Vice President Sara Duterte will not attend President Marcos’ third State of the Nation Address (SONA) on July 22, marking the first time she skips her 2022 running-mate’s annual report to the people.
(From right) President Ferdinand 'Bongbong' Marcos Jr. and Vice President Sara Duterte (Photo from Inday Sara Duterte Facebook page)
The official revealed this during a media interview in her hometown of Davao City.
“No. I will not attend the SONA,” she said, as she marks the last week of being the Department of Education (DepEd) secretary, having tendered her one-month notice on June 19.
“I’m appointing myself as the designated survivor,” the Vice President added.
Unlike the United States, the Philippines does not have a law on designated survivor.
A designated survivor is someone—usually an appointed member of the President’s Cabinet or someone in the presidential line of succession—who is asked to sit out the SONA to take over the presidency in case of a catastrophic incident that leads to the incapacitation of everyone in the line of succession.
Duterte’s non-attendance in next week’s SONA would push further speculations of the rift inside the Uniteam tandem that formed the Marcos administration.
She will officially not be a part of the President’s official family by July 19, having set that date to step down from being DepEd chief.
Aside from Duterte, former vice presidents Leni Robredo, Jejomar Binay, and Noli de Castro won’t also be attending the SONA.
Former president Rodrigo Duterte, who has been highly critical of Marcos, has yet to confirm his attendance to the SONA.
He did not attend Marcos’ 2023 SONA.