Harvey Sabado

Philippine Vice President Sara Duterte informed reporters during an ambush interview at the Child and Adolescent Neurodevelopmental Center Inauguration in Davao City on Thursday, July 11, that she will skip President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr.'s  3rd State of the Nation Address (SONA).

Photo Courtesy of The STAR/ KJ Rosales.

“No, I will not attend the SONA,” Duterte said. 

She added, “I am appointing myself as the designated survivor.”

In the American context, a “designated survivor” is chosen to ensure the continuity of a program of top-level government gatherings in case a catastrophic event occurs that kills any top officials, like the president and vice president. 

The Philippines has no current law about a “designated survivor,” but former Senator Ping Lacson introduced a bill in 2019 that outlines a succession plan.

Under the proposed legislation, the most senior senator, senior House representatives, and a Cabinet member appointed by the president would step in if the sitting executive chief becomes incapacitated due to death or permanent disability.

According to House Secretary General Reginald Velasco, he has not yet received a formal notification from the vice president about her attendance at SONA this year.

Meanwhile, Duterte has not yet stated the reason why she will not attend the upcoming SONA on July 22.