Senator Robin Padilla has filed a resolution seeking to amend the political provisions of the 1987 Constitution to allow the President and Vice President to serve two four-year terms.

In Resolution of Both Houses of Congress 5, Padilla also proposed amendments to Sections 4 and 7 of Article  VI (Legislative Branch); Section 4 of Article VII (Executive Branch); and Section 8 of Article X (Local Government).

Among the notable changes the senator wants to introduce is the single party ticket for the president and vice president, which would make them "joint candidates."

Padilla, who chairs the Senate panel on Constitutional Amendments and Revision of Codes, explained that the change in the terms of office of the president and vice president "will ensure a balance between leadership stability and democratic continuity."

"A joint candidacy for the president and vice president will provide for an electoral landscape that will shift its emphasis from individual personalities to a unified policy agenda and foster a more strategic and effective governance," he said.

The  resolution states that they "shall not be elected for more than two terms."

"A president who served two terms shall not be qualified to run for any elective position. Any person who has succeeded the president or vice president shall be qualified for only one election to the same office at any time," it says.

Padilla also wants to raise the number of senators from 24 to 54. Of these, he said, 24 senators will be elected "at large," while 30 will be elected by voters in "each legislative region."

Under the proposal, senators elected at large shall have a term of eight years and  shall not serve more than two consecutive terms; senators elected by region shall have four year terms and shall not serve for more than three consecutive terms.

Likewise, members of the House of Representatives shall be elected to a term of four years, and shall not serve more than three consecutive terms.

Padilla's RBH 5 also seeks to provide an additional year to the term of office of elective local officials, making it four years per term.

"The term of office of elective local officials, except barangay officials, shall be four years. They shall serve no more than three consecutive terms."

The resolution includes transitory provisions that prohibit incumbent and past presidents from running for office again.