MANILA -- Committee report 2463 or otherwise known as the Succession Law could still be passed before the Congress adjourns for a recess on December, according to author Nueva Ecija Representative Edno Joson.

The bill was submitted to the Rules Committee Wednesday and has been filed under unfinished or unsigned business.

“The problem is whether the Senate will make amendments of a counterpart. There is hope to pass the bill before the December recess depending on the action of the Senate,” Joson said.

If there are amendments, the House of Representatives will have to discuss the bill again.

The law intends to prevent a political vacuum in case no proclamation on the national elections is made on June 4, 2010. It states that a new Senate President whose term will end on 2013 be elected before the resumption of the Senate on May 31 until June 4 for canvassing purposes.

“We're not sure whether there will be a proclamation on June five, whether by partial of full automation of elections depending on the decision of the Commission on Elections,” he said.

The Commission on Elections (Comelec) has not released a decision on whether the upcoming 2010 elections will be fully or partially automated, said Joson.

Current Senate President Juan Ponce-Enrile's term ends in 2010.

In case Enrile does not win in the upcoming elections and no President or Vice President is proclaimed, there will be no one next in line to assume temporary leadership of the country.

“Better on the side of caution than to put the peace situation of the Philippines at risk,” Joson said. (Angela Casauay/Sunnex)