Imee to skip SONA 2025, says other Duterte allies may also not attend

Senator Imee Marcos said Monday that she will not be attending the fourth State of the Nation Address (SONA) of her brother, President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. 

At a press conference right after the opening of the first regular session of the 20th Congress, Imee said that she will prioritize helping people who were affected by the recent storms.

“Hindi na ako pupunta dahil naka-schedule pa rin ang walang kamatayang nutribun, nutribus, at iba pang pagtulong sa ating mga nasalanta ng bagyo," said the senator.

(I will not go because the distribution of nutribuns and deployment of nutribuns are ongoing, there's a scheduled distribution of aid to our typhoon victims.)

"Pupunta ako sa ilang mga school building at schoolhousekung saan ang mga bata ay nagiintay ng pagkain, ng school supplies na nasira,” she added.

(I will go to some school buildings and schoolhouses where children are waiting for food and replacement of school supplies that have been damaged.) 

Senator Marcos, meanwhile, clarified that Vice President Sara Duterte, who is also skipping this year's SONA, had nothing to do with her decision. 

“Ay hindi pa kami naguusap tungkol do’n. I think hindi pa siya umuuwi,” she said. 

(We haven’t talked about that. I think she hasn’t arrived in the Philippines yet.) 

However, she said that the so-called "Duterte bloc" have discussed the possibility that they will not attend this year's presidential address.

According to her, Senators Ronald "Bato" Dela Rosa, Bong Go, and Robin Padilla might also not attend the SONA.

But Imee said that she will still listen to the SONA of her brother, hoping that he will veer away from motherhood statements and instead mention a list of what should be done in the next years to come. —VAL, GMA Integrated News