Vice President Sara Duterte will skip President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s fourth State of the Nation Address (SONA) on July 28, House Secretary General Reginald Velasco confirmed on Thursday.
According to Velasco, Duterte’s office sent a notice confirming her non-attendance. Despite this, the House is still preparing for her possible last-minute appearance. A reserved seat and holding room will remain available, in line with her status as an institutional guest.
“She’s always welcome to attend. We have a seat for her in the VIP gallery and a holding room prepared,” Velasco said.
This will be the second consecutive year Duterte will be absent from SONA. Last year, she controversially cited her self-appointment as a “designated survivor” as her reason for skipping the event—a move that drew criticism due to its pop culture references.
Tensions between Marcos and Duterte have escalated following their 2022 Uniteam victory, culminating in Duterte’s impeachment earlier this year over alleged misuse of confidential funds and threats against the President and his family.
Former President Duterte Invited But Unlikely to Attend
Former President Rodrigo Duterte, currently detained in The Hague, will also receive an invitation out of protocol, Velasco confirmed. “We will send the usual invitation to all former presidents,” he noted, suggesting the invite would likely go to Duterte’s official address in Davao City.
Meanwhile, Davao Rep. Paolo Duterte is expected to confirm his attendance after the new Congress formally convenes on June 30.
More than 200 guests have already confirmed their attendance, with the final list awaiting submissions from the Senate and the Office of the President.