President of the Philippines

President of the Philippines is the head of state and head of government of the Republic of the Philippines. The officeholder leads the executive branch of the national government and is the commander-in-chief of the Armed Forces of the Philippines. The position was formally established with the proclamation of the First Philippine Republic under Emilio Aguinaldo and has evolved through periods of American rule, the Commonwealth of the Philippines, and subsequent republican constitutions.

History

The origins of the office trace back to the revolutionary governments established during the Philippine Revolution against Spain, notably the Tejeros Convention which elected Emilio Aguinaldo. Following the Philippine–American War, executive authority was held by American-appointed Governors-General until the passage of the Tydings–McDuffie Act paved the way for the Commonwealth of the Philippines, with Manuel L. Quezon as its first president. The Third Philippine Republic was inaugurated in 1946 with Manuel Roxas, followed by periods of political turmoil including the martial law era under Ferdinand Marcos and the People Power Revolution that installed Corazon Aquino, who oversaw the drafting of the current 1987 Constitution.

Election and term

The president is elected by direct popular vote for a single, non-renewable six-year term, as mandated by the 1987 Constitution. Elections are administered by the Commission on Elections and are held every six years on the second Monday of May. To qualify, a candidate must be a natural-born citizen, a registered voter, able to read and write, at least forty years old on election day, and a resident of the Philippines for at least ten years preceding the election. The Supreme Court sits as the Presidential Electoral Tribunal to adjudicate any electoral contests.

Powers and duties

Constitutional powers include control over all executive departments, bureaus, and offices, the power to appoint officials subject to confirmation by the Commission on Appointments, and the authority to grant executive clemency. As commander-in-chief, the president may call out the Armed Forces of the Philippines to prevent or suppress lawless violence, invasion, or rebellion. The officeholder also exercises diplomatic power by entering into treaties with the concurrence of the Senate and addresses the Congress of the Philippines annually via the State of the Nation Address. The national budget is submitted by the president through the Department of Budget and Management.

Succession and vacancy

The Vice President of the Philippines is first in the line of succession and assumes the office in case of the president's death, permanent disability, removal by impeachment, or resignation. Should both offices become vacant, the Senate President acts as president, followed by the House Speaker if necessary, until a special election is held. This process was invoked during the Second EDSA Revolution when Gloria Macapagal Arroyo succeeded Joseph Estrada. The Congress of the Philippines has the sole power to declare presidential incapacity.

List of presidents

Seventeen individuals have served as president, beginning with Emilio Aguinaldo of the First Philippine Republic. Key figures include Manuel L. Quezon, the first Commonwealth president; Ramon Magsaysay, known for agrarian reform; Ferdinand Marcos, whose rule included martial law; Corazon Aquino, the first female president; Fidel V. Ramos, a key figure in the economic reforms of the 1990s; and Rodrigo Duterte, associated with the Philippine Drug War. The incumbent, Bongbong Marcos, son of Ferdinand Marcos, was elected in the 2022 Philippine presidential election.

Official residence and symbols

The principal workplace and official residence is Malacañang Palace in Manila, a complex with a history dating to the Spanish colonial period. The president also uses Bahay Pangarap within the Malacañang Park as a private residence. Official symbols include the Presidential Seal, the Presidential Standard, and the Presidential sash. The Presidential Management Staff assists in administrative functions, while security is provided by the Presidential Security Group. Category:Presidents of the Philippines Category:Heads of state of the Philippines Category:Government of the Philippines