Section 22Sec./Art. 22

Permanent Vacancy in the Office of the Provincial Governor. -(a) If a permanent vacancy occurs in the office of the provincial governor, the provincial vice governor shall become the provincial governor or, in case of permanent inability, the highest rankingsanggunianmember shall become the provincial governor. If a permanent vacancy occures in the office of the provincial vice governor, the highest rankingsangguniang panlalawiganmember shall become the provincial vice governor or, in case of permanent inability, the highest rankingsangguniang panlalawiganmember shall become the provincial vice governor. Subsequent vacancies shall be filled automaticallly by thesanggunianmembers according to their ranking as defined herein:

(1) For purpose of this Act, a permanent vacancy arises when an elective official fills a higher vacant office, refuses to assume office, fails to qualify, dies, is removed from the office, voluntarily regins or otherwise permanently incapacitated to discharge the functions of the office;

(2) A tie between or among the highest rankingsangguniang panlalawiganmembers shall be resolved by drawing of lots;

(3) The successors as defined herein shall serve only the unexpired terms of the predecessors; and

(4) For purposes of succession as provided for in this Act, ranking in thesangguniang panlalawiganshall be determined on the basis of the proportion of votes obtained by each winning candidate to the total number of registered voters in the province in the immediately preceding local elections.