Permanent Vacancy in the Office of the Governor, City or Municipal Mayor.
Section 48
SEC. 48. Permanent Vacancy in the Office of the Governor, City or Municipal Mayor.— (1) In case a permanent vacancy arises when a governor, city or municipal mayor refuses to assume office, fails to qualify, dies or is removed from office, voluntarily resigns, or is otherwise permanently incapacitated to discharge the functions of his office, the vice-governor, city or municipal vice-mayor, as the case may be, shall assume the office for the unexpired term of the former. (2) If the vice-governor, city or municipal vice-mayor, as the case may be, likewise refuses to assume office or fails to qualify, dies or is removed from office, voluntarily resigns, or is otherwise permanently incapacitated to discharge the functions of the office, the member of the sangguniang panlalawigan, sangguniang panlungsod or sangguniang bayan, as the case may be, who obtained the highest number of votes in the election immediately preceding shall assume the office for the unexpired term of the governor, city or municipal mayor concerned. (3) If the sanggunian member concerned likewise refuses to assume office or fails to qualify, dies or is removed from office, voluntarily resigns, or is otherwise permanently incapacitated to discharge the functions of the office, the vacancy shall be filled by appointment of the President of the Philippines, upon recommendation of the Minister of Local Government, for the unexpired term of the vacant office.