Section 21Sec./Art. 21

Permanent Vacancy in the Offices of the City Mayor and the City Vice Mayor. (a) If a permanent vacancy occurs in the office of the City Mayor, the City Vice Mayor concerned shall become the City Mayor. If a permanent vacancy occurs in the office of the City Vice Mayor, the highest ranking Sangguniang Panlungsod member or, in case of permanent inability, the second highest ranking Sangguniang Panlungsod member shall become the City Mayor or the City Vice Mayor, as the case may be. Subsequent vacancies in the said offices shall be filled automatically by the other Sanggunian members according to their ranking as defined herein.

(b)A tie between or among the highest ranking Sangguniang Panlungsod members shall be resolved by drawing of lots.

(c)The successors as defined herein shall serve only for the unexpired terms of their predecessors.

(d)For purposes of thisAct, a permanent vacancy arises when an elective local official fills in a higher vacant office, refuses to assume office, fails to qualify, dies, is removed from office, voluntarily resigns, or is otherwise permanently incapacitated to discharge the functions of the office.

(e)For purposes of succession as provided herein, ranking in the Sanggunian shall be determined on the basis of the proportion of votes obtained by each winning candidate to the totalnumberof registered voters in the constituency, in the immediately preceding local election.