Lesson 5

• Philippine Presidents and Timelines

  • Emilio F. Aguinaldo to Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.
  • 1898-2023
• Background Information on Philippine Presidents

  • Education
  • Profession
  • Academe and Military Service
  • Judicial
  • Legislative
  • Executive
• Form of Government


  Presidential VS Parliamentary
• Form of Government Characteristics

  • Period Covered
  • Constitution
  • Form of Government
  • Head of State/Government
  • Legislative Chamber(s)
• Executive Department/Cabinet Structure


  • Cabinet – Departments
  • Cabinet Rank Officials
• Presidential Qualifications


  • natural born citizen of the Philippines
  • registered voter
  • able to read and write (literate)
  • at least 40 yrs old on election day
  • resident of the Philippines for 10 yrs
• Presidential Term Limits


  • six years without reelection
  • cannot run if succeeded as President and served for > 4 yrs
  • Vice President (VP): not > two (2) successive terms
• Presidential Functions


  • executive power vested in the President of the Philippines
  • prepare the national budget
  • address the Congress at the opening of its regular session & may appear before it anytime
• Presidential Powers


  • appoint
  • control
  • ensure all laws are faithfully executed
  • call out armed forces
  • suspend writ of habeas corpus and declare martial law
  • grant reprieves, commutations, pardons, amnesty
  • remit fines & forfeitures
  • veto bills passed by Congress
  • contract or guarantee foreign loans on behalf of RP
  • negotiate foreign treaties
  • special powers
• Presidential Prohibitions


  • hold any other office or employment during tenure
  • practice any other profession
  • engage in gov't business/contract
  • appoint relatives w/n 4th civil degree of consanguinity
  • make appointments two months prior to the next presidential elections
  • grant clemency except in cases of impeachment
  • ratify treaty or international agreements
• Presidential Roles


  • Chief of State
  • Chief Executive
  • Commander in Chief
  • Chief Diplomat
  • Chief Legislator
• Grounds for Presidential Vacancy

  • death
  • permanent disability
  • resignation
  • removal from office (impeachment conviction)
  • unable to discharge the powers and duties
• Grounds for Presidential Impeachment

  • culpable violation of Constitution
  • treason
  • bribery
  • graft and corruption
  • other high crimes
  • betrayal of public trust
• Vice President Nomination and Confirmation

  • President nominate VP from members of Senate and House
  • Confirm by majority of both Houses of Congress, separate voting
• Line of Presidential Succession

  • Vice President
  • Senate President
  • Speaker of the House of Rep
• Putting together a functional gov't: bring in "best and brightest" in cabinet/gov't service, "galvanized gov't once again into governing" after the peak of Covid 19 Pandemic
• Partnership with private sector: formed Private Sector Advisory Council (PSAC) to enable the administration to meet its economic objectives with the big corporations' help and support, possible partnerships to improve/strengthen agriculture, health, infrastructure, water, energy, and tourism sectors, discussion with business leaders to expand the micro, small, and medium enterprises
• "friend" of all nations: warming up to US again after Duterte Presidency, keep cordial, if not robust ties with China amidst territorial claims/disputes in the West Philippine Sea, maintain cooperation and good working relations with the members of ASEAN
• Different anti-narcotics drive: holistic approach
• PinasLakas campaign VS Covid 19: ramp up booster vaccination drive
• Resignation/removal of a number of cabinet official within few months: Executive Secretary, Press Secretary, COA Chair, DSWD Secretary, National Security Adviser
• Hedonistic (pleasure seeking/self-indulgent) lifestyle/leadership: parties – 3 within first 3 days, foreign travels – 21 within 19 months, inaccessibility - did not go on ground to visit disaster affected areas, cannot be felt, in general
• Weak Leadership: incoherent pronouncements, reactive actions/stance - just cruising along; not on top of the situation, hypocritical on paying of taxes, being "first gentleman", took time to have regular DOH and DA Sec (June/Nov 2023)
• Controversial Moves: Maharlika Investment Fund - RA 11954: sovereign wealth fund, Charter Change: People's Initiative - Resolution of Both Houses (RB 6) - joint voting on changes, Bagong Pilipinas Campaign - leadership & governance branding
• did not go on ground to visit disaster affected areas
• cannot be felt, in general
• Weak Leadership


  • incoherent pronouncements
  • reactive actions/stance
  • just cruising along; not on top of the situation
  • hypocritical on paying of taxes
  • being "first gentleman"
  • took time to have regular DOH and DA Sec (June/Nov 2023)
• Maharlika Investment Fund
• RA 11954: sovereign wealth fund
• Charter Change: People's Initiative
• Resolution of Both Houses (RB 6)
• joint voting on changes
• Bagong Pilipinas Campaign
• GDP rate at 5.6% in 2023
• GDP rate at 7.6% in 2022
• Q1: 6.4% (8.0 % in 2022)
• Q2: 4.3% (7.5% in 2022)
• Q3: 6.0% (7.7% in 2022)
• Q4: 5.6% (7.1% in 2022)
• GDP growth rate result can be misleading