<Li> The position was created by an independent revolutionary state, the "Malolos Republic", but was not recognized internationally . The Philippine government now recognizes the Malolos Republic as its predecessor state, which it also calls the First Philippine Republic . </Li> <Li> From an international standpoint at that time, the First Philippine Republic never existed but rather, Spain ceded its Spanish East Indies to the United States of America by the Treaty of Paris following the Spanish--American War . Therefore, the international community only recognizes the first Philippine presidency under the US - associated Commonwealth of the Philippines . </Li> <P> The President of the Philippines (Filipino: Pangulo ng Pilipinas, informally referred to as Presidente ng Pilipinas) is the head of state and head of government of the Philippines . The President leads the executive branch of the Philippine government and is the commander - in - chief of the Armed Forces of the Philippines . The President is directly elected by the people, and is one of only two nationally elected executive officials, the other being the Vice President of the Philippines . However, four vice presidents have assumed the presidency without having been elected to the office, by virtue of a president's intra-term death or resignation . </P> <P> Filipinos refer to their President as Pangulo or Presidente . The President serves a single, fixed, six - year term without possibility of re-election . On June 30, 2016, Rodrigo Duterte was sworn in as the 16th and current president . </P>

Who is in charge of the executive branch and how long is their term