Vice-President Fernando Lopez, who favored Romulo’s nomination for President, resigned his Cabinet position as Secretary of Agriculture and Natural Resources during the day.
Former Speaker Jose Yulo was nominated for the Vice-Presidency over the other contender, Senator Jose Avelino. Inasmuch as President Quirino could serve only two years of the regular fouryear term (as no president can serve longer than eight consecutive years under the Constitution), Mr. Yulo would have been automatically become President for the other two years if the Liberal Party won the election (Ramon Magsaysay won the Presidency and the Nacionalista Party dominated this election).
President Quirino assumed the Presidency after the death of President Roxas in 1948. He was re-elected for a full 4-year term.
Later on May 26, the President accepted the resignation of Vice-President Lopez as Secretary of Agriculture and Natural Resources and designated Chairman Placido M. Mapa, of the Rehabilitation Finance Corporation, Acting Secretary in his place.
Earlier on May 12, the President accepted the resignation of Carlos P. Romulo as Ambassador to the United States and as Chief Delegate to the United Nations, tendered in a letter in which Romulo stated that the President “may feel that I no longer am capable of that complete meeting of minds which would make my continuance … possible”. It was earlier reported that Romulo also told the President that it was his “considered opinion that it would be desirable in the national interest that you reconsider your decision to seek another term”.
