At least three senators known who are known allies of former president Rodrigo Duterte have decided to skip attending President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.’s State of the Nation Address (SONA).

Sen. Imee Marcos, at a press conference right after the opening of the first regular session of the 20th Congress, said she will prioritize helping people who were affected by the recent storms.

“I won’t go because the distribution of nutribuns and deployment of nutribuns are ongoing, there’s a scheduled distribution of aid to our typhoon victims,” Marcos told reporters in Filipino in an interview at the sidelines of the opening of the Senate’s regular session.

“I will just go to some school buildings and school houses where there are children waiting for food and school supplies,” the Presidential sister added.

Other senators who are part of the so-called “Duterte” bloc are also not attending, according to her.

Sen. Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa had previously said he will skip the President’s fourth SONA because he refuse to pretend he’s in good terms with the Marcos administration.

““Ayaw ko magkipag-plastikan. Alangan naman pupunta 'ko doon na nakasimangot. Pangit, diba? Alangan naman pupunta ko doon na pa-smile-smile kahit na masama ang loob 'ko sa kanila (I don’t want to be plastic. How am I supposed to go there frowning. It’s not good right? I don’t want to go there pretending to smile while deep inside I’m upset with them),” Dela Rosa said in a recent phone interview.

Sen. Christopher “Bong” Go, meanwhile, said he won’t be able to attend due to a severe back spasm which needs immediate medical attention.

“Wala man ako doon physically, papakinggan ko pa din ang SONA dahil parte naman yun ng responsibilidad ko bilang senador (Even though I am not there physically, I will still listen to the SONA because that is part of my responsibility as a senator),” Go said.

“Nais nating malaman ang mga nagawa ng administrasyon sa nakaraang tatlong taon at patuloy nating susubaybayan ang mga ipinangako ng Pangulo sa taumbayan (We want to know what the administration has done in the past three years and we will continue to monitor the promises the President made to the people),” he said.