VICE PRESIDENT Sara Duterte asserted that her “designated survivor” remark was not intended as a veiled threat on President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s State of the Nation Address (SONA) on Monday.
In an ambush interview during the Brigada Eskwela Kick-off, she stated that she was not joking and did not issue a bomb threat.
According to the vice president, many people “missed” her point.
However, Duterte said she doesn’t need to explain further.
On July 11, the vice president told the media that she intended to skip the third SONA on July 22, marking the first time she would be absent from her 2022 running-mate’s annual report to the people.
In a media interview at the Brokenshire Medical Center-CANDEV inauguration on Thursday, Duterte said, “No. I will not attend the SONA. I’m appointing myself as the designated survivor.”
In politics, the designated survivor means someone who is in the line of succession but needs to distance themselves from a gathering to ensure they can step in during catastrophic events. The designated survivor will prevent a vacuum in leadership.
Under the 1987 Constitution, the vice president is next in the line of succession in case the president dies or becomes incapacitated. The vice president will be followed by the Senate president and the House speaker.
