Section 23Sec./Art. 23

Temporary Vacancy in the Office of the City Mayor. - (a) When the city mayor is temporarily incapacitated to perform his duties for physical or legal reasons such as, but not limited to, leave of absence, travel abroad, and suspension from office, the city vice-mayor, or the highest ranking sangguniang panlungsod member shall automatically exercise the powers and perform the duties and functions of the city mayor, except the power to appoint, suspend, or dismiss employees which can only be exercised if the period of temporary incapacity exceeds thirty (30) working days.

(b) Said temporary incapacity shall terminate upon submission to the sangguniang panlungsod of a written declaration by the city mayor that he has reported back to office. In cases where the temporary incapacity is due to legal causes, the city mayor shall also submit necessary documents showing that said legal causes no longer exist.

(c) When the city mayor is traveling within the country but outside his territorial jurisdiction for a period not exceeding three (3) consecutive days, he may designate in writing the officer-in-charge of his office. Such authorization shall specify the powers and functions that the local official concerned shall exercise in the absence of the city mayor except the power to appoint, suspend, or dismiss employees.

(d) In the event, however, that the city mayor fails or refuses to issue such authorization, the city vice-mayor, or the highest ranking sangguniang panlungsod member, as the case may be, shall have the right to assume the powers, duties and functions of the said office on the fourth day of absence of the city mayor, subject to the limitations provided in subsection (c) hereof.

(e) Except as provided above, the city mayor shall in no case authorize any local official to assume the powers, duties, and functions of the office, other than the city vice-mayor, or the highest ranking member of the sangguniang panlungsod, as the case may be.

ARTICLE VII

THE APPOINTIVE OFFICIALS OF THE CITY; THEIR QUALIFICATIONS, POWERS AND DUTIES