There are three changes that would be happening in May and June that should be a cause of concern for the Filipino people.

No, we are not talking about the presidency.

It’s not the replacement of Gloria Arroyo after June 30, 2010 that we are worried about. It’s more of she might be replacing herself.

The most discussed impending change is in the judiciary, when Chief Justice Reynato Puno retires on May 17.

Article VIII, Section 4(1) of the Constitution states that any vacancy in the Supreme Court shall be filled within 90 days of the occurrence.

Gloria Arroyo’s minions say that she can appoint Puno’s replacement because he term ends on June 30.

However, Article VII, Section 15 of the Constitution prohibits midnight appointments.

It states that after two months immediately before the next presidential election and up to the end of his/her term, a President or acting President shall not make appointments except temporary appointments to executive positions when continued vacancies will prejudice or endanger public safety.

May 17 is still within that restricted period.

But one cannot take comfort on the protection of the law knowing Arroyo’s penchant for violating the Constitution and the subservience of the majority of the members of the Supreme Court.

Another problematic impending vacuum is in the Senate.

There are calls for Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile to step down so that a senator whose term would be until 2013 could be elected senate president.

Enrile has resisted these calls.

Probably because they are being made by allies of Senator Villar, presidential candidate of the Nacionalista party, who are maneuvering to control the upper chamber to prevent the approval of the Committee of the Whole report on the C-5 road project censuring Villar for unethical conduct and ordering him to return P6.5 billion he gained from the project.

Villar’s allies want him cleared in that controversial project.

The Villar investigation is just a side issue.

What is more important is the vacuum that would be created in the presidency of the country if there would be a failure of elections and no new president is declared by June 30, 2010.

The Constitution provides that in case of a vacancy in the presidency, the vice president takes over.

If the VP is unable to assume the presidency, next in line is the senate president and then the speaker of the House of Representatives.

If the there is no one qualified, Congress shall pass a law to provide who shall serve as acting president until the president or vice president shall have been elected and qualified.

The term of Enrile, who is running for re-election, ends on June 30, just like 11 other senators.

The same thing with House Speaker Prospero Nograles.

Who will then be acting president on June 30, if national winners are not proclaimed?

Yesterday’s Inquirer carried a suggestion to elect as senate president either Sen. Loren Legarda, who is running for vice president under the Nacionalista Party or Sen. Chiz Escudero.

Both are members of the Senate up to 2013.

But then, even if Enrile agrees to step down and any one of those whose term ends in 2013 would succeed him, there will be questions on the legality of his or her ascension to the presidency under a Senate without a quorum because there would only be 12 members.

If the issue goes to an Arroyo-controlled Supreme Court, one can guess what the decision would be.

Another change that is causing a lot of concern is in the military.

Armed Forces Chief of Staff Victor Ibrado is retiring on March 10. He missed the election ban on appointment by one day. That means Arroyo can appoint his successor.

The name being mentioned as frontrunner to succeed Ibrado is Army Chief Delfin Bangit, former head of the Arroyo’s Presidential Security Group.

The involvement of the military in the 2004 election cheating has been traumatic for the people, more so for members of the Armed Forces.

Ibrado’s performance the past seven months has elicited trust and confidence that he would not allow the military to be used for partisan politics in the may elections under his watch.

More than that, many believe that Ibrado will not allow himself to be used for any unconstitutional attempt by Arroyo to continue staying in power beyond 2010.

There have been calls, all from the opposition, to extend Ibrado’s term.

Even Magdalo officers, who rebelled against Arroyo in 2003, said extending the term of Ibrado beyond March is better than appointing “a very unpopular candidate.”

Magdalo spokesperson, Lt. Ashley Acedillo, said “Ibrado has shown himself to be professional and non-partisan.”

Bukidnon Rep. Teofisto Guingona III, who is running for senator under the Liberal party ticket, said extending the term of Ibrado will give the next president a free hand to appoint a new AFP chief and “would create stability within the AFP especially during the critical period leading to the elections. A stable AFP is absolutely crucial to ensure free, safe and honest elections.”

That is if Arroyo wants an honest and credible elections.

A contentious resolution in any one of these three areas of concern would increase political tension and put at risk the political stability of the country.

If it’s all the three areas, the country would be in big, big trouble because that would mean Gloria Arroyo forever.