isdiction, with reservations

Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:
chief of state: President Joseph Ejercito ESTRADA (since 30 June
1998) and Vice President Gloria MACAPAGAL-ARROYO (since 30 June
1998); note--the president is both the chief of state and head of
government
head of government: President Joseph Ejercito ESTRADA (since 30 June
1998) and Vice President Gloria MACAPAGAL-ARROYO (since 30 June
1998); note--the president is both the chief of state and head of
government
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president with the consent of the
Commission of 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 11 May 2004)
election results: Joseph Ejercito ESTRADA elected president; percent
of vote--NA%; Gloria MACAPAGAL-ARROYO elected vice president; percent
of vote--NA%

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 (221 seats;
members elected by popular vote to serve three-year terms; note--an
additional 50 members may be appointed by the president)
elections: Senate--last held 11 May 1998 (next to be held 11 May
2001); House of Representatives--elections last held 11 May 1998
(next to be held 11 May 2001)
election results: Senate--percent of vote by party--NA; seats by
party--LAMP 12, Lakas 5, PRP 2, LP 1, other 3; note--the Senate now
has only 23 members with one seat vacated when Gloria
MACAPAGAL-ARROYO became vice president; the seat can only be filled
by election and is likely to remain open until the next regular
election in 2001; House of Representatives--percent of vote by
party--NA; seats by party--LAMP 135, Lakas 37, LP 13, Aksyon
Demokratiko 1, other 35

Judicial branch: Supreme Court, justices are appointed for
four-year terms by the president on the recommendation of the
Judicial and Bar Council

Political parties and leaders: Laban Ng Masang Pilipino or LAMP
Eduardo "Danding" COJUANGO, chairman, Edgardo ANGARA, party
MACAPAGAL-ARROYO, secretary general, Jose DE VENECIA, party
SALONGA, chairman, Florencio ABAD, secretary general]; People's

International organization participation: APEC, A