MANILA — Vice President Sara Duterte-Carpio has once again made headlines for skipping President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.’s State of the Nation Address (SONA), calling the act of watching it a “waste of cellular data” and accusing the President of misleading the public.
“(‘Yung) State of the Nation Address, sayang ang data. Ayoko na rin manood,” Duterte-Carpio said during a speech at an event in South Korea on Monday, the same day Marcos delivered his fourth SONA at the Batasang Pambansa.
Duterte-Carpio said avoiding the President’s speech gave her inner peace, even admitting she becomes emotionally triggered upon hearing him speak.
“Kasi alam ninyo sa totoo lang talaga nati-trigger ako pag nakikinig ako sa kanya. ‘Yung naiirata ka ba. Minsan lampas irita na siya. Minsan galit na siya na gusto mo na basagin ‘yung screen ng cellphone mo,” she added.
Instead of tuning in to the live broadcast, the Vice President said she preferred reading the transcript of the speech to verify what she alleged were fabrications.
“Kaya pareho tayo ma’am, hindi na ako manonood. Babasahin ko na lang. Kailangan natin magbasa kasi kailangan natin malaman kung ano pambobobola na sinasabi sa taumbayan, ano na namang pambubudol,” she said.
This marks the second consecutive year Duterte-Carpio has skipped Marcos’ SONA. In 2024, she also refused to attend, citing her role as a “designated survivor.”
The Vice President’s public falling-out with Marcos has been a source of political tension since early 2024, further deepened by their opposing views on governance and Duterte-Carpio’s vocal criticisms of the administration./PN
