IN 2016, ABC, then years later on Netflix, an American television hit-series drama aired about how a lowly cabinet secretary was thrust into the most powerful seat in America, or perhaps the world, when terrorists attacked the US Capitol Building killing all top government officials during the US President’s State of the Union Address – leaving him as the designated survivor.

It was a political thriller aimed to entertain and let the public be aware of what will happen should all government officials and the presidential line of succession die.

Courtesy: Designated Survivor

But what made Thomas Kirkman (portrayed by Kiefer Sutherland), the US Secretary of Housing and Urban Development at the series into the president overnight, was the statement issued by Vice President Sara Duterte who after a deep breath said she was appointing herself as the “designated survivor” to explain as to why she will not be attending the third State of the Nation Address of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., today.

Now whether it was a joke or an answer to the inquisitive questions of the media, only the Vice President knows.

But what made it curious or raised alarm for critics, was the fact that the main plot of the hit-series was that of the President being killed along with his cabinet officials, lawmakers and others as well.

Courtesy: FB Inday Sara Duterte

The Vice President then said in the coming days that her self-appointment as “designated survivor” during the SONA was “neither a joke nor a bomb threat.”

But she refused to clarify what she meant.

“It’s not a joke, and it’s not a bomb threat either. I think many missed the point. So for me, if you didn’t understand the first time, I don’t think [you] deserve an explanation,” she added.

Naturally, her stated ruffled feathers.

“It is such a tasteless joke. Whatever it means – if it is a threat – it is definitely an irresponsible, reckless statement from the second highest official of the land,” Sen. Risa Hontiveros said.

Hontiveros added the Vice President should set a good example to the country by respecting her fellow government officials even after her falling-out with the Marcos administration.

Senate minority leader Aquilino Pimentel III criticized Duterte for mixing “showbiz” with politics by referencing the Netflix political thriller.

House Majority Leader and Zamboanga City Rep. Manuel Jose Dalipe on the other hand expressed his deep concern and surprise on the statement of the Vice President that she had appointed herself as the country’s “designated survivor.”

Reality vs. TV

In the hit series, on the night of the State of the Union, a massive explosion brought down the Capitol Building, which effectively killed the President and everyone in the line of succession, except for Secretary of Housing and Urban Development Thomas Kirkman, who had been named the designated survivor. 

The US Secret Service quickly secured Kirkman as he was sworn in as President of the United States of America, unaware of the attack.

Courtesy: Designated Survivor

So what is the designated survivor?

In the United States, a designated survivor (or designated successor) is a person in the presidential line of succession who is kept distant from others in the line when they are gathered together, to reduce the chance that everyone in the line will be unable to take over the presidency in a catastrophic or mass-casualty event. 

Such a person is chosen to stay at an undisclosed secure location, away from such events such as State of the Union addresses and presidential inaugurations. 

The designation of a survivor is intended to prevent the decapitation of the government and to safeguard continuity in the presidency if the president, the vice president, and others in the presidential line of succession die. 

The procedure began in the 1950s, during the Cold War, with the idea that nuclear attack could kill government officials and the United States government would collapse.

In such an event, the surviving official highest in the line of succession in the Presidential Succession Act of 1947, who might be the designated survivor, would become Acting President of the United States. 

So, the question is does the Philippines has such designated survivor standard?

Well, the answer is no. 

This was the reason why then Senator Panfilo Lacson – who admitted to having been inspired by the hit series,  filed a bill for a succession system and a ‘designated survivor’ in the previous Congress.

Courtesy: PNA

For the former senator, the ‘designated survivor’ is a real need, and is not just for Netflix.

He argued that it shows a need for a law to avoid political vacuums in case of attacks on government.

Under the 1987 Constitution, “Congress shall, by law, provide for the manner in which one who is to act as President shall be selected until a President or a Vice-President shall have qualified, in case of death, permanent disability, or inability” of the Senate president and House speaker to take over.

But during the SONA, it is attended by the Senate president and House speaker, who are second and third in the line of government succession.

“Including the Vice President, the line of succession stops at the House Speaker,” Lacson said.

Lacson’s 2019 proposal was to extend the order of succession to include the most senior senator based on length of service in the Senate, the most senior representative based on the length of service in the House of Representatives, and a member of the Cabinet designated by the President.

For 21 year old Craig Garcia, himself an IT student, said today’s technology is a boon and a bane.

“I was able to watch the series. It is very entertaining. But it is not something to be taken for granted. We don’t know if a twisted mind by an individual or group may be plotting something,” he said.

“With many people hungry for power and money, it is a bad thing. Maybe we do need it. But heaven forbid such a thing will happen to the Philippines,” he added.

Shawn Christopher on the other hand says he believes that there are already laws enacted for successions.

He also believes that the security by the Philippine National Police and the Presidential Security Group is tight.

“If such a thing were to happen, then it already happened. Our authorities, I believe, are on top of the situation,” he said.

According to Section 8, Article 7 of the 1987 Constitution, the vice president ascends to the presidency in the event of the president’s death, incapacity, resignation or removal, serving the unexpired term, as exemplified by Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo’s succession following Joseph Estrada’s ouster in 2001.

This line of succession proceeds from the Senate president to the speaker of the House.

Courtesy: BBM FB Page

I have to admit, I myself watched the series. All the way up to Season 3. Sutherland had superb acting. The plots, the twists, and his character succumbing into what he feared he might be – a politician.

The plot makes for good TV. But in the history of politics across the world, I don’t think such an event has ever happened. And I hope it won’t. Not just for the safety of the people whose lives might be taken, as it would affect their families as well, but for the country, whose economy will surely fall.  

So for today, let’s listen to what the president has to say. You might agree, you might not agree, but one thing is for sure, our lives will depend on what the government policy will be for the next 365 days.