Arroyo federal charter excludes VP from succession during transition

House Speaker Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo (File Photo by GRIG C. MONTEGRANDE / Philippine Daily Inquirer)

Updated (7:08 p.m.)

Under the federal charter proposed by House Speaker Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and her allies, the Vice President will be excluded in the line of succession once the position of the President becomes vacant – at least during the transition period.

Under Article XVII of the draft charter, the transition period will last from the time the federal charter is adopted until the second Monday of May 2022, when the successors in both positions will have been elected.

Article XVII Section 4 of Resolution of Both Houses of Congress No. 15 states that “in case a vacancy arises by reason of removal, resignation, permanent incapacity or death of the incumbent President, the incumbent Senate President shall act as President until a President shall have been chosen and qualified.”

This is different from the current line of succession provided under Section 8, Article VII of the 1987 Constitution, which puts the Vice President first in the line of succession, followed by the Senate President and then the Speaker of the House of Representatives.

In effect, this also skips Vice President Leni Robredo as President Rodrigo Duterte’s successor during the transition period.

The lower chamber’s constitutional amendments panel earlier approved and referred to the plenary this resolution which provides for a presidential-bicameral-federal system of government.

The proposed federal charter of the House has been criticized for its lack of anti-dynasty and anti-turncoatism provisions, as well as its lifting of term limits for Congress members.

READ: Arroyo’s draft charter ‘could be worse than 1935 Constitution’—Generoso

Other key provisions

The draft charter also indicated that the President and the Vice President should have the same powers and functions as that of the 1987 Constitution. Both officials should also come from the same political party and a vote for the President would also be a vote for the Vice President.

The two highest-ranking officials should also serve a term of four years with one re-election and should be college degree holders.

The first election under the proposed Constitution would be held on the second Monday of May 2022.

It added that the term of the incumbent President and the Vice President, which shall end on June 30, 2022, should not be extended. The incumbent President is also prohibited to run for President in the 2022 elections. /atm

Read the copy of the House federal charter draft here:
Resolution of Both Houses Proposing the Revision of the 1987 Constitution

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