Sen. Panfilo Lacson. INQUIRER file photo / JAM STA. ROSA
MANILA, Philippines — Senator Panfilo Lacson on Monday said he plans to speak with House Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano to ask him to consider taking up at the lower chamber of Congress a measure similar to the former’s “designated survivor” bill.
This, after Quezon City Rep. Precious Hipolito Castelo requested the “withdrawal and permanent archiving” of her bill similar to the measure filed by Lacson.
Both Lacson and Castelo’s bills seek to authorize the president to assign a temporary successor among his Cabinet members should officials in the line of presidential succession under the Constitution be unable to assume the presidency.
“Well, I’m hoping na may ibang congressman o congressmen na mag-file din ng similar bill or counterpart bill,” Lacson told reporters in an online interview.
(I’m hoping that there is a congressman or other congressmen who would want to file similar bill or counterpart bill.)
“I intend to talk to Speaker Cayetano kung pwedeng i-reconsider na ma-take up sa committee hearings man lang then sa plenary nila yung similar na legislation sa House of Representatives. Sayang e,” he added.
(I intend to talk to Speaker Cayetano if it can be reconsidered for the committee hearing to take up even in the plenary a similar legislation in the House of Representatives. Let’s not put it to waste.)
Castelo’s decision to withdraw was followed by Lacson’s renewed push for the immediate passage of the bill.
According to Lacson, his push for the passage of the “designated survivor” bill was also revived following the deadly bombings that rocked Jolo, Sulu.
“Because of the failure of Congress to pass the necessary legislation in extending the line of succession beyond the Speaker of the House of Representatives, a constitutional crisis is possible if all four top elected officials, God forbid, die in one event such as the SONA due to a terrorist attack in the Batasang Pambansa, or any occasion where the President and all three officials in the line of constitutional succession are present,” the senator said in an earlier statement.
Under the Constitution, the line of presidential succession includes the vice president, Senate president, and House speaker.