Vice Pres. Sara Duterte Expects Nothing Substantial about PH in Marcos Jr. 4th SONA
SARA DUTERTE – The Vice President will skip the 4th State of the Nation Address (SONA) of Pres. Bongbong Marcos for an event with the overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) in South Korea.
Previously, the Office of the Secretary General of the House of Representatives confirmed that Vice Pres. Duterte will skip the 4th SONA of Pres. Marcos as per a letter from the Office of the Vice President (OVP). Then, the reason behind the absence of the second-highest official in the government at the annual event was not stated.
If it really happens, it will not be the first time that Vice Pres. Duterte is not present in the President’s SONA. In 2024, the Vice President also ditched the annual address of Pres. Marcos. It is no secret to the public that there is an ongoing rift between the highest and the second-highest officials in the Philippine government.
According to the House Secretary General, despite the expected absence of Vice Pres. Sara Duterte in Marcos Jr.’s 4th SONA, they will still reserve a seat for her. They also intend to allot a holding space for her and the staff of the OVP in case she changes her mind and she attends the annual event.
However, Vice Pres. Sara Duterte is seemingly determined to skip the 4th SONA of Pres. Bongbong Marcos. Based on a report on ABS-CBN News, the Vice President revealed that she will be flying to South Korea for an event with the overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) there.
“No SONA for me kasi confirmed na ang Korea natin na Filipino gathering,” the Vice President said.
Vice Pres. Sara Duterte did not disclose the exact details of her trip to South Korea but claimed that her schedule abroad will be on the same date as Pres. Bongbong Marcos’ 4th SONA on July 28. Based on the report, during her recent stay at Australia, the Vice President claimed she does not expect “anything substantial” about the Philippines in the speech of the President.
“I do not intend to attend the State of the Nation Address of President Marcos since I don’t think he will be providing anything substantial about our country,” she expressed.
Vice Pres. Sara Duterte has been to several countries abroad recently. In less than a month, she has been to Qatar, The Netherlands, Malaysia, and Australia. Malacañang previously asked about her trips but Vice Pres. Duterte stressed that it is not her obligations to reveal the details of her personal trips.