Vice President Sara Duterte (left), Tingog Party-list Rep. Jude Acidre (MANILA BULLETIN)

House Deputy Majority Leader Tingog Party-list Rep. Jude Acidre is prodding Vice President Sara Duterte to bare the real reason behind her plan to no-show President Marcos' State of the Nation Address (SONA) on July 22. 

In a statement Friday afternoon, July 12, Acidre argued that the Filipino people realize that the lady official is going through changes in terms of her political leanings. Thus, it would be better for the Vice President to just "come clean" and "stand by her convictions". 

"The public knows that Vice President Sara Duterte's political situation is currently in flux. She has recently distanced herself from the 'UniTeam' with President Ferdinand ‘Bongbong’ Marcos Jr. and resigned from her position as the Department of Education (DepEd) Secretary. Something is going on," Acidre said. 

"At the very least, she should come clean and explain why she can't or does not want to attend. She shouldn't hide behind cheap jokes; again, the public knows something is up. Stand by your convictions, ma'am," he said. 

Vice President Duterte announced Wednesday that she wouldn't be attending the SONA this coming July 22 at Batasan Pambansa Complex, home of the House of Representatives. 

She joked that she won't attend because she's the "designated survivor" of the SONA. 

CLICK HERE: 

https://mb.com.ph/2024/7/12/vp-sara-told-netflix-a-poor-basis-for-your-actions 

This is a reference to an old Netflix series, which implies an imminent catastrophe during a huge gathering of the country’s leaders. 

"Putting her joke aside, the Vice President can physically attend any function she chooses. In the case of the SONA, ayaw lang nila talaga (she just doesn't want to attend). But why? That's the question the Vice President needs to answer," Acidre said. 

"Out of respect for President Marcos, she should attend. It’s as if they never had any camaraderie. She should not deny this simple courtesy to our President," he added. 

President Marcos will deliver his third SONA before a joint session of the House and the Senate. Vice President Duterte attended his first two SONAs.