The city, municipal, and municipal district vice-mayor and succession to the office of mayor.
Section 7
SEC. 7. The city, municipal, and municipal district vice-mayor and succession to the office of mayor.—The vice-mayor of every city, municipality or municipal district shall assume the office of mayor for the unexpired term of the latter in the event of permanent vacancy in the office of mayor. If for some reason the vice-mayor is incapacitated from assuming the office of the mayor or refuses to assume such office, the councilor who obtained the largest number of votes in the local elections immediately preceding shall assume the office of mayor. If for some reason the councilor who obtained the largest number of votes in the local elections immediately preceding is incapacitated from assuming the office of mayor or refuses to assume such office, the councilor who obtained the next largest number of votes in the local elections immediately preceding shall assume the office of mayor, and so on, until the permanent vacancy in the office of mayor is filled. Should the mayor-elect die before assumption of office or fail to qualify for any reason, the vice-mayor-elect shall assume the office of mayor, but in the latter case, he shall hold such office only until the mayor-elect qualifies. If for some reason the vice-mayor-elect is incapacitated from assuming the office of mayor or refuses to assume such office, the councilor-elect who obtained the largest number of votes in the local elections immediately preceding shall assume the office of mayor. If for some reason the councilor-elect who obtained the largest number of votes in the local elections immediately preceding is incapacitated from assuming the office of mayor or refuses to assume such office, the councilor-elect who obtained the next largest number of votes in the local elections immediately preceding shall assume the office of mayor, and so on until the office of mayor is filled. In the event of temporary incapacity of the mayor to perform the duties of his office on account of absence on leave, sickness, or any temporary incapacity, the vice-mayor shall perform the duties and exercise the powers of the mayor except the power to appoint, suspend or dismiss employees in the event the vice-mayor is temporarily incapacitated to perform the duties of the office of mayor, the councilor who obtained the largest number of votes among the incumbent councilors in the local elections immediately preceding shall perform the duties and exercise the powers of the mayor except the power to appoint, suspend or dismiss employees. The provisions of this section shall not apply to cities which have no elective mayors and/or vice-mayors.