Romualdez: SONA crucial moment for unity

MANILA – Speaker Martin Romualdez on Thursday cited the importance of the State of the Nation Address (SONA) as a "crucial moment" for unity and collaboration among the country's leaders.

Romualdez issued the statement after Vice President Sara Duterte announced that she will be skipping President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.'s third SONA on July 22.

Romualdez said that while it is the "prerogative" of every public official to decide on their attendance at significant events, SONA should be a moment of unity for Philippine leaders.

"It is a time to reflect on our progress, address challenges, and outline our vision for the future. Our constituents deserve to see their leaders united and focused on the collective good," he said in a statement.

Despite the Vice President's absence, Romualdez said the House of Representatives remains committed to working with all branches of government to ensure that President Marcos' SONA reflects their collective efforts to improve the lives of Filipinos.

"Unity and collaboration will continue to guide us forward," he said.

Manila Representative Joel Chua, for his part, said Duterte's remark about appointing herself as a "designated survivor" is not appropriate given current political tensions.

"Such a joke is not in good taste because the security of the President of the Philippines is not a joking or laughing matter. Great care is taken to ensure the security of the President, especially during the SONA," Chua said.

Chua explained that Duterte does not have that appointing power for a designated survivor because it is the 1987 Constitution that designates the Vice President as the first next in line to succeed the President.

"To be specific, the two paragraphs of Section 8 of Article VII of the Constitution provides for the succession to the President and to the Acting President. The second paragraph gives Congress the mandate to produce an enabling law for the Acting President situation," he said.

The President delivers the SONA every year, usually every fourth Monday of July, to report the state of the country, unveil the administration's agenda, and ask Congress to pass priority measures. (PNA)