Article VII – The President and Vice-President | 1973 Philippine Constitution

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Section 1. The President shall be the head of state and chief executive of the Republic of the Philippines.

Section 2. There shall be a Vice-President who shall have the same qualifications and term of office as the President and may be removed from office in the same manner as the President as provided in Article XIII, Section 2 of this Constitution.

The Vice-President may be appointed as a member of the Cabinet and may be nominated and elected as Prime Minister.

The Vice-President shall be elected with and in the same manner as the President.

The President shall be elected from among the Members of the National Assembly by a majority vote of all its Members for a term of six years from the date he takes his oath of office, which shall not be later than three days after the proclamation of the National Assembly, nor in any case earlier than the expiration of the term of his predecessor. Upon taking his oath of office, the President shall cease to be a Member of the National Assembly and of any political party. He shall be ineligible to hold any other elective office during his term.

Section 3. No person may be elected President unless he is at least fifty years of age at the day of his election as President, and a resident of the Philippines for at least ten years immediately preceding his election. However, if no Member of the National Assembly is qualified or none of those qualified is a candidate for President, any Member thereof may be elected President.

Section 4.

  1. The President shall have an official residence and shall receive a compensation to be fixed by law, which shall not be increased or decreased during his term of office. He shall not receive during his tenure any other emolument from the government or any other source. Until the National Assembly shall provide otherwise, the President shall receive an annual salary of one hundred thousand pesos.

  2. The President shall not during his tenure, hold any appointive office, practice any profession, participate directly or indirectly in the management of any business, or be financially interested directly or indirectly in any contract with, or in any franchise or special privilege granted by, the government or any subdivision, agency, or instrumentality thereof, including government-owned or controlled corporations.

Section 5. In case of permanent disability, death, removal from office, or resignation of the President, the Speaker of the National Assembly shall act as President until a successor has been elected for the unexpired portion of the term of the President.

Section 6. The President shall have the following duties and functions:

  1. Address the National Assembly at the opening of its regular session.

  2. Proclaim the election of the Prime Minister.

  3. Dissolve the National Assembly and call for a general election as provided herein.

  4. Accept the resignation of the Cabinet as provided herein.

  5. Attest to the appointment or cessation from office of Members of the Cabinet, and of other officers as may be provided by law.

  6. Appoint all officers and employees in his office in accordance with the Civil Service Law.

  7. Perform such other duties and functions of State as may be provided by law.

Section 7. The President shall be immune from suit during his tenure.