Statement of Malacañang on VP Sara Duterte Skipping 4th SONA of Pres. Bongbong Marcos
Malacañang reacted to the absence of Vice President Sara Duterte to the 4th State of the Nation Address (SONA) of Pres. Bongbong Marcos.
Recently, the Office of the House Secretary General has sent out the invitations for the 4th annual address of Pres. Bongbong Marcos to the government officials and the dignitaries. The 4th SONA is set on July 28 before the joint session of the Senate and the House of Representatives.
However, ahead of the event, the Office of the Vice President (OVP) sent a letter to the House SecGen’s office informing them that Vice Pres. Sara Duterte will skip the 4th SONA of Pres. Bongbong Marcos. It is no secret to the public that the relationship between the highest and the second-highest officials in the government has turned sour.
According to House Secretary Gen. Reginald Velasco, it was not stated why Vice Pres. Duterte will not be attending the 4th SONA of Pres. Marcos. The House SecGen stressed that the Vice President is the lone persona invited who confirmed her absence in the upcoming event.
According to Velasco, all the other government officials and dignitaries who were sent an invitation to the 4th SONA of Marcos Jr. expressed positive responses. Recently, Malacañang spoke shortly on the absence of the Vice President to the upcoming event.
Based on a report on The Philippine Star, Malacañang said that it is no longer their fault if Vice Pres. Sara Duterte will not be able to hear the programs and achievements of the Marcos administration. Palace press officer Atty. Claire Castro also said that it is already the choice of the Vice President if she will skip the 4th State of the Nation Address of Pres. Bongbong Marcos.
“If she fails to hear the programs and accomplishments of President Marcos’ administration, it’s no longer our fault, it’s her choice,” the Malacañang press officer said.
Based on the report, Castro added that Vice Pres. Sara Duterte was also absent during the 3rd SONA of Pres. Bongbong Marcos. The Malacañang official claimed that the Vice President allegedly attended a wedding instead of gracing the annual event.
In 2024, Vice Pres. Duterte ditched the 3rd SONA of Pres. Marcos and she also refused to watch in on television or gadgets. Then, the ties between her and the Chief Executive already goes through a rough patch.
Despite the OVP informing them of the absence of the Vice President in the upcoming event, the House Secretary General said they will still reserve a seat for Vice Pres. Sara Duterte at the 4th SONA of Pres. Bongbong Marcos in case she changes her mind.