July 25, 1987

WHEREAS, the Administrative Code currently in force was first forged in 1917 when the relationship between the people and the government was defined by the colonial order then prevailing;

WHEREAS, efforts to achieve an integrative and overall recodification of its provisions resulted in the Administrative Code of 1978 which, however, was never published and later expressly repealed;

WHEREAS, the effectiveness of the Government will be enhanced by a new Administrative Code which incorporates in a unified document the major structural, functional and procedural principles and rules of governance; and

WHEREAS, a new Administrative Code will be of optimum benefit to the people and Government officers and employees as it embodies changes in administrative structures and procedures designed to serve the people;

NOW, THEREFORE, I, CORAZON C. AQUINO, President of the Philippines, by virtue of the powers vested in me by the Constitution, do hereby promulgate the Administrative Code of 1987, as follows:

Introductory Provisions

SECTION 1. Title. — This Act shall be known as the "Administrative Code of 1987."

SECTION 2. General Terms Defined. — Unless the specific words of the text, or the context as a whole, or a particular statute, shall require a different meaning:

(1) Government of the Republic of the Philippines refers to the corporate governmental entity through which the functions of government are exercised throughout the Philippines, including, save as the contrary appears from the context, the various arms through which political authority is made effective in the Philippines, whether pertaining to the autonomous regions, the provincial, city, municipal or barangay subdivisions or other forms of local government.

(2) National Government refers to the entire machinery of the central government, as distinguished from the different forms of local governments.

(3) Local Government refers to the political subdivisions established by or in accordance with the Constitution.

(4) Agency of the Government refers to any of the various units of the Government, including a department, bureau, office, instrumentality, or government-owned or controlled corporation, or a local government or a distinct unit therein.

(5) National Agency refers to a unit of the National Government.

(6) Local Agency refers to a local government or a distinct unit therein.

(7) Department refers to an executive department created by law. For purposes of Book IV, this shall include any instrumentality, as herein defined, having or assigned the rank of a department, regardless of its name or designation.

(8) Bureau refers to any principal subdivision or unit of any department. For purposes of Book IV, this shall include any principal subdivision or unit of any instrumentality given or assigned the rank of a bureau, regardless of actual name or designation, as in the case of department-wide regional offices.

(9) Office refers, within the framework of governmental organization, to any major functional unit of a department or bureau including regional offices. It may also refer to any position held or occupied by individual persons, whose functions are defined by law or regulation.

(10) Instrumentality refers to any agency of the National Government, not integrated within the department framework vested with special functions or jurisdiction by law, endowed with some if not all corporate powers, administering special funds, and enjoying operational autonomy, usually through a charter. This term includes regulatory agencies, chartered institutions and government-owned or controlled corporations.

(11) Regulatory agency refers to any agency expressly vested with jurisdiction to regulate, administer or adjudicate matters affecting substantial rights and interest of private persons, the principal powers of which are exercised by a collective body, such as a commission, board or council.

(12) Chartered institution refers to any agency organized or operating under a special charter, and vested by law with functions relating to specific constitutional policies or objectives. This term includes the state universities and colleges and the monetary authority of the State.

(13) Government-owned or controlled corporation refers to any agency organized as a stock or non-stock corporation, vested with functions relating to public needs whether governmental or proprietary in nature, and owned by the Government directly or through its instrumentalities either wholly, or, where applicable as in the case of stock corporations, to the extent of at least fifty-one (51) per cent of its capital stock: Provided, That government-owned or controlled corporations may be further categorized by the Department of the Budget, the Civil Service Commission, and the Commission on Audit for purposes of the exercise and discharge of their respective powers, functions and responsibilities with respect to such corporations.

(14) "Officer" as distinguished from "clerk" or "employee", refers to a person whose duties, not being of a clerical or manual nature, involves the exercise of discretion in the performance of the functions of the government. When used with reference to a person having authority to do a particular act or perform a particular function in the exercise of governmental power, "officer" includes any government employee, agent or body having authority to do the act or exercise that function.

(15) "Employee" when used with reference to a person in the public service, includes any person in the service of the government or any of its agencies, divisions, subdivisions or instrumentalities.

BOOK I Sovereignty and General Administration

CHAPTER 1 The National Territory

SECTION 3. What Comprises National Territory. — The national territory comprises the Philippine archipelago, with all the islands and waters embraced therein, and all other territories over which the Philippines has sovereignty or jurisdiction, consisting of its terrestrial, fluvial, and aerial domains, including its territorial sea, the seabed, the subsoil, the insular shelves, and other submarine areas. The waters around, between, and connecting the islands of the archipelago, regardless of their breadth and dimensions, form part of the internal waters of the Philippines.

SECTION 4. Territorial Subdivision of the Philippines. — The territorial and political subdivisions of the Philippines are the autonomous regions, provinces, subprovinces, cities, municipalities and barangays.

CHAPTER 2 The People

SECTION 5. Who are Citizens. — The following are the citizens of the Philippines:

(1) Those who are citizens of the Philippines at the time of the adoption of the Constitution;

(2) Those whose fathers or mothers are citizens of the Philippines;

(3) Those born before January 17, 1973, of Filipino mothers, who elect Philippine citizenship upon reaching the age of majority;

(4) Those who are naturalized in accordance with law.

SECTION 6. Effect of Marriage. — Citizens of the Philippines who marry aliens shall retain their citizenship, unless by their act or omission they are deemed, under the law, to have renounced it.

SECTION 7. Natural-born Citizen. — Natural-born citizens are those who are citizens of the Philippines from birth without having to perform any act to acquire or perfect their Philippine citizenship. Those who elect Philippine citizenship in accordance with the Constitution shall be deemed natural-born citizens.

SECTION 8. Loss or Reacquisition of Citizenship. — Philippine citizenship may be lost or reacquired in the manner provided by law.

SECTION 9. Dual Allegiance. — Dual allegiance is inimical to the national interest and shall be dealt with by law.

CHAPTER 3 State Immunity from Suit

SECTION 10. Non-suability of the State. — No suit shall lie against the State except with its consent as provided by law.

SECTION 11. The State's Responsibility for Acts of Agents. — (1) The State shall be legally bound and responsible only through the acts performed in accordance with the Constitution and the laws by its duly authorized representatives.

(2) The State shall not be bound by the mistakes or errors of its officers or agents in the exercise of their functions.

CHAPTER 4 National Symbols and Official Languages

SECTION 12. National Flag. — (1) The flag of the Philippines shall be red, white and blue, with a sun and three stars, as consecrated and honored by the people and recognized by law.

(2) The custody, ceremonial use, occasion and manner of display, and the proper care and disposition of the flag shall be governed by appropriate rules and regulations.

SECTION 13. National Anthem. — Until otherwise provided by law, the musical arrangement and composition of Julian Felipe is adopted as the national anthem. It shall be sung or played upon the opening or start of all state celebrations or gatherings and on such other occasions as may be prescribed by appropriate rules and regulations.

SECTION 14. Arms and Great Seal of the Republic of the Philippines. — (1) The Arms shall have paleways of two (2) pieces, azure and gules; a chief argent studded with three mullets equidistant from each other; and, in point of honor, ovoid argent over all the sun rayonnant with eight minor and lesser rays. Beneath shall be a scroll with the words "Republic of the Philippines," or its equivalent in the national language, inscribed thereon.

(2) The Great Seal shall be circular in form, with the arms as described in the preceding paragraph, but without the scroll and the inscription thereon, and surrounding the whole, a double marginal circle within which shall appear the words "Republic of the Philippines," or its equivalent in the national language. For the purpose of placing the Great Seal, the color of the arms shall not be deemed essential.

SECTION 15. Use and Custody of Great Seal. — The Great Seal shall be affixed to or placed upon all commissions signed by the President and upon such other official documents and papers of the Republic of the Philippines as may be provided by law, or as may be required by custom and usage. The President shall have custody of the Great Seal.

SECTION 16. Arms, Seals and Banners of Government Offices. — The various offices of government may adopt appropriate coat-of-arms, seals and banners.

SECTION 17. Official Languages. — Until otherwise provided by law, Pilipino and English shall be the official languages.

CHAPTER 5 Operation and Effect of Laws

SECTION 18. When Laws Take Effect. — Laws shall take effect after fifteen (15) days following the completion of their publication in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation, unless it is otherwise provided.

SECTION 19. Prospectivity. — Laws shall have prospective effect unless the contrary is expressly provided.

SECTION 20. Interpretation of Laws and Administrative Issuances. — In the interpretation of a law or administrative issuance promulgated in all the official languages, the English text shall control, unless otherwise specifically provided. In case of ambiguity, omission or mistake, the other texts may be consulted.

SECTION 21. No Implied Revival of Repealed Law.— When a law which expressly repeals a prior law is itself repealed, the law first repealed shall not be thereby revived unless expressly so provided.

SECTION 22. Revival of Law Impliedly Repealed. — When a law which impliedly repeals a prior law is itself repealed, the prior law shall thereby be revived, unless the repealing law provides otherwise.

SECTION 23. Ignorance of the Law. — Ignorance of the law excuses no one from compliance therewith.

CHAPTER 6 Official Gazette

SECTION 24. Contents. — There shall be published in the Official Gazette all legislative acts and resolutions of a public nature; all executive and administrative issuances of general application; decisions or abstracts of decisions of the Supreme Court and the Court of Appeals, or other courts of similar rank, as may be deemed by the said courts of sufficient importance to be so published; such documents or classes of documents as may be required so to be published by law; and such documents or classes of documents as the President shall determine from time to time to have general application or which he may authorize so to be published.

The publication of any law, resolution or other official documents in the Official Gazette shall be prima facie evidence of its authority.

SECTION 25. Editing and Publications. — The Official Gazette shall be edited in the Office of the President and published weekly in Pilipino or in the English language. It shall be sold and distributed by the National Printing Office which shall promptly mail copies thereof to subscribers free of postage.

CHAPTER 7 Regular Holidays and Nationwide Special Days

SECTION 26. Regular Holidays and Nationwide Special Days. — (1) (1) Unless otherwise modified by law, order or proclamation, the following regular holidays and special days shall be observed in the country:

Provided, That for movable holidays, the President shall issue a proclamation, at least six months prior to the holiday concerned, the specific date that shall be declared as a non-working day:

Provided, however, That Eidul Adha shall be celebrated as a regional holiday in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao.

(as amended by Republic Act No. 9177, [November 13, 2002], and Republic Act No. 9492, [July 24, 2007])

(2) The terms "legal or regular holiday" and "special holiday", as used in laws, orders, rules and regulations or other issuances shall be referred to as "regular holiday" and "special day", respectively.

SECTION 27. Local Special Days. — The President may proclaim any local special day for a particular date, group or place.

SECTION 28. Pretermission of Holiday. — Where the day, or the last day, for doing any act required or permitted by law falls on a regular holiday or special day, the act may be done on the next succeeding business day.

CHAPTER 8 Legal Weights, Measures and Period

SECTION 29. Official Use of Metric System. — The metric system of weights and measures shall be used in the Philippines for all products, articles, goods, commodities, materials, merchandise, utilities, services, as well as for commercial transactions like contracts, agreements, deeds and other legal instruments publicly and officially attested, and for all official documents. Only weights and measures of the metric system shall be officially sealed and licensed.

SECTION 30. Mandatory Nation-wide Use. — The metric system shall be fully adopted in all agricultural, commercial, industrial, scientific and other sectors. Persons or entities allowed under existing laws to use the English system or other standards and weights are given until the date to be fixed by the Metric System Board to adopt the metric system.

SECTION 31. Legal Periods. — "Year" shall be understood to be twelve calendar months; "month" of thirty days, unless it refers to a specific calendar month in which case it shall be computed according to the number of days the specific month contains; "day," to a day of twenty-four hours; and "night," from sunset to sunrise.

CHAPTER 9 General Principles Governing Public Officers

SECTION 32. Nature of Public Office. — Public office is a public trust. Public officers and employees must at all times be accountable to the people, serve them with the utmost responsibility, integrity, loyalty and efficiency, act with patriotism and justice, and lead modest lives.

SECTION 33. Policy on Change of Citizenship. — Public officers and employees owe the State and the Constitution allegiance at all times, and any public officer or employee who seeks to change his citizenship or acquire the status of an immigrant of another country during his tenure shall be dealt with by law.

SECTION 34. Declaration of Assets, Liabilities and Net Worth. — A public officer or employee shall, upon assumption of office and as often thereafter as may be required by law, submit a declaration under oath of his assets, liabilities, and net worth.

SECTION 35. Ethics in Government. — All public officers and employees shall be bound by a Code of Ethics to be promulgated by the Civil Service Commission.

SECTION 36. Inhibition Against Purchase of Property at Tax Sale. — No officer or employee of the government shall purchase directly or indirectly any property sold by the government for the non-payment of any tax, fee or other public charge. Any such purchase by an officer or employee shall be void.

SECTION 37. Powers Incidental to Taking of Testimony. — When authority to take testimony or receive evidence is conferred upon any administrative officer or any non-judicial person, committee, or other body, such authority shall include the power to administer oaths, summon witnesses, and require the production of documents by a subpoena duces tecum.

SECTION 38. Liability of Superior Officers. — (1) A public officer shall not be civilly liable for acts done in the performance of his official duties, unless there is a clear showing of bad faith, malice or gross negligence.

(2) Any public officer who, without just cause, neglects to perform a duty within a period fixed by law or regulation, or within a reasonable period if none is fixed, shall be liable for damages to the private party concerned without prejudice to such other liability as may be prescribed by law.

(3) A head of a department or a superior officer shall not be civilly liable for the wrongful acts, omissions of duty, negligence, or misfeasance of his subordinates, unless he has actually authorized by written order the specific act or misconduct complained of.

SECTION 39. Liability of Subordinate Officers. —No subordinate officer or employee shall be civilly liable for acts done by him in good faith in the performance of his duties. However, he shall be liable for willful or negligent acts done by him which are contrary to law, morals, public policy and good customs even if he acted under orders or instructions of his superiors.

CHAPTER 10 Official Oaths

SECTION 40. Oaths of Office for Public Officers and Employees. — All public officers and employees of the government including every member of the armed forces shall, before entering upon the discharge of his duties, take an oath or affirmation to uphold and defend the Constitution; that he will bear true faith and allegiance to it; obey the laws, legal orders and decrees promulgated by the duly constituted authorities; will well and faithfully discharge to the best of his ability the duties of the office or position upon which he is about to enter; and that he voluntarily assumes the obligation imposed by his oath of office, without mental reservation or purpose of evasion. Copies of the oath shall be deposited with the Civil Service Commission and the National Archives.

SECTION 41. Officers Authorized to Administer Oath. — The following officers have general authority to administer oaths: President; Vice President, Members and Secretaries of both Houses of Congress; Members of the Judiciary; Secretaries of Departments; provincial governors and lieutenant-governors; city mayors; municipal mayors; bureau directors; regional directors; clerks of court; registrars of deeds; other civilian officers in the public service of the government of the Philippines whose appointments are vested in the President and are subject to confirmation by the Commission on Appointments; all other constitutional officers; PAO lawyers in connection with the performance of duty; and notaries public. (as amended by Republic Act No. 6733, [July 25, 1989] and Republic Act No. 9406, [March 23, 2007])

SECTION 42. Duty to Administer Oath. — Officers authorized to administer oaths, with the exception of notaries public, municipal judges and clerks of court, are not obliged to administer oaths or execute certificates save in matters of official business or in relation to their functions as such; and with the exception of notaries public, the officer performing the service in those matters shall charge no fee, unless specifically authorized by law. (as amended by Republic Act No. 9406, [March 23, 2007])

CHAPTER 11 Official Reports

SECTION 43. Annual Reports. — The heads of the several branches, subdivisions, departments and agencies or instrumentalities of the Government shall prepare and submit annual reports to the President on or before the first day of July of each year.

SECTION 44. Contents of Reports. — The contents of the annual report shall be prescribed by law or, in the absence thereof, by executive order.

SECTION 45. Special Reports. — Each chief of Bureau or other officer of the government shall make such special reports concerning the work of his Bureau or Office as may from time to time be required of him by the President of the Philippines or Head of Department.

SECTION 46. Deposit with Archives. — Official copies of annual reports shall be deposited with the National Archives and shall be open to public inspection.

CHAPTER 12 Public Contracts and Conveyances

SECTION 47. Contracts and Conveyances. — Contracts or conveyances may be executed for and in behalf of the Government or of any of its branches, subdivisions, agencies, or instrumentalities, including government-owned or controlled corporations, whenever demanded by the exigency or exigencies of the service and as long as the same are not prohibited by law.

SECTION 48. Official Authorized to Convey Real Property. — Whenever real property of the Government is authorized by law to be conveyed, the deed of conveyance shall be executed in behalf of the government by the following:

(1) For property belonging to and titled in the name of the Republic of the Philippines, by the President, unless the authority therefor is expressly vested by law in another officer.

(2) For property belonging to the Republic of the Philippines but titled in the name of any political subdivision or of any corporate agency or instrumentality, by the executive head of the agency or instrumentality.

SECTION 49. Authority to Convey Other Property. — Whenever property other than real is authorized to be conveyed, the contract or deed shall be executed by the head of the agency with the approval of the department head. Where the operations of the agency regularly involve the sale or other disposition of personal property, the deed shall be executed by any officer or employee expressly authorized for that purpose.

SECTION 50. Conveyance of National Government Property to Local Governments. — When the real property belonging to the National Government is needed for school purposes, or other official use by any local government, the President shall authorize its transfer, and the department head or other authority concerned shall execute in favor of the local government the necessary deed of conveyance by way of gift, sale, exchange, or otherwise, and upon such terms as shall be for the interest of the parties concerned. Nothing herein provided shall be deemed to authorize the conveyance of unreserved public land, friar land or any real property held by the Government in trust or for a special purpose defined by law.

SECTION 51. Execution of Contracts. — (1) Contracts in behalf of the Republic of the Philippines shall be executed by the President unless authority therefor is expressly vested by law or by him in any other public officer.

(2) Contracts in behalf of the political subdivisions and corporate agencies or instrumentalities shall be approved by their respective governing boards or councils and executed by their respective executive heads.

BOOK II Distribution of Powers of Government

CHAPTER 1 Basic Principles and Policies

SECTION 1. Guiding Principles and Policies in Government. — Government power shall be exercised in accordance with the following basic principles and policies:

(1) The Philippines is a democratic and republican State. Sovereignty resides in the people and all government authority emanates from them.

(2) The State values the dignity of every human person and guarantees full respect for human rights.

(3) Civilian authority is, at all times, supreme over the military.

(4) The State shall ensure the autonomy of local governments.

(5) The territorial and political subdivisions of the Republic of the Philippines are the provinces, cities, municipalities, and barangays. There shall be autonomous regions, in accordance with the Constitution, in Muslim Mindanao and the Cordilleras as may be provided by law.

(6) The separation of Church and State shall be inviolable.

(7) The right of the people and their organizations to effective and reasonable participation at all levels of social, political, and economic decision-making shall not be abridged. The State shall, by law, facilitate the establishment of adequate consultation mechanisms.

(8) The powers expressly vested in any branch of the Government shall not be exercised by, nor delegated to, any other branch of the Government, except to the extent authorized by the Constitution.

CHAPTER 2 Legislative Power

SECTION 2. Seat of Legislative Power. — The legislative power shall be vested in the Congress of the Philippines which shall consist of a Senate and a House of Representatives, except to the extent reserved to the people by the Constitutional provision on initiative and referendum.

SECTION 3. Inhibitions Against Members of Congress. — (1) No Senator or Member of the House of Representatives may hold any other office or employment in the Government, or any subdivision, agency, or instrumentality thereof, including government-owned or controlled corporations or their subsidiaries, during his term without forfeiting his seat. Neither shall he be appointed to any office which may have been created or the emoluments thereof increased during the term for which he was elected.

(2) No Senator or Member of the House of Representatives may personally appear as counsel before any court of justice or before the Electoral Tribunals, or quasi-judicial and other administrative bodies. Neither shall he, directly or indirectly, be interested financially in any contract with, or in any franchise or special privilege granted by the Government, or any subdivision, agency or instrumentality thereof including any government-owned or controlled corporation, or its subsidiary, during his term of office. He shall not intervene in any matter before any office of the Government for his pecuniary benefit or where he may be called upon to act on account of his office.

SECTION 4. Electoral Tribunal. — The Senate and the House of Representatives shall each have an Electoral Tribunal which shall be the sole judge of all contests relating to the election, returns, and qualifications of their respective Members. Each Electoral Tribunal shall be composed of nine (9) Members, three (3) of whom shall be Justices of the Supreme Court to be designated by the Chief Justice, and the remaining six (6) shall be Members of the Senate or the House of Representatives, as the case may be, who shall be chosen on the basis of proportional representation from the political parties and the parties or organizations registered under the party-list system represented therein. The senior Justice in the Electoral Tribunal shall be its Chairman.

SECTION 5. Commission on Appointments. — There shall be a Commission on Appointments consisting of the President of the Senate, as ex officio Chairman, and twelve (12) Senators and twelve (12) Members of the House of Representatives, elected by each House on the basis of proportional representation from the political parties and parties or organizations registered under the party-list system represented therein. The Chairman of the Commission shall not vote, except in case of a tie. The Commission shall act on all appointments submitted to it within thirty (30) session days of the Congress from their submission. The Commission shall rule by a majority vote of all its members.

SECTION 6. Legislative Investigation. — The Senate or the House of Representatives or any of its respective committees may conduct inquiries in aid of legislation in accordance with its duly published rules of procedure. The rights of persons appearing in or affected by such inquiries shall be respected.

SECTION 7. Appearance of Heads of Departments. — The heads of departments may upon their own initiative, with the consent of the President, or upon the request of either House, as the rules of each House shall provide, appear before and be heard by such House on any matter pertaining to their departments. Written questions shall be submitted to the President of the Senate or the Speaker of the House of Representatives at least three (3) days before their scheduled appearance. Interpellations shall not be limited to written questions, but may cover matters related thereto. When the security of the State or the public interest so requires and the President so states in writing, the appearance shall be conducted in executive session.

SECTION 8. Initiative and Referendum. — The Congress shall, as early as possible, provide for a system of initiative and referendum and the exceptions therefrom, whereby the people can directly propose and enact laws or approve or reject any act or law or part thereof passed by the Congress or local legislative body after the registration of a petition therefor signed by at least ten (10) per centum of the total number of registered voters, of which every legislative district must be represented by at least three (3) per centum of the registered voters thereof.

SECTION 9. Power to Propose Constitutional Amendments. — (1) Any amendment to, or revision of the Constitution may be proposed by: (a) the Congress, upon a vote of three-fourths (3/4) of all its Members; or (b) a constitutional convention. The Congress may, by a vote of two-thirds (2/3) of all its Members, call a constitutional convention, or by a majority vote of all its Members, submit to the electorate the question of calling such a convention.

(2) Amendments to the Constitution may likewise be directly proposed by the people through initiative upon a petition of at least twelve (12) per centum of the total number of registered voters, of which every legislative district must be represented by at least three (3) per centum of the registered voters therein. No amendments under this paragraph shall be authorized within five years following the ratification of the 1987 Constitution nor oftener than once every five years thereafter. The Congress shall provide for the implementation of the exercise of this right.

SECTION 10. Validity of Constitutional Amendments. — (1) Any amendment to or revision of the Constitution proposed by Congress or a constitutional convention shall be valid when ratified by a majority of the votes cast in a plebiscite which shall be held not earlier than sixty days (60) nor later than ninety days (90) after the approval of such amendment or revision.

(2) Any amendment to or revision of the Constitution directly proposed by the people through initiative shall be valid when ratified by a majority of the votes cast in a plebiscite which shall be held not earlier than sixty days (60) nor later than ninety days (90) after the certification by the Commission on Elections of the sufficiency of the petition.

CHAPTER 3 Executive Power

SECTION 11. Exercise of Executive Power. — The Executive power shall be vested in the President.

SECTION 12. The Vice-President. — There shall be a Vice-President who shall have the same qualifications and term of office and be elected with and in the same manner as the President. He may be removed from office in the same manner as the President.

The Vice-President may be appointed as a Member of the Cabinet. Such appointment requires no confirmation.

SECTION 13. Vacancy in Office of the President. — 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.

The Congress shall, by law, provide who shall serve as President in case of death, permanent disability, or resignation of the Acting President. He shall serve until the President or Vice-President shall have been elected and qualified, and be subject to the same restrictions of powers and disqualifications as the Acting President.

SECTION 14. Vacancy in Office of the Vice-President. — Whenever there is a vacancy in the Office of the Vice-President during the term for which he was elected, the President shall nominate a Vice-President from among the Members of the Senate and the House of Representatives who shall assume office upon confirmation by a majority vote of all the Members of both Houses of Congress, voting separately.

SECTION 15. Inhibitions Against Executive Officials. — The President, Vice-President, the Members of the Cabinet, and their deputies or assistants shall not, unless otherwise provided in this Constitution, hold any other office or employment during their tenure. They shall not, during said tenure, directly or indirectly practice any other profession, participate in any business, or be financially interested 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 or their subsidiaries. They shall strictly avoid conflicts of interest in the conduct of their office.

The spouse and relatives by consanguinity or affinity within the fourth civil degree of the President shall not during his tenure be appointed as Members of the Constitutional Commissions, or the Office of the Ombudsman, or as Secretaries, Undersecretaries, chairmen or heads of bureaus or offices, including government-owned or controlled corporations and their subsidiaries.

CHAPTER 4 Judicial Power

SECTION 16. Judicial Power. — The judicial power shall be vested in one (1) Supreme Court, and in such lower courts as may be established by law. Such lower courts include the Court of Appeals, Sandiganbayan, Court of Tax Appeals, Regional Trial Courts, Shari'a District Courts, Metropolitan Trial Courts, Municipal Trial Courts and Municipal Circuit Trial Courts, and Shari'a Circuit Courts and they shall continue to exercise their respective jurisdictions until otherwise provided by law.

Judicial power includes the duty of the courts of justice to settle actual controversies involving rights which are legally demandable and enforceable, and, in cases prescribed by law, to determine whether or not there has been a grave abuse of discretion amounting to lack or excess of jurisdiction on the part of any branch or instrumentality of the Government.

SECTION 17. Composition of the Supreme Court. — The Supreme Court shall be composed of a Chief Justice and fourteen Associate Justices. It may sit en banc or in its discretion, in divisions of three, five or seven Members.

SECTION 18. Jurisdiction and Powers of Supreme Court. — The Supreme Court shall have the following powers:

(1) Exercise original jurisdiction over cases affecting ambassadors, other public ministers and consuls, and over petitions for certiorari, prohibition,mandamus, quo warranto, and habeas corpus.

(2) Review, revise, reverse, modify, or affirm on appeal or certiorari as the law or the Rules of Court may provide, final judgments and orders of lower courts in:

(a) All cases in which the constitutionality or validity of any treaty, international or executive agreement, law, presidential decree, proclamation, order, instruction, ordinance, or regulation is in question.

(b) All cases involving the legality of any tax, impost, assessment, or toll, or any penalty imposed in relation thereto.

(c) All cases in which the jurisdiction of any lower court is in issue.

(d) All criminal cases in which the penalty imposed is reclusion perpetua or higher.

(e) All cases in which only an error or question of law is involved.

(3) Assign temporarily judges of lower courts to other stations as public interest may require. Such temporary assignment shall not exceed six (6) months without the consent of the judge concerned.

(4) Order a change of venue or place of trial to avoid a miscarriage of justice.

(5) Promulgate rules concerning the protection and enforcement of constitutional rights, pleading, practice, and procedure in all courts, the admission to the practice of law, the Integrated Bar, and legal assistance to the underprivileged. Such rules shall provide a simplified and inexpensive procedure for the speedy disposition of cases, shall be uniform for all courts of the same grade; and shall not diminish, increase, or modify substantive rights. Rules of procedure of special courts and quasi-judicial bodies shall remain effective unless disapproved by the Supreme Court.

(6) Appoint all officials and employees of the Judiciary in accordance with the Civil Service Law.

SECTION 19. Apportionment of Jurisdiction. — Congress shall define, prescribe and apportion the jurisdiction of the various courts but may not deprive the Supreme Court of its jurisdiction enumerated in the immediately preceding section. Neither shall a law be passed increasing its appellate jurisdiction as therein specified without its advice and concurrence.

No law shall be passed reorganizing the Judiciary when it undermines the security of tenure of its Members.

SECTION 20. Administrative Supervision.— The Supreme Court shall have administrative supervision over all courts and the personnel thereof.

SECTION 21. Judicial and Bar Council. — (1) A Judicial and Bar Council is hereby created under the supervision of the Supreme Court composed of the Chief Justice as ex officio Chairman, the Secretary of Justice, and a representative of the Congress as ex officio Member, a representative of the Integrated Bar, a professor of law, a retired Member of the Supreme Court, and a representative of the private sector.

(2) The regular members of the Council shall be appointed by the President for a term of four (4) years with the consent of the Commission on Appointments. Of the Members first appointed, the representative of the Integrated Bar shall serve for four (4) years, the professor of law for three (3) years, the retired Justice for two (2) years, and the representative of the private sector for one (1) year.

(3) The Clerk of the Supreme Court shall be the Secretary ex officio of the Council and shall keep a record of its proceedings.

(4) The regular Members of the Council shall receive such emoluments as may be determined by the Supreme Court. The Supreme Court shall provide in its annual budget the appropriations for the Council.

(5) The Council shall have the principal function of recommending appointees to the Judiciary. It may exercise such other functions and duties as the Supreme Court may assign to it.

SECTION 22. Appointment of Members of Judiciary. — The Members of the Supreme Court and judges of lower courts shall be appointed by the President from a list of at least three (3) nominees prepared by the Judicial and Bar Council for every vacancy. Such appointments need no confirmation.

For the lower courts, the President shall issue the appointments within ninety (90) days from the submission of the list.

SECTION 23. Prohibition Against Performing Quasi-Judicial or Administrative Functions. — The Members of the Supreme Court and of other courts established by law shall not be designated to any agency performing quasi-judicial or administrative functions.

CHAPTER 5 Constitutional Commissions

SECTION 24. Constitutional Commissions. — The Constitutional Commissions, which shall be independent, are the Civil Service Commission, the Commission on Elections, and the Commission on Audit.

SECTION 25. Inhibitions Against Constitutional Commissioners. — No member of a Constitutional Commission shall, during his tenure, hold any other office or employment. Neither shall he engage in the practice of any profession or in the active management or control of any business which in anyway may be affected by the functions of his office, nor shall he be financially interested, directly or indirectly, in any contract with, or in any franchise or privilege granted by the Government, any of its subdivisions, agencies, or instrumentalities, including government-owned or controlled corporations or their subsidiaries.

SECTION 26. Fiscal Autonomy. — The Constitutional Commissions shall enjoy fiscal autonomy. The approved annual appropriations shall be automatically and regularly released.

SECTION 27. Promulgation of Rules. — Each Commission en banc may promulgate its own rules concerning pleadings and practice before it or before any of its offices. Such rules however shall not diminish, increase, or modify substantive rights.

SECTION 28. Decisions by the Constitutional Commissions.— Each Commission shall decide, by a majority vote of all its Members, any case or matter brought before it within sixty (60) days from the date of its submission for decision or resolution. A case or matter is deemed submitted for decision or resolution upon the filing of the last pleading, brief, or memorandum required by the rules of the Commission or by the Commission itself. Unless otherwise provided by the Constitution or by law, any decision, order, or ruling of each Commission may be brought to the Supreme Court on certiorari by the aggrieved party within thirty (30) days from receipt of a copy thereof.

CHAPTER 6 Other Bodies

SECTION 29. Other Bodies. — There shall be in accordance with the Constitution, an Office of the Ombudsman, a Commission on Human Rights, an independent central monetary authority, and a national police commission. Likewise, as provided in the Constitution, Congress may establish an independent economic and planning agency.

BOOK III Office of the President

TITLE I Powers of the President

CHAPTER 1 Power of Control

SECTION 1. Power of Control. — The President shall have control of all the executive departments, bureaus, and offices. He shall ensure that the laws be faithfully executed.

CHAPTER 2 Ordinance Power

SECTION 2. Executive Orders. — Acts of the President providing for rules of a general or permanent character in implementation or execution of constitutional or statutory powers shall be promulgated in executive orders.

SECTION 3. Administrative Orders. — Acts of the President which relate to particular aspects of governmental operations in pursuance of his duties as administrative head shall be promulgated in administrative orders.

SECTION 4. Proclamations. — Acts of the President fixing a date or declaring a status or condition of public moment or interest, upon the existence of which the operation of a specific law or regulation is made to depend, shall be promulgated in proclamations which shall have the force of an executive order.

SECTION 5. Memorandum Orders. — Acts of the President on matters of administrative detail or of subordinate or temporary interest which only concern a particular officer or office of the Government shall be embodied in memorandum orders.

SECTION 6. Memorandum Circulars. — Acts of the President on matters relating to internal administration, which the President desires to bring to the attention of all or some of the departments, agencies, bureaus or offices of the Government, for information or compliance, shall be embodied in memorandum circulars.

SECTION 7. General or Special Orders. — Acts and commands of the President in his capacity as Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Philippines shall be issued as general or special orders.

CHAPTER 3 Power Over Aliens

SECTION 8. Power to Deport. — The President shall have the power to deport aliens subject to the requirements of due process.

SECTION 9. Power to Change Non-Immigrant Status of Aliens. — The President, subject to the provisions of law, shall have the power to change the status of non-immigrants by allowing them to acquire permanent residence status without necessity of visa.

SECTION 10. Power to Countermand Decisions of the Board of Commissioners of the Bureau of Immigration. — The decision of the Board of Commissioners which has jurisdiction over all deportation cases shall become final and executory after thirty (30) days from promulgation, unless within such period the President shall order the contrary.

SECTION 11. Power over Aliens under the General Principles of International Law. — The President shall exercise with respect to aliens in the Philippines such powers as are recognized by the generally accepted principles of international law.

CHAPTER 4 Powers of Eminent Domain, Escheat, Land Reservation and Recovery of Ill-gotten Wealth

SECTION 12. Power of Eminent Domain. — The President shall determine when it is necessary or advantageous to exercise the power of eminent domain in behalf of the National Government, and direct the Solicitor General, whenever he deems the action advisable, to institute expropriation proceedings in the proper court.

SECTION 13. Power to Direct Escheat or Reversion Proceedings. — The President shall direct the Solicitor General to institute escheat or reversion proceedings over all lands transferred or assigned to persons disqualified under the Constitution to acquire land.

SECTION 14. Power to Reserve Lands of the Public and Private Domain of the Government. — (1) The President shall have the power to reserve for settlement or public use, and for specific public purposes, any of the lands of the public domain, the use of which is not otherwise directed by law. The reserved land shall thereafter remain subject to the specific public purpose indicated until otherwise provided by law or proclamation.

(2) He shall also have the power to reserve from sale or other disposition and for specific public uses or purposes, any land belonging to the private domain of the Government, or any of the Friar lands, the use of which is not otherwise directed by law, and thereafter such land shall be used for the purposes specified by such proclamation until otherwise provided by law.

SECTION 15. Power over Ill-gotten Wealth. — The President shall direct the Solicitor General to institute proceedings to recover properties unlawfully acquired by public officials or employees, from them or from their nominees or transferees.

Within the period fixed in, or any extension thereof authorized by, the Constitution, the President shall have the authority to recover ill-gotten properties amassed by the leaders and supporters of the previous regime and protect the interest of the people through orders of sequestration or freezing of assets or accounts.

CHAPTER 5 Power of Appointment

SECTION 16. Power of Appointment. — The President shall exercise the power to appoint such officials as provided for in the Constitution and laws.

SECTION 17. Power to Issue Temporary Designation. — (1) The President may temporarily designate an officer already in the government service or any other competent person to perform the functions of an office in the executive branch, appointment to which is vested in him by law, when: (a) the officer regularly appointed to the office is unable to perform his duties by reason of illness, absence or any other cause; or (b) there exists a vacancy;

(2) The person designated shall receive the compensation attached to the position, unless he is already in the government service in which case he shall receive only such additional compensation as, with his existing salary, shall not exceed the salary authorized by law for the position filled. The compensation hereby authorized shall be paid out of the funds appropriated for the office or agency concerned.

(3) In no case shall a temporary designation exceed one (1) year.

CHAPTER 6 General Supervision Over Local Governments

SECTION 18. General Supervision Over Local Governments. — The President shall exercise general supervision over local governments.

CHAPTER 7 Other Powers

SECTION 19. Powers Under the Constitution. — The President shall exercise such other powers as are provided for in the Constitution.

SECTION 20. Residual Powers. — Unless Congress provides otherwise, the President shall exercise such other powers and functions vested in the President which are provided for under the laws and which are not specifically enumerated above, or which are not delegated by the President in accordance with law.

TITLE II Organization

CHAPTER 8 Organization of the Office of the President

SECTION 21. Organization. — The Office of the President shall consist of the Office of the President Proper and the agencies under it.

SECTION 22. Office of the President Proper. — (1) The Office of the President Proper shall consist of the Private Office, the Executive Office, the Common Staff Support System, and the Presidential Special Assistants/Advisers System;

(2) The Executive Office refers to the Offices of the Executive Secretary, Deputy Executive Secretaries and Assistant Executive Secretaries;

(3) The Common Staff Support System embraces the offices or units under the general categories of development and management, general government administration and internal administration; and

(4) The Presidential Special Assistants/Advisers System includes such special assistants or advisers as may be needed by the President.

SECTION 23. The Agencies under the Office of the President. — The agencies under the Office of the President refer to those offices placed under the chairmanship of the President, those under the supervision and control of the President, those under the administrative supervision of the Office of the President, those attached to it for policy and program coordination, and those that are not placed by law or order creating them under any special department.

TITLE III Functions

CHAPTER 9 Functions of the Different Offices in the Office of the President Proper

A. Private Office

SECTION 24. Functions of the Private Office. — The Private Office shall provide direct services to the President and shall for this purpose attend to functions and matters that are personal or which pertain to the First Family.

B. The Executive Office

SECTION 25. Declaration of Policy. — The Executive Office shall be fully responsive to the specific needs and requirements of the President to achieve the purposes and objectives of the Office.

SECTION 26. The Executive Secretary, the Deputy Executive Secretaries, and the Assistant Executive Secretaries. — The Executive Office shall be headed by the Executive Secretary who shall be assisted by one (1) or more Deputy Executive Secretaries and one (1) or more Assistant Executive Secretaries.

SECTION 27. Functions of the Executive Secretary. — The Executive Secretary shall, subject to the control and supervision of the President, carry out the functions assigned by law to the Executive Office and shall perform such other duties as may be delegated to him. He shall:

(1) Directly assist the President in the management of the affairs pertaining to the Government of the Republic of the Philippines;

(2) Implement presidential directives, orders and decisions;

(3) Decide, for and in behalf of the President, matters not requiring personal presidential attention;

(4) Exercise supervision and control over the various units in the Office of the President Proper including their internal administrative requirements;

(5) Exercise supervision, in behalf of the President, over the various agencies under the Office of the President;

(6) Appoint officials and employees of the Office of the President whose appointments are not vested in the President;

(7) Provide overall coordination in the operation of the Executive Office;

(8) Determine and assign matters to the appropriate units in the Office of the President;

(9) Have administrative responsibility for matters in the Office of the President coming from the various departments and agencies of government;

(10) Exercise primary authority to sign papers "By authority of the President", attest executive orders and other presidential issuances unless attestation is specifically delegated to other officials by him or by the President;

(11) Determine, with the President's approval, the appropriate assignment of offices and agencies not placed by law under any specific executive department;

(12) Provide consultative, research, fact-finding and advisory service to the President;

(13) Assist the President in the performance of functions pertaining to legislation;

(14) Assist the President in the administration of special projects;

(15) Take charge of matters pertaining to protocol in State and ceremonial functions;

(16) Provide secretarial and clerical services for the President, the Cabinet, the Council of State, and other advisory bodies to the President;

(17) Promulgate such rules and regulations necessary to carry out the objectives, policies and functions of the Office of the President Proper;

(18) Perform such other functions as the President may direct.

C. Common Staff Support System

SECTION 28. Functions of the Common Staff Support System. — The various staff units in the Office of the President Proper shall form a common staff support system and shall be organized along the various tasks of the Office namely:

(1) The Cabinet Secretariat which shall assist the President in the establishment of agenda topics for the Cabinet deliberations, or facilitate the discussion of cabinet meetings. It shall have such organization, powers and functions as are prescribed by law;

(2) The Presidential Management Staff (PMS) which shall be the primary governmental agency directly responsible to the Office of the President for providing staff assistance in the Presidential exercise of overall management of the development process. It shall have such organization, powers and functions as are prescribed by law;

(3) General Government Administration Staff which shall provide the President with staff support on matters concerning general government administration relative to the operations of the national government including the provision of legal services, administrative services, staff work on political and legislative matters, information and assistance to the general public, measures toward resolution of complaints against public officials and employees brought to the attention of the Office of the President and such other matters as the President may assign;

(4) Internal Administrative Staff which shall render auxiliary and support services for the internal administration of the Office of the President.

D. Presidential Assistant/Advisers System

SECTION 29. Functions of Presidential Assistants/Advisers System. — The Special Assistants/Advisers System shall provide advisory or consultative services to the President in such fields and under such conditions as the President may determine.

CHAPTER 10 Functions of the Agencies Under the Office of the President

SECTION 30. Functions of Agencies Under the Office of the President. — Agencies under the Office of the President shall continue to operate and function in accordance with their respective charters or laws creating them, except as otherwise provided in this Code or by law.

SECTION 31. Continuing Authority of the President to Reorganize his Office. — The President, subject to the policy in the Executive Office and in order to achieve simplicity, economy and efficiency, shall have continuing authority to reorganize the administrative structure of the Office of the President. For this purpose, he may take any of the following actions:

(1) Restructure the internal organization of the Office of the President Proper, including the immediate Offices, the Presidential Special Assistants/Advisers System and the Common Staff Support System, by abolishing, consolidating or merging units thereof or transferring functions from one unit to another;

(2) Transfer any function under the Office of the President to any other Department or Agency as well as transfer functions to the Office of the President from other Departments and Agencies; and

(3) Transfer any agency under the Office of the President to any other department or agency as well as transfer agencies to the Office of the President from other departments or agencies.