Vice President and outgoing Department of Education Secretary Sara Duterte said that she was not joking when she said she would not be attending the State of the Nation Address (SONA) because she is a "self-designated survivor."

Duterte answered questions from members of Cebu media on her skipping the SONA of President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. on July 22, 2024.

Duterte said she is not compelled to attend all government-related ceremonies.

“Karon ra ko kita og vice president nga ginapangitaan og iya attendance sa tanan nga mga butang,” she said.

As for her “self-designated survivor” statement, she clarified that that was not a joke.

“Dili to siya joke, dili pod to siya bomb threat. I think many missed the point so para sa akoa kung wala ka kasabot the first time, I don’t think you deserve an explanation,” she pointed out.

A GMA Integrated News report explained that 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.

Duterte is in Carmen town, north Cebu Province on July 17, 2024 for the launching of the “National Brigada Eskwela” in preparation for the opening of classes on July 29, 2024 for School Year 2024-2025.