National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) Director Jaime Santiago expressed skepticism about the statement of former presidential spokesperson Salvador Panelo that, in the event former President Rodrigo Duterte dies in detention at The Hague, Netherlands, Vice President Sara Duterte may assume the presidency.

Santiago said in a Viber message on Monday, “May WIN in the election...but not ASSUME presidency...hindi naman si PRRD ang presidente NGAYON! paano mag-a-assume... MISQUOTED nga si ATTY. PANELO.”

Asked if legal action could be taken for the misquote that give wrong impression, Santiago said, “Kung masayado tayong maghihigpit, pwede...pero honest MISQUOTE lang siguro... hehehe.”

To recall, Panelo said in a media forum that Vice President Sara Duterte could assume the presidency if the former President dies in detention at The Hague.

“If former President Rodrigo Duterte should die in detention at The Hague, it could catapult Vice President Sara Duterte into the presidency,” Panelo was quoted in the said media forum last Thursday.

Panelo further said, “If you look at our history, when a prominent person dies, like the president, it results in the rise of a relative or a child,” he said in Filipino.

He pointed out the case of two late presidents — Corazon Aquino and Benigno Aquino III.

“Remember when Cory died? PNoy (the son’s popular monicker) then had no ambition of becoming president, and then suddenly, when his mother died, he became president. This is what we see here,” Panelo added.

He said a similar situation would be possible as Duterte’s detention had already led to what he said were massive protests.

The 80-year-old former president is at the ICC Detention Centre, facing crimes against humanity raps due to his drug war.