Senator Francis Pangilinan supported on Monday the proposal that sought for the appointment of a transition president who would take charge of the government should the May 2010 automated elections fail.

Pangilinan said the Senate should consider drafting a legislation that would appoint an acting Senate President in the event of a possible no-elections scenario next year.

He said such move would help fill the vacuum in leadership, saying he agrees that there is no guarantee that the automated elections would go without a glitch.

“The Senate should elect a transition president, one whose term has yet to end before 2013,” Pangilinan told the Manila Bulletin editorial staff in a luncheon meeting.

Pangilinan, a member of the Liberal Party which is now endorsing Senator Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III’s presidential candidacy, said while the people have to stay vigilant against any attempt to commit electoral fraud, a contingency measure should be in place.

Other senators who supported the move include Senators Francis Escudero and Edgardo Angara.

Angara said a failure of elections in May 2010, could invite “political and military adventurists” from taking advantage of the situation.

Such scenario, he said, could greatly affect the economic and social stability of the country and ward off potential investors.

Escudero had vowed to initiate the filing of a resolution as soon as possible in the Senate.

A counter resolution on the same issue has also been filed the House of Representatives by Reps. Teodoro Locsin, Jr. and Edno Joson.

Pangilinan said he has also drafted a similar proposal before, but said he would let other colleagues in the chamber initiate the move this time.

“I just wish that the glitches, hopefully, would only be minimal. There really is no guarantee that automated elections would go smoothly,” he said.