Aguirre cited the order of succession in the top elective posts under Article VII, Section 7 of the Constitution, where the Senate President is second in line of succession to the vice president, referring to Senate President Aquilino Pimentel III.


Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez, who announced last week the plan to impeach Robredo, is the next in line, followed by Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno.


The Constitution, however, also gives the President the power to nominate a replacement for a vacant vice presidential post from among members of the Senate and House, subject to approval of a majority of Congress voting separately.


This was the case when former senator Teofisto Guingona Jr. was appointed vice president in 2001 when Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo assumed the presidency after the ouster president Joseph Estrada.


Aguirre maintained that the immediate succession by Pimentel is without prejudice to the ruling of the PET in the pending protest of Bongbong Marcos. He added:

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"If the PET rules later on in favor of the protest, then Bongbong will take over the post." 

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He also said that the possible removal from office of Robredo via impeachment is without effect to the PET protest of Marcos.



Sources: 

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Various online news outlets
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Robredo impeachment has no effect on Marcos VP protest - Secretary Aguirre