MANILA, Philippines — It may have been a slip of the tongue. The cat, nevertheless, is out of the bag, so to speak.
By mentioning the Netflix series “Designated Survivor,” Vice President Sara Duterte has revealed – wittingly or unwittingly – that she really wants the presidency this early, or four years away from the next presidential elections, according to a lawmaker.
“Now, the true intentions and personality of VP Duterte are becoming clearer to us,” House Deputy Speaker David Suarez said.
“Offhand, the VP’s statements are not what we expected from someone holding the second highest office in the land,” Suarez added.
At the same time, the representative of the second district of Quezon province also noted that Duterte’s comment “seems to reinforce a growing belief that her past display of unity with President Marcos was merely superficial.”
Duterte was Marcos’ running mate in the May 9, 2022 presidential election under the UniTeam party.
Another administration stalwart, House Majority Leader Manuel Jose Dalipe, reminded the Vice President that as a lawyer herself, she should know that she has no power to appoint herself, or anybody for that matter, much less as the so-called designated survivor.
“To begin with, nowhere in our 1987 Constitution is it stated that the Vice President has the authority or power to appoint herself, or anyone else, for that matter. Furthermore, the term ‘designated survivor’ is not found in any of our statutes,” Dalipe emphasized.
Asked about her plans on Marcos’ third State of the Nation Address in a chance interview with reporters last week, Duterte remarked: “No, I will not attend the SONA. I’m appointing myself as the Designated Survivor.”
“The authority to appoint is exclusively vested in our President, who makes appointments ranging from Cabinet members to directors of government agencies,” Dalipe pointed out.
Under the Constitution, the line of succession among the country’s highest elected officials is likewise unequivocal and clearly stipulated.
Article VII, Section 8 of the 1987 Constitution states that the vice president ascends to the presidency in the event of the president’s death, incapacity, resignation or removal, serving the unexpired term, as exemplified by Gloria Macapagal Arroyo’s succession following Joseph Estrada’s ousting in January 2001.
This line of succession proceeds from the Senate president to the speaker of the House.
Senior Deputy Speaker Aurelio Gonzales Jr. also reminded Duterte that there is “no such thing as a designated survivor in the Philippines.”
“Is she spending too much time watching Netflix? She better read our Constitution. It’s as clear as sunlight. Is she really serious?” Gonzales asked, recalling that Duterte even joked previously that all members of her family – from her father to her two brothers, Davao City Mayor Sebastian Duterte and Davao City 1st District Rep. Paolo Duterte – will run for senator in the May 2025 midterm elections.
There was also a time when the Vice President said that she would seek reelection as mayor in Davao City.
“I mean, which is which really? We don’t even know if we can still trust her now. Whatever happened to some decency or at least being forthright in public service? A career in government is not something anybody can play with. We’re dealing with people’s money and public resources,” he said.
Fond of joking
After resigning from her government positions, Duterte has become fond of making jokes, according to Senate Minority Leader Aquilino Pimentel III.
In an interview with dzBB radio yesterday, Pimentel said he was “not really” scared when he heard that Duterte would not attend the SONA and proclaimed herself as the “designated survivor.”
“ It seems like the Vice President (has) become fond of making jokes lately,” Pimentel added.
Asked whether joking as the “designated survivor” is a bad or good joke, Pimentel said: “Maybe (she becomes fond of telling jokes) after she resigned. Although it is still effective on July 19, she has been like that since she resigned from the Cabinet and from all her other government positions, except being Vice President.”
“It’s like she’s feeling informal. That’s why the Vice President is joking. Well, it’s not just good in the context of SONA,” he said. — Cecille Suerte Felipe
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