Senator Robinhood 'Robin' Padilla on Monday proposed that former presidents will automatically be appointed as the advisers of the incumbent president.
Padilla floated the idea in a press statement where he expressed his support for the proposed Senate Bill No. 1784 or the Former Presidents Benefits Act of 2023.
"I fully support the proposal to give additional benefits to former Presidents, especially since their sacrifice for the nation continues. I am sure they have much to contribute to our nation, even after their terms end," he said.
"If I may add to the proposed measures, I propose that former Presidents be automatically made presidential advisers," Padilla added.
According to the Senator, the sitting president will be the one to choose who he or she will appoint as presidential adviser.
He cited that former president Rodrigo Duterte can be tapped as an adviser on law enforcement or foreign relations.
On January 26, Senators Christopher Lawrence 'Bong' Go, Mark Villar, Ronald Dela Rosa, and Francis Tolentino filed SB 1784 seeking to grant benefits and privileges to former chief executives.
The benefits that the Senators proposed are personal security and protection personnel for the former presidents and their families, adequate staff, and suitable office space.
