VICE President Sara Duterte on Thursday confirmed that she will skip President Ferdinand Marcos Jr’s third State of the Nation’s Address (SONA) on July 22.
“No, I will not attend the SONA. I am appointing myself as the designated survivor,” Duterte said in an ambush interview at the sidelines of an event in Davao City.
A designated survivor is a person in the presidential line of succession who is deliberately kept separate from others during big events to ensure someone survives to assume the presidency in case of a disaster.
There is no such position yet in the Philippines, but Senator Panfilo Lacson filed a bill in 2019 authorizing the President to name a designated survivor.
The Vice President did not offer any reason or explanation for her plan not to attend Marcos’ upcoming SONA.
COURT ORDERS ARREST OF VP SARA OVER GRAVE THREATS RAPS 
PBBM CONDOLES WITH FAMILIES OF 2 FILIPINO SEAFARERS KILLED IN STRAIT OF HORMUZ 
2 PINOY SEAMEN KILLED IN STRAIT OF HORMUZ ATTACK 
PALACE ANNOUNCES FREE TOLL IN SELECT NLEX AREAS STARTING SEPT. 2 
LACSON FILES BILL SEEKING TO GRANT OMBUDSMAN POWER TO ARREST, SEARCH, SEIZE 
PBBM TO DEPED: TEACH CLIMATE CHANGE AMONG SCHOOL CHILDREN 
2 BROTHERS FOUND DEAD AFTER DELIVERY TRUCK FALLS INTO FLOODED RICE FIELD IN PAMPANGA 
8 ROB SUSPECTS WHO USED HIGHWAY DRAINAGE TO GAIN ENTRY INTO PAWNSHOP NABBED