Sara skips SONA even on TV; Bato, Go no-show

MANILA, Philippines — After earlier declaring that she would skip President Marcos’ third State of the Nation Address, Vice President Sara Duterte said she would not even watch the live SONA broadcast yesterday as she had to pay respects to the late Bohol vice governor Dionisio Victor Balite.

“The Vice President will not watch the SONA on TV or gadgets. 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,” the Office of the Vice President (OVP) said in a statement.

“It is also Bohol Day today, which makes it an opportune time for the Vice President to bring a message of hope,” it added.

On July 11, Duterte said she would not attend the SONA and appointed herself a “designated survivor,” a remark construed as a threat by some lawmakers.

In the United States, the designated survivor role is assigned to a Cabinet official who must sit out the president’s State of the Union Address to ensure continuity of leadership in case the president and all constitutional successors are killed or incapacitated in a terrorist attack or catastrophic event.

Last week, Duterte maintained that her relationship with Marcos remains “OK” despite her skipping the SONA.

Former president Rodrigo Duterte, Davao City 1st District Rep. Paolo Duterte and Davao City Mayor Sebastian Duterte also did not attend the SONA.

Senators Ronald dela Rosa and Bong Go, allies of the former president, did not attend the SONA.

House accomplishments

Speaker Martin Romualdez yesterday opened the third regular session of the 19th Congress, with 262 congressmen present.

“Our accomplishments reflect our pro-active stance in catering to the needs of the people by passing much-needed legislation that is attuned to the Philippine Development Plan and the eight-point socioeconomic agenda under the medium-term fiscal framework of the President,” he said.

“The fruits of our overarching development agenda initiatives for the past two years are now slowly being felt across the nation,” he added.

During yesterday’s brief session, lawmakers approved House Resolutions 1799 and 1800 and House Concurrent Resolution 27, which informs the Senate and Marcos of the bicameral Congress’ reconvening of sessions and approves the notice of the President to hear his SONA message.

A joint Senate and House committee was formed to welcome Marcos as soon as he set foot inside the Batasang Pambansa complex to deliver his third SONA.

Comprising the House contingent, Senior Deputy Speaker Aurelio Gonzales Jr., Deputy Speakers Camille Villar, David Suarez, Yasser Alonto Balindong, Antonio Albano, Roberto Puno, Kristine Singson-Meehan, Vincent Franco Frasco and Raymond Mendoza were assigned to meet Marcos.

Later in the afternoon, the welcoming party was modified, with Romualdez leading the ad hoc panel, assisted by Ilocos Norte 1st District Rep. Sandro Marcos, Senior Deputy Speaker Gonzales, Majority Leader Manuel Jose Dalipe and House Minority Leader Marcelino Libanan.

Romualdez cited the average 6.1 percent gross domestic product growth the country achieved from late 2002 to early this year when Manila beat Indonesia (5.1 percent), Malaysia (4.2 percent), Singapore (2.7 percent) and Thailand (1.5 percent).

In May, he noted that the National Economic and Development Authority projected the country’s growth target of six to seven percent this year is achievable.

Romualdez underscored the importance of credit rating company Fitch’s affirmation last June, which upheld the country’s investment-grade long-term foreign currency trading at “BBB rating with a stable outlook.” — Cecille Suerte Felipe, Ric Obedencio, Delon Porcalla, Edith Regalado