Vice President Sara Duterte was just kidding when she declared herself as a “designated survivor” after baring her intention to skip the third State of the Nation Address (SONA) of President Marcos Jr. on July 22, according to a former Cabinet official.
Ex-national security adviser Hermogenes Esperon Jr. said that some people must have just misinterpreted the “humor” of the Vice President.
“She is just stating very rhetorically the matter of fact that she is the constitutional successor. Nothing new,” Esperon told the Manila Bulletin.
Esperon served as the national security adviser under the administration of former president Rodrigo Duterte, the current vice president’s father. He was also a former Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) chief under the administration of former president Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, a known ally of the Dutertes.
“I think she was coming from the lighter side of it. She has humor,” Esperon said of the Vice President.
The ex-NSA said that Duterte is naturally a “pilya” or naughty, adding that her remark “should be taken lightly.”
In an interview in Davao City on Thursday, July 11, the Vice President reportedly said that she would not attend the upcoming SONA of President Marcos on July 22. She then reportedly said in jest that she would instead be the “designated survivor.”
The term refers to a person in the presidential line of succession who is kept distant from others when they are gathered together to reduce the chance that everyone in the line will be unable to take over the presidency in case of a catastrophic or mass-casualty event.
There is no law in the Philippines pertaining to a designated survivor. However, the 1987 Constitution provides for a line of succession in the event that the elected President of the Philippines is not able to discharge the duties of his office due to death, disability, or resignation.
The following is the line of succession:
Vice President — in cases of the death, disability, or resignation of the President;
Senate President — in cases of the death, disability, or resignation of the President and Vice President; and
Speaker of the House of Representatives — in cases of the death, disability, or resignation of the President, Vice President, and Senate President.
The Constitution mandates the Congress of the Philippines to enact a law calling for a special election three days after the vacancy in the Office of the President and Vice President. The special election should occur 40 days after the enactment of the law, but not later than 60 days after the enactment of the law.
Duterte's remark came just as she quit her post as the secretary of the Department of Education (DepEd) and vice chair of the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC) last month. It will take effect on July 19.
Right now, Esperon said that all eyes and ears will be on the upcoming SONA of Marcos.
“PBBM remains the President. He will deliver his SONA and we will all listen to it,” the retired Army general noted.