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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider Escudero: Rule of succession not applicable in VP Sara's removal, here's why

Escudero: Rule of succession not applicable in VP Sara's removal, here's why

Published Dec 5, 2024 07:49 am

After an impeachment complaint against Vice President Sara Duterte has been lodged in the House of Representatives, it sets in motion the impeachment process enshrined under the 1987 Constitution which left citizens with the question: In case she gets impeached, who would replace her?

According the Senate President Francis "Chiz" Escudero, the line succession would not be triggered should the Vice Presidential post gets vacated. He said that this would only happen if the President and Vice President are removed or the President, Vice President, and Senate President get removed all at the same time.

"Dun lamang papalit ang pangatlo o pang-apat (Only then would the third or fourth would come in)," Escudero said on Thursday, December 5, during a Kapihan sa Senado forum.

Escudero said that this incident already happened when former president Joseph Estrada was ousted and was replaced by then Vice President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.

"Nag-appoint siya mula sa Kongreso. Ang age requirement ng congressman ay 25 years old, ang age requirement ng senador ay 30 years old, ang president at bise-presidente ay 40 years old. So limitado ang pwedeng piliin ng pangulo na magiging ikalawang pangulo mula sa kongreso na ang edad dapat 40 pataas (He must appoint someone from Congress. The age requirement for a congressman is 25 years old, for a senator it is 30 years old, and for the president and vice president, it is 40 years old. Therefore, the president has a limited choice for the second-in-command from Congress, as they must be at least 40 years old)," the veteran lawmaker explained.

"Wala naman yatang senador na ang edad ay bababa sa 40 so lahat ng senador ay qualified pero may mga kongresistang below 40, hindi sila pwedeng i-nominate dahil hindi sila qualified (There doesn't seem to be any senator whose age is below 40, so all senators are qualified. However, there are representatives who are under 40; they cannot be nominated because they are not qualified)," he added.

Escudero said that lawmakers already possess the qualifications of the President and Vice President – natural born citizen, registered voter, resident of the Philippines and able to read and write. Only the age is missing.

"So pipili sya at matapos niyang pumili, icoconfirm ito by majority vote ng Kamara at Senado voting separately. Pag nangyari yun, sya na ang papalit bilang ikalawang Pangulo at nangyari yan kay then Senator na naging Vice president Teofisto Guingona (The President would choose, then after choosing, it will be confirmed by a majority vote in both the House of Representatives and the Senate, voting separately. Once that happens, he will assume the position of Vice President, just like what happened with then-Senator Teofisto Guingona who became Vice President)," he added.

In addition, Article VII, Section 8 of the 1987 Constitution states that "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."

Various civil society groups, including victims of extrajudicial killings (EJKs), filed on Monday, Dec. 2 an impeachment complaint against Duterte at the House of Representatives.

With this, Escudero reminded senators that the filing and endorsement of an impeachment complaint in the House of Representatives marks the beginning of a process enshrined in the Constitution to ensure accountability among the country’s highest public officials.

The House, through the Committee on Good Government and Public Accountability, has been investigating the alleged misuse of P612.5-million confidential funds under the OVP and the Department of Education (DepEd).

Related Tags

House of Representatives Impeachment complaint Senate President Francis "Chiz" Escudero Vice President Sara Duterte President Marcos
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