‘Designated Survivor’ bill includes Cabinet member picked by President
Sen. Panfilo Lacson has filed a bill that seeks to prevent the disruption of government operations in case of a disaster or “exceptional circumstances” that leave the President and his constitutional successors dead or disabled.
Lacson’s proposed “Presidential Succession Act” extends the list of succession beyond the Vice President, Senate President and House Speaker, the current line of presidential succession under the 1987 Constitution, “to ensure that the office of the President is never vacated even in exceptional circumstances.”
He noted that the constitution mandates Congress to enact a law identifying who shall serve as President in case of death, permanent disability or the resignation of the acting President until the election and qualification of a new President or Vice President.
Under Lacson’s bill which was filed in the 18th Congress as the “Designated Survivor” bill, the following elected and appointed officers shall act as President in the following order: the most senior senator based on their length of service in the Senate; the most senior representative based on their length of service in the House of Representatives; and a Cabinet member designated by the President to be kept in a secret and secure location before any function to be attended by the President and other officials.
