MANILA, Philippines — Vice President Sara Duterte on Wednesday said her self-appointment as “designated survivor” during President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s third State of the Nation address was “neither a joke nor a bomb threat.”She, however, refused to clarify what she meant. “It’s not a joke, and it’s not a bomb threat either. READ: A first: Sara to skip Marcos’ Sona, names self ‘designated survivor’Duterte named herself as the designated survivor when she confirmed that she would not be attending Marcos’ Sona on July 22. In the United States, a designated survivor is an official in the presidential line of succession intentionally kept away from gatherings to ensure that someone can assume the presidency in the event of a mass casualty incident. Duterte’s comment drew the ire of some lawmakers and the public alike, with some pointing out that the comment was made “in poor taste.”ADVERTISEMENTREAD: VP Duterte’s ‘designated survivor’ joke ‘poor in taste’ – lawmaker
