05/02/2020
R.A. 6766
of the Republic of the Philippines and this Organic Act, execute its laws, do justice to all and consecrate
myself to the service of the Cordilleras. So help me God." (In case of affirmation, the last sentence will be
omitted.)
Section 7. The annual compensation of the Cordillera Governor and the Cordillera Deputy Governor shall, unless
otherwise provided by national law, be fixed at One hundred eighty thousand pesos (P180,000.00) and One
hundred forty-four thousand pesos (P144,000.00), respectively. They shall not receive during their tenure any other
emolument from the Government.
Section 8. The Cordillera Governor shall be provided with a reasonable housing allowance by the Cordillera
Assembly.
Section 9. The Cordillera Governor-elect and the Cordillera Deputy Governor-elect shall assume office at the
beginning of their terms.
If the Cordillera Governor-elect fails to qualify, the Cordillera Deputy Governor-elect shall act as Cordillera Governor
until the Cordillera Governor-elect shall have qualified.
If the Cordillera Governor shall not have been chosen, the Cordillera Deputy Governor-elect shall act as Cordillera
Governor until a Cordillera Governor shall have been chosen and qualified.
If at the beginning of the term of the Cordillera Governor, the Cordillera Governor-elect shall have died or shall have
been permanently disabled, the Cordillera Deputy Governor-elect shall become Cordillera Governor.
Where no Cordillera Governor and Cordillera Deputy Governor shall have qualified, or where both have died or
become permanently disabled, the Speaker of the Cordillera Assembly shall act as Acting Cordillera Governor until
a Cordillera Governor or Cordillera Deputy Governor shall have been chosen and qualified.
The Cordillera Assembly shall, by law, provide for the manner in which one who is to act as Cordillera Governor
shall be selected until a Cordillera Governor or a Cordillera Deputy Governor shall have qualified, in case of death,
permanently disability or resignation of the Speaker.
Section 10. In case of death, permanent disability, removal from office, or resignation of the Cordillera Governor, the
Cordillera Deputy Governor shall become the Cordillera Governor to serve for the unexpired term. In case of death,
permanent disability, removal from office, or resignation of both the Cordillera Governor and Cordillera Deputy
Governor, the Speaker of the Cordillera Assembly shall act as Cordillera Governor until the Cordillera Governor or
Cordillera Deputy Governor are elected and qualified in a special election called for the purpose: Provided, That
upon assumption as acting Cordillera Governor, the Speaker of the Cordillera Assembly shall temporarily vacate his
position as such and a Speaker Pro Tempore shall be elected: Provided, further, That upon the election and
assumption of office of the new Cordillera Governor, the Speaker shall reassume his office.
The Cordillera Assembly shall, by law, provide who shall serve as Cordillera Governor in case of death, permanent
disability, or resignation of the Acting Cordillera Governor. He shall serve until the Cordillera Governor shall have
been elected and qualified, and be subject to the same restrictions of powers and disqualifications as the Acting
Cordillera Governor.
Section 11. In case of temporary incapacity of the Cordillera Governor to perform his duties on account of physical
or legal causes, or when he is on official leave of absence or on travel outside the territorial jurisdiction of the
Republic of the Philippines, the Cordillera Deputy Governor, or if there be none, or in case of his temporary
incapacity or refusal to assume office, the Speaker of the Cordillera Assembly, shall exercise the powers, duties and
functions of the Cordillera Governor.
Section 12. Whenever there is a permanent vacancy in the office of the Cordillera Deputy Governor occurring at
least one (1) year before the expiration of his term of office, the Cordillera Assembly shall call a special election to fill
the vacancy in the manner prescribed by regional law: Provided, That the Cordillera Deputy Governor elected shall
serve only for the unexpired term.
Section 13. The Cordillera Assembly shall, at ten o'clock in the morning of the third day after the vacancies in both
the offices of Cordillera Governor and Cordillera Deputy Governor occur, convene in accordance with its rules
without need of a call and within seven (7) days enact a law calling for a special election to elect a Cordillera
Governor and a Cordillera Deputy Governor to be held not earlier than thirty (30) days or later than forty-five (45)
days from the time of such call. The bill calling for such special election shall be deemed certified under the
applicable law and shall become a law upon its approval on the third reading by the Assembly. Appropriations for
the special election shall be charged against any current appropriation. The convening of the Assembly shall not be
suspended. Neither shall the special election be postponed. No special election shall be called if the vacancies
occur within twelve (12) months immediately preceding the next regional elections.
Section 14. The Cordillera Governor, the Cordillera Deputy Governor, and the members of the Cabinet and their
assistants shall not, during their tenure, hold any other office except as otherwise provided in this Organic Act,
practice any profession, or participate directly or indirectly in any business or be financially interested directly or
indirectly in any contract with, or in any franchise or special privilege granted by the Cordillera Government or any
subdivision, agency or instrumentality thereof, including any national or regional government-owned or controlled
corporation.
The spouse and relatives by consanguinity or affinity within the fourth civil degree of the Cordillera Governor shall
not, during his tenure, be appointed members of the regional Cabinet or chairmen of regional commissions, or
heads of bureaus or offices, including government-owned or controlled corporations and their subsidiaries located in
the Autonomous Region.
Section 15. The Cordillera Governor shall have control of all executive departments in the Regional Government.
Section 16. The Cordillera Governor shall appoint the heads of regional departments, bureaus or offices with the
concurrence of the Regional Commission on Appointments. The Cordillera Assembly may, by law, vest in the
members of the Cabinet, special courts, heads of agencies, commissions and boards, the power to appoint
subordinate officers.
Section 17. Any member of the Cabinet may be removed or replaced by the Cordillera Governor at any time, with or
without cause. The salaries and emoluments of Cabinet members shall be fixed by regional law which shall not be
decreased during their tenure.
Section 18. The Cordillera Governor shall address the Cordillera Assembly at the opening of its regular session. He
may also appear before it at any other time. The Cordillera Assembly may invite the President and other
government officials to address it.
ARTICLE VII
Indigenous and Special Courts
Section 1. There is hereby created a system of tribal courts, which may include a Tribal Appellate Court, for the
indigenous cultural communities in the Autonomous Region. These courts shall determine, settle and decide
controversies and enforce decisions involving personal, family and property rights in accordance with the tribal
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