Malacañang said Wednesday Senator Panfilo Lacson’s intention was good when he filed a bill authorizing President Rodrigo Duterte to name a “designated survivor” should any of the constitutional successors fail to take over the presidency.
Presidential spokesman Harry Roque told CNN Philippines there was a need to pick a successor who is not part of the constitutional line of succession.
“Perhaps there is definitely wisdom in the bill filed by Senator Lacson,” Roque said.
He also said the proposed revolutionary government was “unconstitutional” and Duterte was committed to finishing his term, but if the people wanted to talk about it, they could do so to freely exchange their views.
He said Duterte had expressed his openness to the discussion of a revolutionary government, but insisted on finishing his term and then going home to Davao.
Senate Minority Leader Franklin Drilon, meanwhile, said Congress and the Filipino people would hold Armed Forces of the Philippines Chief Gilbert Gapay to his words that the military would never support the calls for a revolutionary government.
“We will hold Lieutenant General Gapay to his words. The assurance he made should lay to rest these loose talks about a revolutionary government,” Drilon said.
He made his statement even as the Commission on Appointments on Wednesday confirmed the nomination of Gapay to the rank of general and the ad-interim appointments of 29 other military officials.
The Vice President, Senate President and House Speaker are the legal successors of the President under the 1987 Constitution.
Roque admitted that despite having a “clear” line of presidential succession under the Constitution, the possibility of the President’s successors dying all together on any occasion should not be discounted.
“There is that scenario that should be addressed,” he said.
On Monday, Lacson pushed for the passage of the “designated survivor” bill to avert a possible “constitutional crisis and leadership vacuum” in the event that the President, vice president, Senate president and House speaker die in “exceptional circumstances.”
Lacson said a constitutional crisis was possible if all four top officials perished during a terror attack at the Batasang Pambansa in Quezon City while the President was delivering his State-of-the Nation Address.
Under Lacson’s Senate Bill 982 that was filed last year, the most senior senator, most senior House representative, and Cabinet member designated by the President would act as the Chief Executive in that order in case of death or permanent disability of all the constitutional successors.
The counterpart of Lacson’s bill in the House of Representatives has been withdrawn.
Quezon City Rep. Precious Hipolito-Castelo in August 2019 filed House Bill 4062, which would authorize the President to choose a successor who is not part of the constitutional line of succession.
On Sunday, Hipolito-Castelo withdrew HB 4062 to dispel any notions that she was for “ignoring or scrapping the constitutional line of succession to the presidency.”
Lacson said it was “unfortunate” that Hipolito-Castelo requested the withdrawal of HB 4062.
