VP SARA TO SKIP SONA, APPOINTS HERSELF AS ‘DESIGNATED SURVIVOR’

By Liezelle Soriano

MANILA — Vice President Sara Duterte-Carpio announced she will not attend the State of the Nation Address (SONA) of President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. on Monday (22 July 2024).

“No, I will not attend the SONA. I am appointing myself as the designated survivor,” Duterte-Carpio said when asked about her attendance.

In the United States, a designated survivor, or designated successor, is a person in the presidential line of succession who is kept distant from others while they are gathered together.

Earlier, House Secretary Reginald Velasco stated that former Vice Presidents Leni Robredo, Jejomar Binay, and Noli de Castro will also not attend the SONA.

Meanwhile, Duterte-Carpio’s father, former President Rodrigo Duterte, and Joseph Estrada have yet to confirm their attendance.

(el Amigo/mnm)