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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider Robredo in virtual SONA only; can't attend in Batasan due to protocols

Robredo in virtual SONA only; can't attend in Batasan due to protocols

Published Jul 25, 2021 11:08 am

After initially only inviting Vice President Leni Robredo to attend President Duterte’s final State of the Nation Address (SONA) via Zoom, Malacañang has backtracked and decided to extend an invitation for her to be physically present at the Batasan Pambansa in Quezon City on Monday, July 24.

Vice President Leni Robredo and President Rodrigo Duterte (FILE PHOTO/MANILA BULLETIN)

However, Robredo’s spokesperson Barry Gutierrez said on Sunday, July 25, that the vice president cannot attend because of the COVID-19 health protocols.

“Kasabay nung pangalawang imbitasyon merong listahan ng mga protocols na kailangan sundin. At isa dito kung ikaw ay mag-a-attend personally, kailangan nakapag-second dose ka na ng bakuna (With the second invitation comes a list of protocols that need to be followed. One of these is if you are going to attend personally, you must have a second dose of the COVID-19 vaccine),” he said during Robredo’s weekly radio show.

“Ang problema si VP Leni, August 11 pa ang schedule niya nung kanyang second dose (The problem is that VP Leni will have her second dose on August 11),” Gutierrez, a lawyer, explained.

That’s why Robredo opted not to come to the Batasan personally because she might place at risk the health of the people there, including the President.

Gutierrez noted that after the news came out that Robredo was only asked to virtually attend the SONA, there were some reactions.

READ: Robredo not physically invited to Duterte’s SONA, but will attend via Zoom

“Pagkatapos ng ilang araw, kinalarify ay hindi daw. Meron daw bagong listahan na inaprubahan ang IATF at pwede na daw siya magpunta na personal dun sa Batasan (After a few days, they had a clarification. The IATF apparently approved a new list and she can go personally to Batasan).”

This will be the second time Robredo will not physically attend the SONA as she has been present in all of Duterte’s address to the nation since assuming the vice presidency in 2016.

The original list of SONA guests was made up of some 350 people, composed mostly of the President’s family, political allies, and Cabinet members.

“Si VP naman kahit kailan hindi nagmiss ng SONA. Tinatanaw niya ito bilang bahagi ng kanyang tungkulin bilang pangalawang pinakamataas na opisyal sa ating bansa. In fact, kung umabot lang ‘yung kanyang second dose, pupunta si VP Leni (VP has never missed a SONA. She sees it as part of her duty as the second highest official in our country. In fact, if she had her second dose, VP Leni will attend),” Gutierrez said.

READ: SONA to spotlight Duterte’s legacy, plans for final year

The vice president was absent during her Sunday radio show because she was in Camarines Sur to turn over the 1.2-kilometer farm-to-market road and farm equipment to the May Ogob Agrarian Reform Cooperative, which is Office of the Vice President’s (OVP) partner for its Omasenso sa Kabuhayan Program under Angat Buhay.

She even posted photos of the ribbon-cutting ceremony, as well as the food served to her during the event. Robredo promised she’ll simply “take home” the food so she won’t have to take off her mask.

Related Tags

President Duterte VP Leni Robredo batasang pambansa Barry Gutierrez zoom sona
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