Vice President Sara Duterte has declined to provide further explanation for her decision to skip the upcoming State of the Nation Address (SONA) by President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. next week.
When asked for clarification, Duterte responded via text message to GMA News Online, “Nagsabi na ako ng rason, akala nila joke o bomb threat. Hindi na ako magpaliwanag pa.” (I already cited my reason, they thought it was a joke or bomb threat. I will no longer explain it.)
Previously, Duterte mentioned she had appointed herself as the “designated survivor,” a role she did not further elaborate on. In the United States, a “designated survivor” is an individual assigned to succeed the presidency, kept in a secure location while national leaders gather.
Duterte, who was Marcos’ running mate in the 2022 elections under the UniTeam coalition, has served as the Secretary of the Department of Education (DepEd). She is set to resign from this position on July 19, citing her resignation is driven by concern for teachers and students, not due to weakness.