Palace cites ‘wisdom’ in Ping Lacson’s designated survivor bill

By Prince Golez

Malacañang believes there is “wisdom” in the proposed legislation extending the line of presidential succession beyond the Speaker of the House of Representatives.

Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque made the statement Wednesday after Senator Ping Lacson pushed for the passage of a bill authorizing the President to name a “designated survivor” in case of death, permanent disability, or inability of the officials in the line of constitutional succession.

As provided for in the 1987 Constitution, the line of presidential succession only includes the Vice President, Senate President, and House Speaker.

“I think it’s based on a TV series, ‘Designated Survivor’. While the TV series is based on fiction, everyone in government explodes away because of a terrorist attack during the State of the Nation Address. There is that scenario that should be addressed,” Roque said in an interview with CNN Philippines’ The Source.

“We have a clear line of succession all the way down to the House Speaker but what happens, in fact, if similar to what happened in the TV series, everyone perishes,” he said.

“Perhaps, there is definitely wisdom in the bill filed by Senator Lacson but he would now have to file a counterpart measure in the house because the author in House has withdrawn her authorship of the bill,” he added.

The post Palace cites ‘wisdom’ in Ping Lacson’s designated survivor bill first appeared on Latest Philippine politics news today.

Source: Latest Politics News Today (Politics.com.ph)