Ex-VP Leni declined invitation to SONA 2023, says House sec-gen

Former Vice President Leni Robredo has been invited to attend President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr.’s second State of the Nation Address (SONA) on Monday, July 24, but she declined.

House Secretary General Reginald Velasco, however, did not elaborate as regards Robredo's reason for begging off.

GMA News Online has reached out to Robredo’s camp as to why she won’t make it to the President's annual address before a joint session of Congress.

Other VIPs who were invited to attend SONA 2023 include former President Rodrigo Duterte, ex-President and House Deputy Speaker Gloria Arroyo, and former President Joseph Estrada.

All three former leaders have confirmed their attendance.

Marcos defeated Robredo in the presidential elections in 2022. Marcos had over 31 million votes while Robredo had 15.4 million.

Robredo has since chaired the non-profit organization Angat Buhay which builds partnerships among government and private sectors to generate resources for development projects in communities.

Robredo in 2016 beat Marcos in the 2016 vice presidential elections. —NB, GMA Integrated News