Sara Duterte won't watch SONA 2024 'on TV or gadgets' —OVP

Vice President Sara Duterte will not be watching the third State of the Nation Address (SONA) of President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr., her office said Monday.

Duterte, who will be skipping this year’s presidential address, is currently in Bohol, according to the Office of the Vice President (OVP).

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

The OVP said Duterte is 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.”

Bohol Vice Governor Dionisio Victor Balite passed away on Wednesday, July 17. 

“It is also Bohol Day today, which makes it an opportune time for the Vice President to bring a message of hope — na may Diyos na nagbabantay sa atin, at sa pamamagitan ng pagtutulungan at pagsisikap, magagawa nating ayusin ang Bayan muli,” Duterte’s office said. 

Duterte later released photos of her at the wake.

She also spoke to some local officials.

The Vice President earlier announced that she will not attend the SONA and that she would appoint herself as “the designated survivor.”

In the United States, a "designated survivor" is someone who is assigned to succeed the presidency and kept away while the nation's leaders are gathered. —Giselle Ombay and Jiselle Anne Casucian/KBK/VBL, GMA Integrated News