00:00Becoming a Designated Survivor.
00:02This is what Vice President Sara Duterte pointed out
00:05as to why she will not attend the State of the Nation Address of the President on July 22.
00:17No. No, I will not attend the SONA.
00:20I am appointing myself as the Designated Survivor.
00:24I think what she is doing is a precautionary measure
00:28because there is no law beyond the Speaker,
00:33the President has to be there.
00:35The Vice President doesn't have to be there.
00:38She has no role there.
00:39We cannot consider it as a threat
00:42because I think personally,
00:46it's just a joke.
00:49Of course, the reaction of our security officials may be different.
00:55The House Secretary General also said
00:57that this is the first time that a Vice President will not attend the SONA of a President.
01:02House Speaker Martin Romualdez said
01:04that it is the decision of a public official if he will attend the SONA or not.
01:08But the SONA is important
01:10because this is a chance for the Filipinos to show the unity of the leaders.
01:15Retired Supreme Court Associate Justice Vicente Mendoza said
01:19that there is no provision regarding the Designated Survivor in our Constitution.
01:23What is clear is that the Vice President is the one who will replace the President
01:26even if he dies,
01:28resigns,
01:29or can no longer fulfill his duties.
01:34In our Constitution,
01:35following the Vice President in the line of succession,
01:39the Senate President and the House Speaker
01:41in America have a Designated Survivor or Official
01:44who is not allowed to attend important meetings
01:47if the President is present
01:49and others are in the line of succession.
01:51In case of an attack,
01:53there will be a temporary Vice President.
02:21For more UN videos visit www.un.org
