Vice President Sara Duterte confirmed she will not attend President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.’s fourth State of the Nation Address (SONA) on July 28, choosing instead to attend a Filipino community gathering in South Korea.
In an interview from The Netherlands, where she is currently visiting her father, former President Rodrigo Duterte—who is detained at the International Criminal Court (ICC)—the Vice President said her attendance at the Korea event has been finalized.
“No SONA for me kasi confirmed na ang Korea natin na Filipino gathering,” Duterte stated.
Last month, Duterte already hinted at her plans to skip the SONA, expressing doubts that the President would deliver anything of value.
“I do not intend to attend the State of the Nation Address of President Marcos since I don’t think he will be providing anything substantial about our country,” she said on June 22.
Duterte also spoke candidly about her father’s condition during her visit to The Hague, describing him as visibly frail.
“He’s very thin, thinner than anyone has seen him before,” she said.
“But personally, I think he looks better this way than when he had a big belly. He looked unhealthy then, and that worried me more for his heart. I like him slim.”