Functions of the Vice President
Unlike the President, the Vice President has few constitutionally mandated day-to-day duties outside of succession.
Presidential Succession
First in line to succeed the President in case of death, resignation, permanent incapacity, or removal from office.
Cabinet Role
May be appointed by the President to a Cabinet position, such as a department secretary, though this is not a constitutional requirement.
Ceremonial and Diplomatic Duties
Often represents the country at state functions and international events on the President's behalf.
How the Office Differs from the Presidency
The President and Vice President are elected on separate ballots, not as a single ticket. This means a Vice President can belong to a different political party than the President, and the two can even be political rivals, an outcome that has occurred more than once in recent Philippine elections.
The Vice President is also eligible for re-election, unlike the President, who is limited to a single term.
Qualifications to Run for Vice President
- • Natural-born citizen of the Philippines
- • Registered voter
- • Able to read and write
- • At least 40 years old on election day
- • Resident of the Philippines for at least 10 years immediately before the election
List of Vice Presidents of the Philippines
The office was vacant from 1973 to 1986 during the martial law period, before being restored under the 1987 Constitution.
| # | Name | Term | Achievements & Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sergio Osmeña | 1935 to 1944 | Served as VP under Quezon through the Commonwealth era. Succeeded to the presidency in 1944 following Quezon's death in exile during World War II. |
| 2 | Elpidio Quirino | 1946 to 1948 | Served as VP and concurrently as Secretary of Foreign Affairs under Roxas. Succeeded to the presidency in 1948 following Roxas's sudden death in office. |
| 3 | Fernando Lopez | 1949 to 1953 | Member of a prominent Iloilo business and media family. Served his first of two non-consecutive terms as VP under Quirino. |
| 4 | Carlos P. Garcia | 1953 to 1957 | Elected VP under Magsaysay. Succeeded to the presidency in 1957 following Magsaysay's death in a plane crash, later winning election to a full term. |
| 5 | Diosdado Macapagal | 1957 to 1961 | Elected VP under Garcia despite representing a rival party, an early example of the office splitting from the presidency. Won the presidency outright in the 1961 election. |
| 6 | Emmanuel Pelaez | 1961 to 1965 | Served as VP and concurrently as Secretary of Foreign Affairs under Macapagal, with a focus on regional diplomacy in Southeast Asia. |
| 7 | Fernando Lopez | 1965 to 1973 | Returned to the vice presidency for a second, non-consecutive term under Marcos Sr. The office was vacated in 1973 when the new Constitution temporarily abolished the position. |
| 8 | Salvador Laurel | 1986 to 1992 | First Vice President following the 1986 People Power Revolution. Served concurrently as Secretary of Foreign Affairs under Aquino for part of his term. |
| 9 | Joseph Estrada | 1992 to 1998 | Served as VP under Ramos while maintaining an independent political base. Elected president in his own right in 1998. |
| 10 | Gloria Macapagal Arroyo | 1998 to 2001 | Served as VP and concurrently as Secretary of Social Welfare and Development under Estrada. Succeeded to the presidency in 2001 following Estrada's removal from office. |
| 11 | Teofisto Guingona Jr. | 2001 to 2004 | A long-serving senator before the vice presidency, known for advocacy on human rights and government accountability. Also served as Secretary of Foreign Affairs under Arroyo. |
| 12 | Noli de Castro | 2004 to 2010 | A former broadcast journalist prior to public office. Chaired housing and urban resettlement programs during his term as VP. |
| 13 | Jejomar Binay | 2010 to 2016 | Long-serving mayor of Makati before the vice presidency. Ran for president in 2016 but did not win the election. |
| 14 | Leni Robredo | 2016 to 2022 | Elected VP independently of President Duterte, representing a rival party. Known for the Angat Buhay grassroots anti-poverty program and pandemic relief coordination work. |
| 15 | Sara Duterte Current | 2022 to present | Elected VP on a unity ticket with Marcos Jr. Concurrently served as Secretary of Education before resigning that post. Facing an impeachment trial in the Senate as of July 2026. |
Mariano Trías is considered the first de facto Vice President of the Philippines, elected at the Tejeros Convention on March 22, 1897, and serving under President Emilio Aguinaldo during the revolutionary government. He is generally not included in the official government count above, since the Office of the Vice President as it exists today was established under the 1935 Commonwealth Constitution.
The vice presidency of Sara Duterte is subject to an active Senate impeachment trial as of this writing. This entry will be updated as the proceeding develops.
People Also Ask About the Philippine Vice President
Who is the current Vice President of the Philippines?
Sara Duterte, elected in 2022. As of July 2026, she is facing an impeachment trial in the Senate.
Are the President and Vice President elected on the same ticket?
No. They run on separate ballots and can belong to different, even rival, political parties.
Can the Vice President run for re-election?
Yes, unlike the President, the Vice President is not limited to a single term.
How many Philippine vice presidents became president?
Four vice presidents succeeded to the presidency without being elected to it directly: Osmeña, Quirino, Garcia, and Arroyo.
Has a vice president ever served in a Cabinet position at the same time?
Yes. Several vice presidents have concurrently held a Cabinet post, including Quirino and Pelaez at Foreign Affairs, Laurel also at Foreign Affairs, Arroyo at Social Welfare and Development, and Sara Duterte at Education before her resignation from that post.
Last updated: September 15, 2026. Sources: 1987 Philippine Constitution (Article VII), Official Gazette of the Philippines, Senate of the Philippines. About azifind.com →