For his part, Villanueva said "the Senate as a continuing body could at least provide solution to the seeming problem that might affect the country’s leadership after noon of June 30 next year."

SUPPORT for the proposal of Ateneo College of Law dean emeritus Fr. Joaquin Bernas for incumbent senators to elect a new Senate President with remaining three-year term before the start of the 90-day national campaign period snowballed yesterday among members of the House of Representatives.

The purpose of this move, Bernas said, is to avoid a leadership vacuum in case a failure of elections in 2010 hits the country.

House Deputy Majority Leader and Aurora Rep. Juan Edgardo "Sonny" Angara, Anak Mindanao Rep. Mujiv Hataman and Citizens Battle Against Corruption Rep. Joel Villanueva underscored the need for senators to find a solution addressing the possible vacuum in the presidency.

"I would support the election of a Senate President who would act as acting President of the country until one is finally elected nationally," said Angara.

Hataman said "under the Constitution, only the Vice President, Senate president and Speaker are the mentioned successors to the presidency. Let us ask our good senators to elect a new Senate President whose term of office will not end after June 2010 so that leadership vacuum is addressed even before it could hit us. It should be done while the Senate can still muster the quorum."

It will be recalled that Cavite Rep. Elpidio "Pidi" Barzaga Jr. backed the proposal of Bernas provided that perceived presidentiables will not join the aspirants to replace Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile to avoid politics.

For his part, Villanueva said "the Senate as a continuing body could at least provide solution to the seeming problem that might affect the country’s leadership after noon of June 30 next year."

Meanwhile, Nueva Ecija Rep. Edno Joson, author of House Bill (HB) No. 3194 or measure on succession, said his proposal would also help address the vacuum.

With the continued growing fear about possible failure of elections, Joson’s bill would pick the temporary president among elected members of Congress in the event that no new president will be proclaimed before noon of June 30, 2010.

Under his measure, Joson said the acting president should be selected from among the ranks of those who were elected and are representative of the Filipinos through the joint voting of Congress and will relinquish the post until the new president is elected.

The 12 senators whose term of office expires on June 30, 2013 are Benigno Aquino III, Chiz Escudero, Manny Villar Jr., Loren Legarda, Panfilo Lacson, Alan Peter Cayetano, Gregorio Honasan, Antonio Trillanes IV, Francis Pangilinan, Edgardo Angara, Joker Arroyo, and Juan Miguel Zubiri.

Aquino, Escudero, Villar, and Legarda are perceived presidential candidates in 2010.

In the case of Chief Justice Reynato Puno, he is retiring on May 17, 2010 or more than a month and a half before President Arroyo’s term expires.