Vice President Sara Duterte | PHOTO: Official Facebook apge of Inday Sara Duterte
MANILA, Philippines — Vice President Sara Duterte won’t be watching President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s third State of the Nation Address (Sona) at all, said the Office of the Vice President (OVP) on Monday.
According to the OVP, Marcos is currently in Bohol to empathize with residents after the death of Vice Governor Dionisio Balit on Wednesday, July 17, at the age of 52.
“The Vice President will not watch the Sona on TV or gadgets,” the OVP announced in a statement.
“She is currently in Bohol to empathize with the Boholanos for the death of their Vice Governor, as well as to uplift the general mood of the people brought about by the suspension of their duly-elected local officials,” it added.
Furthermore, the OVP said Duterte’s presence in Bohol also coincides with the province’s celebration of Bohol Day.
Duterte earlier said that she would be watching the President’s Sona in Manila, after announcing that she won’t be attending Marcos’ third Sona.
The Vice President then appointed herself as the “designated survivor,” a term that refers to an official, in the presidential line of succession, intentionally kept away from gatherings to ensure a replacement for the President in the event of a mass casualty incident.
While Duterte’s comment drew the ire of some lawmakers and the public alike, she defended it and accused critics of “missing the point.”
READ: VP Duterte on her ‘designated survivor’ remark: ‘Not a joke’
She, however, refused to explain further what she meant by the “designated survivor” tag.