Constitution:
* the most senior Senator based on the length of service in the Senate
* the most senior Representative based on the length of service in the House of Representatives
* the member of the Cabinet designated by the President.
The bill also provides that before any public or private function to be attended by the President, Vice President and other ranking officials, the President shall designate a member of the Cabinet to be sequestered in a secret and secure location.
The “designated survivor” is to be guarded by members of the Presidential Security Group, and shall act as President “in the event of an extraordinary circumstance resulting in the death or permanent disability of the President and other officials.”
Official actions of the Acting President pertaining to the day-to-day operation of the government shall remain effective unless revoked by the elected President within 90 days from his/her assumption of office.
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‘Presidential Succession Act’ ni Ping Lacson, Titiyakin ang Patuloy na Takbo ng Pamahalaan kung may Sakuna o ‘Exceptional Circumstances’
Naghain ng panukala si Sen. Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson para tiyaking patuloy ang pagtakbo ng pamahalaan kahit may sakuna o pambihirang pangyayari kung saan nasawi ang Pangulo at ang kanyang constitutional successors.
Sa Senate Bill 36 o “Presidential Succession Act” ni Lacson, dadagdagan ang mga nasa line of succession bukod sa Bise Presidente, Senate President at House Speaker, na itinakda ng 1987 Constitution sa “line of succession.”
“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,” ani Lacson sa kanyang panukala.
Dagdag niya, mismong Saligang Batas ang nagmandato sa Kongreso na magpasa ng batas na kilalanin kung sino ang maninilbihan bilang Acting President hanggang mahalal ang bagong Pangulo o Bise Presidente.
Sa panukala ni Lacson – na ihinain sa 18th Congress bilang “Designated Survivor” bill – ang mga sumusunod ay magiging Acting President kung sakaling mamatay o ma-disable ang mga opisyal na nabanggit sa Saligang Batas:
* ang pinaka-senior na senador base sa tagal ng serbisyo sa Senado
* ang pinaka-senior na miyembro ng Kamara base sa tagal ng serbisyo sa Kamara
* miyembro ng Gabinete na itatalaga ng Pangulo
Ayon din sa panukala, bago magkaroon ng pagtitipon na dadaluhan ng Pangulo, Pangalawang Pangulo at ibang mataas na opisyal, itatalaga ng Pangulo ang miyembro ng Gabinete at itatago sa lihim at ligtas na lokasyon.
Babantayan ang “designated survivor” ng Presidential Security Group, at magiging Acting President “in the event of an extraordinary circumstance resulting in the death or permanent disability of the President and other officials.”
Gagampanan ng Acting President ang mga tungkulin na may kinalaman sa araw-araw na operasyon ng gobyerno, hanggang bawiin ang kanyang awtoridad ng nahalal na Pangulo, sa loob ng 90 araw matapos maluklok sa pwesto.
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