President of the Philippines

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The President of the Philippines is the country’s head of state, head of government, and commander-in-chief of the Armed Forces. The president leads the executive branch, directs national policy, and represents the Philippines in dealings with other countries. The president is chosen by direct popular vote and serves a single six-year term, with no option for re-election. The current president is Bongbong Marcos, who took office on June 30, 2022.

Powers and duties
- Appoints the Cabinet, top government officials, ambassadors, and other senior officers (with certain confirmations by the body that reviews appointments).
- Oversees the executive branch and presides over the government.
- Has the power to issue executive orders, proclamations, and other formal directives to run the government.
- Acts as commander-in-chief of the Armed Forces.
- Proposes laws and can veto bills passed by Congress; Congress can override a veto with a two-thirds vote in both houses.
- Delivers the annual State of the Nation Address to outline priorities.
- Can grant pardons, amnesty, and other clemencies under certain conditions.
- Oversees foreign policy and can negotiate with other nations on behalf of the Philippines.
- Directs oversight of local government units and national agencies.

Qualifications and election
- The president must be a natural-born Filipino and a citizen of the Philippines.
- The president is elected by direct vote every six years and cannot be re-elected.
- The vice president is elected separately and may become president if the current president cannot continue in office.

Inauguration and succession
- The president takes an oath of office, and a 21-gun salute and the presidential anthem mark the ceremony.
- The vice president typically takes an oath before the president to ensure a constitutional successor.
- If the president cannot serve, the vice president acts as president; if both offices are vacant, the Senate president or House speaker may act as president until a new president is chosen.
- The line of succession goes from the vice president to the Senate president to the House speaker.

Residences, security, and transport
- The official residence is Malacañang Palace in Manila. Other official homes include Bahay Pangulo, the Mansion in Baguio, Malacañang sa Mindanao in Davao, and other facilities used during trips.
- The Presidential Security Group (PSG) protects the president and their family, and also guards visiting heads of state and diplomats.
- The president travels in a secure transportation fleet, including armored vehicles and a dedicated airlift wing. The presidential fleet includes helicopters and airplanes, with VIP aircraft such as the Gulfstream G280 for international trips and other planes for domestic travel or state visits. The Philippine Airlines flight numbers with the prefix PR/PAL 001 are often used for official transport.
- In practice, the PSG uses a mix of government vehicles and security arrangements for different destinations. The president also has access to a special armored limousine and escorts for security.

History and context
- The office of the president has evolved through the country’s history, with the modern framework defined by the 1987 Constitution. The government recognizes Emilio Aguinaldo as the first president in the revolutionary era, while Manuel Roxas was the first president of an internationally recognized sovereign state after independence. Today, the president leads the Philippines as a unified head of state and government.

Overall, the president’s role is to lead the country, run the government, defend the nation, and represent the Philippines both at home and abroad.