President of the Philippines

President of the Philippines Pangulo ng Pilipinas
Presidential Seal
Presidential Standard
Incumbent Benigno Aquino III since June 30, 2010
Style	Mr. President (informal) His Excellency (male)
Residence	Malacañang Palace (Official) Bahay Pangarap^[1]^[2] (de facto)
Seat	Manila
Term length	Six years unrenewable
Constituting instrument	1987 Constitution of the Philippines
Inaugural holder	Emilio Aguinaldo (official)^a Manuel L. Quezon (de jure)^b
Formation	23 January 1899 (official)^[3]^a November 15, 1935 (de jure)^[4]^b
Salary	₱120,000 per month (₱ 8,640,000 total at six-year term) as of 2012^{[note 1]}
Website	http://www.president.gov.ph

^a.	The position was created by an independent revolutionary state, the "Malolos Republic", but was not recognized internationally. The Philippine government now recognizes the Malolos Republic as its predecessor state, which it also calls the First Philippine Republic.
^b.	From an international standpoint at that time, the First Philippine Republic never existed but rather, Spain ceded its Spanish East Indies to the United States of America by the Treaty of Paris following the Spanish–American War. Therefore, the international community only recognizes the first Philippine presidency under the US-associated Commonwealth of the Philippines.

The President of the Philippines (Filipino: Pangulo ng Pilipinas) is the head of state and head of government of the Philippines. The President leads the executive branch of the Philippine government and is the commander-in-chief of the Armed Forces of the Philippines. The President of the Philippines in Filipino is referred to as Ang Pangulo or informally by the Spanish title, Presidente.

History

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Main article: List of Presidents of the Philippines

Early Republics

Bonifacio's Tagalog Republic

Depending on the definition chosen for these terms, a number of persons could alternatively be considered the inaugural holder of the office. Andrés Bonifacio could be considered the first President of a united Philippines since he was the third Supreme President (Spanish: Presidente Supremo; Tagalog: Kataás-taasang Pangulo) of the Katipunan, a secret revolutionary society. Its Supreme Council, led by the Supreme President, coordinated provincial and district councils. When the Katipunan started an open revolt against the Spanish colonial government in August 1896, Bonifacio transformed the society into a revolutionary government with him as its head. While the term Katipunan remained, Bonifacio's government was also known as the Tagalog Republic (Spanish: República Tagala). (Although the word Tagalog refers to the Tagalog people, a specific ethno-linguistic group, Bonifacio used it to denote all non-Spanish peoples of the Philippines in place of Filipino, which had colonial origins.)^[9]^[10]^[11]^[12]^[13] Bonifacio's revolutionary government never controlled much territory for any significant period. Some historians contend that including Bonifacio as a past president would imply that Macario Sacay and Miguel Malvar should also be included.^[14]

Aguinaldo's Government and the First Republic

In March 1897, Emilio Aguinaldo was elected president of the revolutionary government at the Tejeros Convention.^[15] The new government was meant to replace the Katipunan, though the latter was not formally abolished until 1899. Aguinaldo was again elected President at Biak-na-Bato in November, leading the Republic of Biak-na-Bato. Unfortunately his revolutionary government was not winning Philippine Revolution against Spain. Aquinaldo therefore signed the Pact of Biak-na-Bato and went into exile in Hong Kong at the end of 1897.

In April 1898, the Spanish–American War broke out, and the Asiatic Squadron of the United States Navy sailed for the Philippines. At the Battle of Manila Bay on May 1, 1898 the American Navy decisively defeated the Spanish Navy effectively ending Spanish rule in the Philippines.^[16] Aquinaldo subsequently returned to the Philippines aboard a U.S. Navy vessel and renewed the revolution. He formed a dictatorial government on May 24, 1898 and issued the Philippine Declaration of Independence on June 12, 1898. On June 23, 1898, Aguinaldo transformed his dictatorial government into a revolutionary government. On January 23, 1899, he was then elected President of the First Philippine Republic, a government constituted by the Malolos Congress under the Malolos Constitution. Thus, this government is also called the Malolos Republic.

The First Philippine Republic was short-lived and never internationally recognized. The Philippines was transferred from Spanish to American control in the Treaty of Paris of 1898, signed in December of that year.^[17] The Philippine–American War broke out between the United States and Aguinaldo's government. His government effectively ceased to exist on April 1, 1901, after he pledged allegiance to the United States following his capture by U.S. forces in March.

The current Philippine government, called the Republic of the Philippines, considers Emilio Aguinaldo to be the first President of the Philippines and the Malolos Republic as the First Philippine Republic.^[18]

Other claimants

Miguel Malvar continued Aguinaldo's leadership of the Philippine Republic after the latter's capture until his own capture in 1902, while Macario Sakay founded a Tagalog Republic in 1902 as a continuing state of Bonifacio's Katipunan. They are both considered by some scholars as "unofficial presidents", and along with Bonifacio, are not recognized as Presidents by the government.^[19]^[20]

American occupation

Between 1901 and 1935, executive power in the Philippines was exercised by a succession of four American military Governors-General and eleven civil Governors-General.

Philippine Commonwealth

In October 1935, Manuel L. Quezon was elected the first President of the Commonwealth of the Philippines, which had been established, still under United States sovereignty, under a constitution ratified on 14 May of that year. During its first five years, the President could serve for an unrenewable six-year term. It was later amended in 1940 to limit a President to serving no more than two four-year terms. When President Quezon exiled himself to the United States after the Philippines fell to the Empire of Japan in World War II, he appointed Chief Justice José Abad Santos as Acting President. Abad Santos was subsequently executed by the Imperial Japanese Army on May 2, 1942.

The Second Republic under the Japanese

On October 14, 1943, José P. Laurel became President under a constitution imposed by the Japanese occupation. Laurel, an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the Philippines, had been instructed to remain in the City of Manila by President Quezon, who withdrew to Corregidor and then to the United States to establish a government in exile in the United States.

After the combined American and Filipino forces liberated the islands in 1945, Laurel officially dissolved the republic on August 17, 1945.

After World War II

The 1935 Constitution was restored after the Japanese surrender ended World War II, with Vice-President Sergio Osmeña becoming President due to Quezon's death on August 1, 1944. It remained in effect after the United States recognized the sovereignty of the Republic of the Philippines as a separate self-governing nation on July 4, 1946.

1973 Constitution

Home provinces of the Presidents.

A new Constitution ratified on January 17, 1973 under the rule of Ferdinand E. Marcos introduced a parliamentary-style government. Marcos instituted himself as Prime Minister while serving as President in 1978. He later appointed César Virata as Prime Minister in 1981.

This Constitution was in effect until the People Power Revolution of 1986 toppled Marcos' 21-year authoritarian regime and replaced him with Corazon C. Aquino.

Fifth Republic

Using reserve powers, President Aquino herself promulgated Presidential Proclamation № 3 on March 25, 1986, which was provisional in nature and abrogated many provisions of the 1973 Constitution that were associated with the Marcos Era, including the abolition of the office of the Prime Minister. This was superseded on February 2, 1987 by the present Constitution.

Other issues

Both Bonifacio and Aguinaldo might be considered to have been an inaugural president of an insurgent government. Quezon was the inaugural president of a predecessor state to the current one, while Aquino, mère, was the inaugural president of the currently-constituted government.

The government considers Aguinaldo to have been the first President of the Philippines, followed by Quezon and his successors.^[18]^[21] Despite the differences in constitutions and government, the line of presidents is considered to be continuous. For instance, the current president, Benigno S. Aquino III, is considered to be the 15th president.

While the government may consider Aguinaldo as the first president, the First Republic fell under the United States' jurisdiction due to the 1898 Treaty of Paris which ended the Spanish–American War; the United States thus does not consider his tenure to have been legitimate.^[18]^[22] Manuel L. Quezon is considered to be the first president by the United States. He is also the first to win a popular election and a nationwide election.

Laurel's position

As with many other Axis-occupied countries in the Second World War, the Philippines had at one point two presidents heading two governments. One was Quezon and the Commonwealth government-in-exile in Washington, D.C., and the other was Manila-based Laurel heading the Japanese-sponsored Second Republic. Notably, Laurel was himself instructed to remain in Manila by President Quezon. Laurel was not formally recognized as a President until the rule of Diosdado Macapagal. His inclusion in the official list coincided with the transfer of the official date of Independence Day from July 4 (the anniversary of the Philippines' independence from the United States) to June 12 (the anniversary of the 1898 Declaration of Independence).

The inclusion of Laurel thus causes some problems in determining the order of presidents. It is inaccurate to call Laurel the successor of Osmeña or vice-versa, since Laurel's Second Republic was formally repudiated after World War II, its actions not considered legal or binding. Quezon, Osmeña, and Roxas were seen as being in a contiguous line according to the 1935 Constitution, while Laurel was the only president of the Second Republic, which had a separate charter. Thus, Laurel had neither predecessor nor successor, while Osmeña succeeded Quezon after the latter's death, and was in turn succeeded by Roxas as President of the Third Republic.

Timeline

Powers and duties

Chief Executive

Under Article 7, Section 1 of the 1987 Constitution, the President heads the Executive branch of the government, which includes the Cabinet and all executive departments. The executive power, as such, is vested on the President alone.^[6]

Section 19 gives the President power to grant reprieves, commutations, and pardons, and remit fines and forfeitures, after conviction by final judgment, except when the President is under impeachment.^[6]

Section 20 provides the President to contract or guarantee foreign loans on behalf of the Republic of the Philippines with the prior concurrence of the Monetary Board, and subject to such limitations as may be provided by law.^[6]

The President exercises general supervision over local government units.

Commander-in-Chief

Article 7 Section 18 of the Constitution: "the President is also Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Philippines". As Commander-in-Chief, the President can call out such armed forces to prevent or suppress lawless violence, invasion or rebellion. In case of invasion or rebellion, when the public safety requires it, he or she may, for a period not exceeding sixty days, suspend the privilege of the writ of habeas corpus or place the Philippines or any part thereof under martial law.^[6]

Power of appointment

The Constitution (Article VII Section 16) empowers the President to appoint, with the consent of the Commission on Appointments, the heads of executive departments, ambassadors, other public ministers and consuls, officers of the armed forces above the rank of colonel (Army) and captain (Navy), and other officials. The president also appoints those required by law that he appoint, or those whose appointments are not provided for under any other law. The members of the Supreme Court are also appointed by the President, based on a list prepared by the Judicial and Bar Council. Judicial appointments do not need the approval of the Commission on Appointments.

Government agencies

The Office of the President also has attached government agencies under it. It includes agencies such as the Film Development Council of the Philippines, the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority and the Securities and Exchange Commission (Philippines). These agencies are not under the different cabinet departments and are under the direct supervision of the President.

Selection process

Eligibility

Under Article 7, Section 2 of the Constitution of the Philippines, in order to serve as President, one must be:

at least 40 years old and above;
a registered voter, single or married;
able to read and write;
a male or female Filipino citizen by birth; and
a resident of the Philippines for at least ten years immediately preceding election.^[6]

A person who meets the above qualifications is still disqualified from holding the office of president under any of the following conditions:

Under Article 7, Section 4 of the 1987 Constitution, a person who has already been elected President is automatically ineligible for immediate reelection. No person who has succeeded as President and has served as such for more than four years is likewise forbidden from being re-elected to a second term. Joseph Estrada, who has served for two and a half years as president was allowed to run for president after he was ousted; his case was never decided by the Supreme Court.

Election

Main article: Philippine presidential election

Under Article 7, Section 4 of the Constitution mandates that election of the President be done by direct vote every six years on the second Monday of May, unless otherwise provided by law.

The returns of every election for President and Vice-President, duly certified by the board of canvassers of each province or city, shall be transmitted to Congress, directed to the President of the Senate. Upon receipt of the certificates of canvass, the President of the Senate shall open all the certificates in the presence of a joint public session of Congress not later than 30 days after election day. Congress then canvasses the votes upon determining that the polls are authenticity and were done in the manner provided by law.

The person with the highest number of votes is declared the winner, but in case two or more have the highest number of votes, the President is elected by a majority of all members of both Houses, voting separately on each.

Inauguration

Main article: Philippine presidential inauguration

Current president Benigno Aquino III during his inauguration

The President of the Philippines usually takes the Oath of Office at noon of June 30 following the Presidential election

Traditionally, the Vice-President takes the Oath first, a little before noon. This is for two reasons: first, according to protocol, no one follows the President (who is last due to his supremacy), and second, to establish a constitutionally valid successor before the President-elect accedes. During the Quezon inauguration, however, the Vice-President and the Legislature were sworn in after the President, to symbolise a new start.

As soon as the President takes the Oath of Office, a 21-gun salute is fired to salute the new Philippine head of state, and the Presidential Anthem Mabuhay is played. The President delivers the Inaugural Address, and then proceeds to Malacañangg Palace to climb the Grand Staircase, a ritual which symbolises the formal possession of the Palace. The President then inducts the newly formed Cabinet into office in one of the state rooms.

Custom has enshrined three places as the traditional venue for the Inauguration: Barasoain Church in Malolos City, Bulacan; in front of the old Legislative Building (now part of the National Museum) in Manila; or at Quirino Grandstand, where most have been held. In 2004, Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo delivered her pre-Inaugural address at Quirino Grandstand, took the Oath of Office in Cebu City before Chief Justice Hilario Davide Jr., and the next day held the first Cabinet meeting in Butuan City. She broke with precedent, reasoning that she wanted to celebrate her Inauguration in each of the three main island groups of the Philippines: Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao. Her first Inauguration also broke precedent as she was sworn in at the EDSA Shrine on January 20, 2001, during the EDSA Revolution of 2001 that removed Joseph Estrada from the Palace.

In the past, elections were held in November and the President's inauguration was held on December 30 (Rizal Day). This ensured that when the Inauguration was usually held at Quirino Grandstand, the new President could see the Rizal Monument on the day of his death anniversary. Ferdinand Marcos transferred the dates of both the elections and the Inauguration to May and June, respectively, and it remains so to this day.

The dress code at the modern Inaugural is traditional, formal Filipino clothing, which is otherwise loosely termed Filipiniana. Ladies must wear terno, baro't saya (the formal wear of other indigenous groups is permissible), while men don the Barong Tagalog. Non-FIlipinos at the ceremony may wear their respective versions of formal dress, but foreign diplomats have often been seen donning Filipiniana as a mark of cultural respect.

Oath of Office

Under Article VII, Section 5 of the Constitution, before the President-Elect and Vice-President-Elect enter into the execution of their offices, the President shall take the following Oath or affirmation:

I, [name], do solemnly swear [or affirm] that I will faithfully and conscientiously fulfill my duties as President [or Vice-President or Acting President] of the Philippines, preserve and defend its Constitution, execute its laws, do justice to every man, and consecrate myself to the service of the Nation. So help me God.

[In case of affirmation, last sentence will be omitted.]^[23]

The Filipino text of the Oath was used for the inaugurations of Presidents Fidel V. Ramos, Joseph Estrada and Benigno Aquino III reads:

Matimtim kong pinanunumpaan (o pinatotohanan) na tutuparin ko nang buong katapatan at sigasig ang aking mga tungkulin bilang Pangulo (o Pangalawang Pangulo o Nanunungkulang Pangulo) ng Pilipinas, pangangalagaan at ipagtatanggol ang kanyang Konstitusyon, ipatutupad ang mga batas nito, magiging makatarungan sa bawat tao, at itatalaga ang aking sarili sa paglilingkod sa Bansa. Kasihan nawa ako ng Diyos.^[24]

(Kapag pagpapatotoo, ang huling pangungusap ay kakaltasin.)^[24]

Impeachment

Impeachment in the Philippines follows procedures similar to the United States. Under Sections 2 and 3, Article XI, Constitution of the Philippines, the House of Representatives of the Philippines has the exclusive power to initiate all cases of impeachment against the President, Vice President, members of the Supreme Court, members of the Constitutional Commissions (Commission on Elections,Civil Service Commission Commission on Audit), and the Ombudsman. When a third of its membership has endorsed the impeachment articles, it is then transmitted to the Senate of the Philippines which tries and decide, as impeachment tribunal, the impeachment case.^[25] A main difference from US proceedings however is that only 1/3 of House members are required to approve the motion to impeach the President (as opposed to 50%+1 members in their US counterpart). In the Senate, selected members of the House of Representatives act as the prosecutors and the Senators act as judges with the Senate President and Chief Justice of the Supreme Court jointly presiding over the proceedings. Like the United States, to convict the official in question requires that a minimum of 2/3 (i.e., 16 of 24 members) of the senate vote in favour of conviction. If an impeachment attempt is unsuccessful or the official is acquitted, no new cases can be filed against that impeachable official for at least one full year.

Impeachable offenses and officials

The 1987 Philippine Constitution says the grounds for impeachment include culpable violation of the Constitution, bribery, graft and corruption, and betrayal of public trust. These offenses are considered "high crimes and misdemeanors" under the Philippine Constitution.

The President, Vice President, Supreme Court justices, and members of the Constitutional Commission and Ombudsman are all considered impeachable officials under the Constitution.

Impeachment proceedings and attempts

Joseph Estrada was the first Philippine president impeached by the House in 2000, but the trial ended prematurely due to outrage over a vote to open an envelope where that motion was narrowly defeated by his allies.

In 2005, 2006, 2007, and 2008, impeachment complaints were filed against President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, but none of the cases reached the required endorsement of 1/3 of the members for transmittal to, and trial by, the Senate.

Official title

The official title of the president is "President of the Philippines."^[6] The title in Filipino is "Pangulo" (cognate with Malay penghulu "leader", "chieftain"). The honorific for the President of the Philippines is "Your Excellency" or "His/Her Excellency", adopted from the title of the Governor-General of the Philippines during Spanish and American occupation. The term "President of the Republic of the Philippines", used under Japanese occupation of the Philippines distinguished the government of then-President José P. Laurel from the Commonwealth government in exile under President Manuel L. Quezon.^[26] The restoration of the Commonwealth in 1945 and the subsequent independence of the Philippines title "President of the Philippines" sanctioned in the 1935 constitution.^[27] The 1973 constitution, though generally referring to the president as "President of the Philippines" did, in Article XVII, Section 12, once used the term, "President of the Republic."^[28] President Ferdinand E. Marcos proclaimed martial law in his Proclamation No. 1081 and consistently used the term "President of the Philippines."^[29]

State of the nation address

President Benigno Aquino III delivers his 2nd State of the Nation Address at the Batasang Pambansa

Main article: State of the Nation Address (Philippines)

The State of the Nation Address (abbreviated SONA) is an annual event in the Philippines, in which the President of the Philippines reports on the status of the nation, normally to the resumption of a joint session of the Congress (the House of Representatives and the Senate). This is a duty of the President as stated in Article VII, Section 23 of the 1987 Constitution:^[6]

“

The President shall address Congress at the opening of its regular session. He/She may also appear anytime.

”

Tenure and term limits

Ferdinand Marcos was the only three-term Philippine President (1965–1969, 1969–1981, 1981–1986).

The 1935 Constitution originally provided for a single six-year term for a president without re-election.^[30] In 1940, however, the 1935 Constitution was amended and the term of the President (and Vice-President) was shortened to four years but allowed one re-election. Since the amendment was done, only Presidents Manuel L. Quezon (1941) and Ferdinand Marcos (1969) were re-elected. Presidents Sergio Osmeña (1946), Elpidio Quirino (1953), Carlos P. Garcia (1961) and Diosdado Macapagal (1965) all failed in seeking a new term.

However, in 1973, a new Constitution was promulgated and allowed then-incumbent President Ferdinand Marcos to seek a new term. In 1981, Marcos was again elected as President against Alejo Santos – making him the only President to be elected to a third term.^[31]

Today, under Article 7, Section 4 of the 1987 Constitution of the Philippines, the term of the President shall begin at noon on the thirtieth day of June next following the day of the election and shall end at noon of the same date, six years thereafter. The incumbent President shall not be eligible for any re-election. No person who has succeeded as President and has served as such for more than four years shall be qualified for election to the same office at any time.^[32]

Vacancy

At the start of the term

Under Article 7, Section 7 of the Constitution of the Philippines, In case the president-elect fails to qualify, the Vice President-elect shall act as President until the President-elect shall have qualified.^[6]

If at the beginning of the term of the President, the President-elect shall have died or shall have become permanently disabled, the Vice President-elect shall become President.^[6]

Where no President and Vice President shall have been chosen or shall have qualified, or where both shall have died or become permanently disabled, the President of the Senate or, in case of his inability, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, shall act as President until a President or a Vice President shall have been chosen and qualified.^[6]

During the term

Article 7, Sections 8 and 11 of the Constitution of the Philippines provide rules of succession to the presidency. In case of death, permanent disability, removal from office, or resignation of the President, the Vice President will 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 the Vice President shall have been elected and qualified, and be subject to the same restrictions of powers and disqualifications as the Acting President.

Sergio Osmeña was the first Vice President to succeed to the presidency upon the death of a chief executive who was Manuel Quezon in 1944.

The line of presidential succession as specified by Article 7, Section 10 of the Constitution of the Philippines are the Vice President, Senate President and the Speaker of the House of Representatives.

The current Presidential line of succession is:

#	Name	Position
1	Jejomar C. Binay	Vice President
2	Franklin Drilon	President of the Senate
3	Feliciano R. Belmonte, Jr.	Speaker of the House

Notes:

Contrary to popular belief, the Constitution does not name the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of the Philippines in the line of succession.

If the offices of both the President and the Vice President become vacant at the same time, Congress shall enact a law calling for special election. However, if the presidential election is 18 months away, no special election shall be called.

Privileges of office

Official residence

Main article: Malacañang Palace

Malacañang Palace, the official residence of the President of the Philippines.

Before the Macalanan Palace was designated as the official residence of the President, various establishments served as residence of the chief executive. Spanish Governor-General reside in Palacio del Gobernador inside the walled city of Intramuros, however, after an earthquake in 1863. Palacio del Gobernador was destroyed, eventually the residence and office transferred to Malacañang Palace. During the Philippine Revolution. President Aguinaldo reside in his own home in Kawit, Cavite. after the defeat in Philippine–American War, Aguinaldo transferred the Capital of the Philippines to different areas during his straggling to pursuing American Forces. Malacanan was used as official residence by American government. During the Japanese Occupation of the Philippines, the governmental offices and the presidential residence transferred to Baguio, and the Mansion House was used as the official residence. Meanwhile, President Quezon of Philippine Commonwealth resided in Omni Shoreham Hotel in Washington D.C. After the restoration of independence, there are plans to create a new capital city, However the plans do not push through and Manila remained as the capital city and Malacañang Palace was the President's official residence.^[33]^[34]

Malacañangg Palace is the official residence of the President of the Philippines, to which they are entitled under Article VII, Section 6 of the Constitution.^[6] The Palace is located along the north bank of the Pasig River, along JP Laurel Street in the district of San Miguel, Manila.

The Filipino name is derived from the Tagalog phrase "may lakán diyán", ("there is a nobleman there"), and this was eventually shortened to Malakanyáng. There are two variant of the name in official use: "Malacañang" refers to the structure of the Palace, while "Malacañangg" identifies the office of the President. The latter, along with the term "the Palace" ("ang Palasyo") are interchangeable, metonyms for the President and his household in colloquial speech and in the media.

Malacañangg Palace is depicted on the reverse side of the 20-Peso bill in both the New Design and the present New Generation series.

Other residences

Bahay Pangarap

The actual residence of President Benigno S. Aquino III is Bahay Pangarap (English: House of Dreams),^[2] a smaller structure located across the Pasig River from Malacañang Palace in Malacañangg Park,^[35] which is itself part of the Presidential Security Group Complex.^[1]^[2] Aquino is the first President to live in Bahay Pangarap his official residence.^[36]^[37]

Malacañangg Park was originally built by former President Manuel L. Quezon as a rest house and venue for informal activities and social functions for the First Family.^[2]^[37] The house was built and designed by architect Juan Arellano in the 1930s,^[2]^[37] and underwent a number of renovations.^[2] In 2008, the house was demolished and rebuilt in contemporary style by architect Conrad Onglao,^[2]^[37] and a new swimming pool was built, replacing the Commonwealth Era one.^[36]^[37] The house originally had one bedroom,^[2] however, it was renovated for Aquino to have four bedrooms,^[36] a guest room, a room for his household staff, and a room for his close-in security.^[35] Malacañangg Park was refurbished through the efforts of First Lady Eva Macapagal, the second wife of President Diosdado Macapagal, in the early 1960s.^[37] Mrs. Macapagal renamed the rest house as Bahay Pangarap.^[37]

Under Fidel V. Ramos, Bahay Pangarap was transformed into a clubhouse for the Malacañangg Golf Club.^[2] The house was subsequently used by President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo to welcome special guests.^[2] Aquino fil made it clear before he assumed office that he refused to live in the main Palace, or in the nearby Arlegui Mansion (where he once lived during his mother's rule and where Ramos later stayed), stating that both are too big.^[2] He lived in the Aquino family residence along Times Street, Quezon City in the first few days of his rule, though he transferred to Bahay Panagarap because it was deemed a security concern for his neighbours if he stayed in their small, 1970s home.^[1]

Other homes

The President also has other complexes nationwide for official use:

Malacañang sa Sugbo – Cebu City
The Mansion – Baguio City

Air transport

Main article: Air transports of heads of state and government § Philippines

An Aérospatiale SA-330 Puma carrying President Corazon C. Aquino at Subic Bay Naval Base.

The 250th (Presidential) Airlift Wing of the Philippine Air Force has the mandate of providing safe and efficient air transport for the President of the Philippines and the First Family. On occasion, the wing has also been tasked to provide transportation for other members of government, visiting heads of state, and other state guests.

The fleet includes: 1 Fokker F28, which is primarily used for the President's domestic trips and it is also called "Kalayaan One" when the President is on board, 4 Bell 412 helicopters, 3 Sikorsky S-76 helicopters, 1 Sikorsky S-70-5 Black Hawk, a number of Bell UH-1N Twin Hueys, as well as Fokker F-27 Friendships. For trips outside of the Philippines, the Air Force employs a Bombardier Global Express or charters appropriate aircraft from the country's flag carrier, Philippine Airlines. In 1962, the Air Force chartered aircraft from Pan American World Airways as the international services of Philippine Airlines were suspended. Pan Am later went defunct in 1991. For short-haul flights, PAL uses Airbus A320 or Airbus A321 aircraft. For medium to long-haul flights, the airline's Airbus A340-300, Airbus A330-300 or Boeing 777-300ER are used. Any PAL aircraft with the callsign PR 001 is a special plane operated by Philippine Airlines to transport the President of the Philippines.

A Presidential Helicopter Bell 412 crashed on April 7, 2009, in the mountainous Ifugao Province north of Manila. On board were eight people, including two Cabinet undersecretaries and several servicemen. The flight was en route to Ifugao from Baguio City as an advance party of President Macapagal-Arroyo, when the control tower at the now-defunct Loakan Airport lost communication with the craft several minutes after takeoff.

The Arroyo administration planned to buy another aircraft worth of about 1.2 Billion pesos before her term ended in June 2010,^[38] but cancelled the purchase due to other issues.^[39]

Water transport

Main article: BRP Ang Pangulo (AT-25)

BRP Ang Pangulo (BRP stands for Barkó ng Repúblika ng Pilipinas, "Ship of the Republic of the Philippines"; "Ang Pangulo" is Filipino for "The President") was commissioned by the Philippine Navy on March 7, 1959. It was built in and by Japan during the administration of President García as part of Japanese reparations to the Philippines for World War II.^[40] It is primarily used in entertaining guests of the incumbent President.

Land transport

Main article: Official state car § Philippines

Presidential car with plate number 1 and Presidential Standard

The Presidential car used by Manuel L. Quezon during his term

The President of the Philippines uses two black and heavily armored Mercedes-Benz W221 S600 Guard, whereas one is a decoy vehicle. In convoys, the President is escorted by the Presidential Security Group using primarily Nissan Patrol SUVs with the combination of the following vehicles: Audi A6, BMW 7 Series, Chevrolet Suburban, Hyundai Equus, Hyundai Starex, Toyota Camry, Toyota Fortuner, Toyota Land Cruiser, Philippine National Police 400cc motorcycles, Philippine National Police Toyota Altis (Police car variant), other government-owned vehicles, and ambulances at the tail of the convoy; the number depends on the destination. The presidential cars are designated and registered a plate number of 1 or the word PANGULO (President). The limousine bears the Flag of the Philippines and, occasionally, the Presidential Standard.^[41]

For regional trips, the President boards a Toyota Coaster or Mitsubishi Fuso Rosa or other vehicles owned by government-owned and controlled corporations or government agencies. In this case, the PSG escorts the President using local police cars with an ambulance at the tail of the convoy.

The incumbent President, Benigno Aquino III, prefers to use his personal vehicle, a Toyota Land Cruiser 200 or his relative's Lexus LX-570 over the black Presidential limousines after their electronic mechanisms were damaged by floodwater. The Palace has announced its interest to acquire a new Presidential limousine.^[42]

The Office of the President has also owned various cars over the decades, including a 1937 Chrysler Airflow that served as the country's very first Presidential limousine for Manuel L. Quezon.

Security

Main article: Presidential Security Group

The Presidential Security Group (abbreviated PSG), is the lead agency tasked with providing security for the President, Vice-President, and their immediate families. They also provide protective service for visiting heads of state and diplomats.

Unlike similar groups around the world who protect other political figures, the PSG is not required to handle presidential candidates. However, former Presidents and their immediate families are entitled to a small security detail from the PSG. Currently, the PSG uses Nissan Patrol SUVs as its primary security vehicles.

After the presidency

Presidents Emilio Aguinaldo and Manuel L. Quezón during the 1935 campaign.

Many presidents held significant positions after leaving office. José P. Laurel, who was President of the Second Republic, served as Senator from 1951–1957. Laurel was elected to the Senate in 1951, under the Nacionalista Party, and was urged to run for President in 1953. He declined, working instead for the successful election of Ramón Magsaysay, who appointed Laurel head of a mission. The mission was tasked with negotiating trade and other issues with United States officials, and the result became known as the Laurel-Langley Agreement. Laurel was also the chairman of the Economic Mission to the United States (1954) and the founder of Lyceum of the Philippines University.^[43]

Sergio Osmeña became a member of the Council of State under Roxas, Quirino, Magsaysay, and García. He was also a member of the National Security Council in the García administration.^[44]

Elpidio Quirino also became a Councillor of State under President Magsaysay.^[45]

Carlos P. García was a delegate, later elected, president of the Constitutional Convention on July 11, 1971.^[46]

Diosdado Macapagal was also a delegate and then succeeded Carlos P. García as president of the 1971 Constitutional Convention. He also lectured in universities and later a Councillor of State under Presidents Aquino mère and Ramos.

Corazon C. Aquino was a member of the National Security Council under Ramos, Estrada and Arroyo. She was also a member of the Council of State under President Arroyo.

Fidel V. Ramos founded the Ramos Peace and Development Foundation. He was a senior advisor and member of the National Security Council under President Estrada. Ramos was a member of the Council of State and an Ambassador-at-Large under President Arroyo.

A former action star, Joseph Ejercito Estrada returned to film in November 2009, starring in Ang Tanging Pamilya: A Marry Go Round. He also announced his plan to run for a second term as President amid controversy on its legality. Estrada eventually became a member of the National Security Council under his successor, President Arroyo.^[47]^[48]^[49] He is currently Mayor of the City of Manila.

Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo is currently the Representative for 2nd District of Pampanga.^[50]

As of June 30, 2010, there are three living former Presidents:

Living former presidents
Fidel V. Ramos
(Lakas-NUCD)
1992–1998
Joseph Estrada
(LAMP),
1998–2001
Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo
(Lakas-Kampi-CMD)
2001–2010

The most recent Presidential death was that of Aquino, on August 1, 2009 due to cardiorespiratory arrest.

Among other honors, former Presidents and their immediate families are entitled to three soldiers as security detail.^[51]