Bills on President’s ‘designated survivor’ filed

MANILA, Philippines (Updated) —  Bills designating successors to the Presidential seat in case of death, permanent disability and other circumstances have been filed in Congress to ensure continuity and stability of operations in government. 

Sen. Panfilo Lacson and Quezon City 2nd District Rep. Precious Hipolito have filed Senate Bill No. 982 and House Bill No. 4062, respectively. Under the 1987 Constitution, the line of presidential succession only includes the Vice President, Senate President, and House Speaker.

“This bill … seeks to provide an exhaustive line/order of presidential succession in the event of death, permanent disability, removal from office or resignation of the Acting President to ensure that the office of the President is never vacated even in exceptional circumstances,” Lacson said.

In case of death or permanent disability, the measure provides that the following elected and appointed officers who are not under disability to discharge the powers and duties of the Office of the President shall assume the Presidency in the following order:

• the most senior Senator, based on the length of service in the Senate
• the most senior Representative based on the length of service in the House of Representatives
• the member of the Cabinet designated by the President

Under the bill, the President shall designate a member of the Cabinet to be secured in an undisclosed location before any public or private activity, event or function attended by the President, Vice President and ranking officials.

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“In the event of an extraordinary circumstance resulting in the death or permanent disability of the President, Vice President and the officials mentioned… the designated member of the Cabinet shall act as President,” Lacson said.

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He added that the Acting President’s official actions pertaining to day-to-day operation of the government shall remain effective unless revoked by the elected President within 90 days from his or her assumption or re-assumption of office.

Hipolito’s bill, meanwhile, gives power to the President to assign a successor from among his or her Cabinet officials should all the Constitutional successors die or be incapacitated to serve as Chief Executive. 

In her explanatory note, Hipolito cited that in the United States, during the Cold War era, the practice was to keep a “designated successor” away from events at which numerous high-ranking officials gather.

“Since our Constitution does not provide for the same rule, we can only imagine how tragic the outcome will be in case the unthinkable happens. The absence of a leader can lead to lawlessness and disorder, and worst, to anarchy,” she added.

Justice Sec. Menardo Guevarra, meanwhile, pointed out that the Constitution already mandates the enactment of such a bill in the event that the acting president dies, resigns, or becomes permanently incapacitated. Guevarra said it is up to Congress to designate the survivor who shall temporarily replace the acting president. “He may be drawn from the Cabinet or from the legislature, the office being of a political nature,” he added. /je