BY GEROME DALIPE IV
ILOILO City – The Vice President is the “designated survivor” under the 1987 Philippine Constitution, said former senator Franklin Drilon.
In an interview with reporters via Zoom yesterday, Drilon said the Constitution assigned the Vice President as the “designated survivor” in case of a catastrophic event targeting the House of Representatives in an occasion such as the State of the Nation Address (SONA).
“From my legal standpoint, the designated survivor is the Vice President as provided by the 1987 Constitution,” said Drilon.
Likewise, Drilon said that Vice President Sara Duterte Carpio may not be compelled to attend the third State of the Nation Address (SONA) of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on July 22.
“If Vice President Duterte thinks she need not attend the SONA, then that is her privilege. Although of course, people would want to see here in there (SONA) to show unity,” said Drilon.
Duterte earlier confirmed she would not attend Marcos’ SONA, adding that she appointed herself the “designated survivor.”
The concept of a “designated survivor” involves appointing a member of the government to be kept in a secure, undisclosed location during events where top government officials are gathered such as SONA.
Presently, the line of presidential succession includes the Vice President, Senate President, and House Speaker, as provided for in the 1987 Constitution.
In the Philippines, the idea of a designated survivor was proposed by former senator Panfilo Lacson in 2020.
The bill is based on a popular Netflix political thriller called “Designated Survivor”, which aims to ensure the country has a president in the case of a constitutional leadership crisis.
Senate Bill No. 982 (The Presidential Succession Act), or the Designated Survivor Bill, will ensure the presidency if constitutional successors become unavailable.
The bill proposes the appointment of a designated survivor from among the highest-ranking government officials to ensure that there is always someone capable of assuming the presidency if all other top officials are incapacitated during a major event.
Lacson filed the bill to avert a potential constitutional crisis and leadership vacuum, guaranteeing the continuity and stability of operations in government should be started immediately. Presently, the 1987 Constitution provides guidelines on the line of succession.
In passing the bill, Lacson noted that “exceptional circumstances” such as terrorism illustrate the need to address the limitations of the 1987 Constitution’s current provision on the line of succession.
Lacson pointed out that under Art. VII, Sec. 7 of the 1987 Constitution, “Congress shall, by law, provide for how one who is to act as President shall be selected until a President or a Vice-President shall have qualified, in case of death, permanent disability, or inability of the officials mentioned in the next preceding paragraph.”
The bill further provides that before any public or private activity, event, or function with the attendance of the President, Vice President, and ranking officials, the President shall designate a member of the Cabinet to be sequestered in a secret and secure location.
The Acting President’s official actions regarding the day-to-day operation of the government shall remain effective unless revoked by the elected President within 90 days from his or her assumption or re-assumption of office./PN