Vice President Sara Duterte will not attend President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s fourth State of the Nation Address, House Secretary General Reginald Velasco said Thursday.
Velasco said the House received a letter from the Office of the Vice President, declining the invitation for the President’s fourth SONA on July 28.
No reason was given, Velasco said.
Only Duterte has so far declined, out of the over 200 invitations sent to institutional guests so far.
Duterte also skipped the President’s third SONA last year, after resigning from the Marcos Cabinet, following months of tense relations between their families.
The House impeached Duterte in early February on charges of graft, corruption and an alleged assassination plot against Marcos — which she denied.
Marcos has publicly stated that he is against the impeachment while maintaining he will not intervene.
More invitations will be sent out to SONA guests in the coming days, including one for former President Rodrigo Duterte, according to Velasco.
That’s despite the former president’s detention at The Hague, to face a crimes against humanity case at the International Criminal Court.
Velasco explained sending invitations to former Philippine Presidents is part of protocol. The invitation will possibly be sent to Duterte’s official address in Davao City, where he was recently elected mayor.
On Thursday, security personnel from the Presidential Security Command, the Philippine National Police, and the Legislative Security Bureau inspected the Batasang Pambansa in Quezon City as part of the preparations for the President’s fourth SONA.
Among the areas they visited were the session hall, where the President will deliver his SONA, and other parts of the House of Representatives, where the President is expected to pass through.
No security threat has been monitored so far, according to Velasco. But authorities are preparing for any eventuality.
There will be a rally zone on SONA day, some distance from the Batasang Pambansa.
