Vice President Sara Duterte remains on the official guest list for President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s upcoming State of the Nation Address (SONA) at the House of Representatives this Monday, July 27.
House Secretary General Cheloy Garafil verified over the weekend that an invitation was issued to Duterte, who has emerged as one of the administration’s prominent detractors.
Her presence, however, is already ruled out as she is currently on an extended international trip that runs until the end of July.
According to a statement released by the Office of the Vice President (OVP) last Tuesday, Duterte’s schedule keeps her abroad from July 16 to 31 for official visits to Qatar, the United Kingdom, and the Netherlands.
Duterte last joined the annual address in July 2023 during the period when the country’s top two leaders were still political allies. She subsequently skipped both the 2024 and 2025 events despite receiving formal invitations.
The Vice President’s absence comes as she faces an ongoing trial before the Senate impeachment court, following charges drafted and approved by House lawmakers.
House prosecutors are pushing for her conviction on allegations that include the improper use of ₱612.5 million in confidential funds, inaccurate declarations on her Statement of Assets, Liabilities, and Net Worth (SALN), unexplained wealth, and issuing threats against President Marcos, First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos, and former House Speaker Martin Romualdez.
Invitations to the annual SONA are standard practice for high-ranking figures, including former presidents, Cabinet secretaries, members of the diplomatic corps, and other prominent guests.