Latest news with #SONA
GMA Network
9 hours ago
- Politics
- GMA Network
Sara Duterte to skip Marcos' SONA? Palace says it's her choice
Malacañang said Friday it is Vice President Sara Duterte's choice if she prefers not to attend the fourth State of the Nation Address (SONA) of President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. next month. "Last year, hindi rin naman din po siya dumating. At sa ating pagkakaalam, siya po ay um-attend sa isang kasalan. So, kung hindi po siya a-attend ngayon, kahit siya po ay inimbita bilang Bise Presidente, again, choice niya po iyon," Palace Press Officer Undersecretary Atty. Claire Castro said in a briefing. (Last year, she also did not attend the SONA. She attended a wedding. So, if she will not attend the SONA this year, even if she's invited, that's her choice.) "At kung hindi niya po maririnig ang mga programa at kung ano po ang naging trabaho ng gobyerno at ni Pangulong Marcos Jr., hindi po na siguro natin kasalanan iyon. It's her choice," she added. (If she won't be able to hear the programs and the work done by the government and President Marcos Jr., that's not our fault. It's her choice.) Duterte will not be attending the fourth SONA of the President on July 28, House Secretary General Reginald Velasco revealed on Thursday. "We received this note [from her office] that she won't be attending this SONA," Velasco told reporters. Nonetheless, Velasco said the House remains prepared to receive the Vice President should she change her mind. He said that aside from a reserved seat, there will be a designated holding room for the Vice President and her immediate staff since she is considered as an institutional guest alongside heads of government agencies and justices of the Supreme Court. When she announced last year that she would not attend Marcos' third SONA, Duterte said she was appointing herself as the designated survivor. Marcos and Duterte were running mates in the 2022 national elections, campaigning on a message of unity across the country. Their relationship, however, has gone sour following investigations by the House of Representatives into the war on drugs under the administration of her father, former President Rodrigo Duterte, as well as the handling of confidential funds by offices under her leadership. In June 2024, the Vice President announced her resignation as education secretary and as vice chairperson of the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC). She now faces an impeachment trial in the Senate, which is expected to begin after the 20th Congress opens in July. — VDV, GMA Integrated News
SBS Australia
11 hours ago
- Politics
- SBS Australia
SBS Filipino Radio Program, Friday 20 June 2025
Melbourne, Sydney and Adelaide are part of the top 10 world's most liveable cities, according to Economist Intelligence Unit's 2025 Global Liveability Index. Vice President Sara Duterte will not attend the fourth State of the Nation Address (SONA) of President Bongbong Marcos on July 28. A large gathering is set to take place this Sunday at Parliament Gardens in Melbourne to show support for former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte. However, the event is also drawing criticism from several Filipino-Australian groups and human rights advocates who are voicing strong opposition to the attendance of the VP and Senator Imee Marcos. SBS Filipino 20/06/2025 41:28 📢 Where to Catch SBS Filipino
SBS Australia
14 hours ago
- Politics
- SBS Australia
Vice President Sara Duterte to skip President Bongbong Marcos' fourth SONA
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. is in Japan to attend the World Expo Osaka 2025. The impeachment process will proceed even if Vice President Sara Duterte fails to respond to the summons of the Senate Impeachment Court. VP Duterte will not attend the fourth State of the Nation Address (SONA) of President Bongbong Marcos on July 28. 📢 Where to Catch SBS Filipino
GMA Network
a day ago
- Politics
- GMA Network
Presidential security inspects House ahead of SONA 2025
The Presidential Security Command on Wednesday conducted an inspection at the House of Representatives in preparation for the fourth State of the Nation Address (SONA) of President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. next month. House Secretary General Reginald Velasco told reporters that the PSC was joined by the House Legislative Security Bureau, the Philippine National Police, and the Metro Manila Development Authority. 'They're really prepared for any eventuality. They will secure the place, and then there is a common agreement that the rallies will be limited to the areas before sa may [near the] UP area and they cannot come near the Batasan premises,' Velasco said. 'The perimeter will be secured by the joint military and PNP,' he added. He also disclosed that the House will also offer medical assistance. Several ambulances will be deployed to the House and nearby areas on SONA day. 'And we have also reserved some rooms in the hospitals,' Velasco added. When asked if security threats have been monitored, Velasco replied, 'Wala naman [None] at this time. It's only the usual demonstrations.' Velasco said a rally zone will be designated by the Quezon City Police District. 'We're prepared for any eventuality,' he said. 'We hope that this worst case scenario will not happen. We're still praying that it will be as successful as the last year's SONA,' he added. Marcos will deliver the SONA on July 28, 2025. — BM, GMA Integrated News
GMA Network
a day ago
- Politics
- GMA Network
VP Sara Duterte to skip SONA anew —House SecGen
Vice President Sara Duterte will not be attending the fourth State of the Nation Address (SONA) of President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. on July 28, House Secretary General Reginald Velasco said Thursday. "We received this note [from her office] that she won't be attending this SONA," Velasco told reporters. Still, Velasco said the House remains prepared to receive the Vice President should she change her mind. He said aside from a reserved seat, there will be a designated holding room for the Vice President and her immediate staff since she is considered as an institutional guest alongside heads of government agencies and justices of the Supreme Court. "We are not excluding the possibility that she will attend," Velasco said. "There will be a seat for her reserved at the center of the [House plenary] gallery, the VIP gallery. If she decides to come, there will be a seat for her," he added. 2025 marks the second straight year that the Vice President will miss the SONA. Last year, the Vice President also skipped the President's SONA by saying that she is appointing herself as the designated survivor. Her statement drew flak since a popular US and South Korean series titled Designated Survivor is a story about a Cabinet official who is a designated survivor and thus skipping the State of the Union address, only for all the rest of those present in the address to be killed in a bomb explosion. Marcos and Duterte formed the Uniteam and resoundingly won the 2022 elections over their rivals. Their relationship, however, has gone sour. The House of Representatives impeached the Vice President in February over allegations of confidential fund misuse and making threats to kill the President and his family.—AOL, GMA Integrated News
