Pasay*,
Puerto Princesa*, Quezon, Quezon City*, Quirino, Rizal, Romblon, Roxas*,
Samar, San Carlos* (in Negros Occidental), San Carlos* (in Pangasinan),
San Jose*, San Pablo*, Silay*, Siquijor, Sorsogon, South Cotabato,
Southern Leyte, Sultan Kudarat, Sulu, Surigao*, Surigao del Norte,
Surigao del Sur, Tacloban*, Tagaytay*, Tagbilaran*, Tangub*, Tarlac,
Tawi-Tawi, Toledo*, Trece Martires*, Zambales, Zamboanga*, Zamboanga
del Norte, Zamboanga del Sur

Independence: 4 July 1946 (from US)

National holiday: Independence Day (from Spain), 12 June (1898); note -
12 June 1898 is the date of independence from Spain, 4 July 1946 is the
date of independence from the US

Constitution: 2 February 1987, effective 11 February 1987

Legal system: based on Spanish and Anglo-American law; accepts compulsory
ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations

Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal

Executive branch: chief of state: President Gloria MACAPAGAL-ARROYO
(since 20 January 2001) and Vice President Teofisto GUINGONA (since 20
January 2001); note - the president is both the chief of state and head
of government head of government: President Gloria MACAPAGAL-ARROYO
(since 20 January 2001) and Vice President Teofisto GUINGONA (since
20 January 2001); note - the president is both the chief of state and
head of government cabinet: Appointments elections: president and vice
president elected on separate tickets by popular vote for six-year terms;
election last held 11 May 1998 (next to be held 16 May 2004) election
results: results of the last presidential election - Joseph Ejercito
ESTRADA elected president; percent of vote - approximately 40%; Gloria
MACAPAGAL-ARROYO elected vice president; percent of vote - 55%; note -
on 20 January 2001, Vice President Gloria MACAPAGAL-ARROYO was sworn in
as the constitutional successor to President Joseph ESTRADA after the
Supreme Court declared that ESTRADA was unable to rule in view of the mass
resignations from his government; according to the Constitution, only in
cases of death, permanent disability, removal from office, or resignation
of the president, can the vice president serve for the unexpired term

Legislative branch: bicameral Congress or Kongreso consists of the Senate
or Senado (24 seats - one-half elected every three years; members elected
by popular vote to serve six-year terms) and the House of Representatives
or Kapulungan Ng Mga Kinatawan (214 seats; members elected by popular