Vice Pres. Sara Duterte Speaks on 4th SONA of Pres. Bongbong Marcos Anew
SARA DUTERTE – The Vice President claimed that the Filipinos are not obliged to listen to the 4th State of the Nation (SONA) of Pres. Bongbong Marcos.
Every year, the Chief Executive of the Philippines delivers a report to the Filipino people which is called the State of the Nation Address or more popularly known as SONA. This 2025, Pres. Bongbong Marcos is set to deliver his 4th SONA as the country’s leader.
However, ahead of the 4th SONA of Pres. Bongbong Marcos, the Office of the Vice President (OVP) has informed the House Secretary General’s office that their chief will be skipping the annual event. Malacañang previously reacted to Vice Pres. Sara Duterte’s expected absence at the 4th SONA of Marcos Jr. saying it’s her choice.
Despite the notice from the OVP, the Office of the Secretary General of the House of Representatives said they will still reserve a seat for the Vice President in case she changes her mind. House spokesperson Atty. Princess Abante recently said that listening to the 4th SONA of Marcos Jr. is allegedly part of the obligations of the Vice President.
Following the remarks of the spokesperson of the House of Representatives, based on a post of News5 on social media, Vice Pres. Sara Duterte expressed her disagreement on the remarks. She claimed that there is no law that obliges the Filipinos to listen to the speech of the President.
“Wala tayong batas na nagsasabing tungkulin ng mga Pilipino ang makinig sa Presidente,” she said.
Furthermore, based on the post, Vice Pres. Sara Duterte also claimed that the law mandates the President to report to the Filipino people the nation’s status but the people have the rights to listen or not to listen to what the Chief Executive has to say.
“Ang nasa batas natin, nakalagay: tungkulin ng Presidente ang magbigay sa ating mga Pilipino, kung ano ‘yung estado ng ating bansa,” Duterte said.
Previously, Vice Pres. Sara Duterte confirmed her absence to the 4th SONA of Pres. Bongbong Marcos saying she will be traveling to South Korea to meet with the overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) there in a gathering. She also said that she does not expect “anything substantial about the country” from what the President has to say.
If it happens, it will be the second time around that the Vice President ditches the annual address of the Chief Executive. Aside from Vice Pres. Duterte, Senator Bato dela Rosa also claimed that he will skip the 4th SONA of Marcos Jr.
Recently, amid the onslaught of the Southwest Monsoon in the country, Pres. Bongbong Marcos ordered the temporary suspension of all the preparations for his upcoming SONA.