MANILA – Vice President Sara Duterte-Carpio clarified that her controversial “designated survivor” remark was neither a joke nor a bomb threat for President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.’s upcoming State of the Nation Address (SONA).
In an interview in Carmen, Cebu on Wednesday, Duterte-Carpio said she does not have any meaning with her self-appointment as the “designated survivor” ahead of Monday’s SONA.
“Karon rako nakakita nga kanang Vice President nga ginapangita ang ilang attendance sa tanan nga mga butang (It is my first time to see a Vice President to be checked for attendance in everything),” Duterte-Carpio said.
“Dili to siya joke. Dili pod to siya bomb threat (It is not a joke. It is not a bomb threat). Many missed the point. For me, if you don’t understand the first time, I don’t think you deserve an explanation,” she added.
Duterte-Carpio said last week that she is skipping President Marcos’ third SONA as she is appointing herself as the “designated survivor.”
A “designated survivor” is a US government official chosen to stay at a secure location during events where top leaders are gathered.
This ensures continuity of government in case a catastrophic event kills or incapacitates the president, vice president, and other top officials.
Duterte-Carpio’s “designated survivor” remark was met with criticisms by some allies of President Marcos over at the House of Representatives.
The Philippine National Police, for their part, stated that they have not received reports of threats for President Marcos’ upcoming SONA.
Duterte-Carpio recently resigned from Marcos’ Cabinet after tense relations between their families in recent months./PN
