MANILA, Philippines — Several senators allied with former President Rodrigo Duterte and Vice President Sara Duterte opted to skip President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s fifth State of the Nation Address (SONA) on Monday, citing their protest over what they described as the prosecution of members of the Senate minority bloc.
Senator Imee Marcos and Senate Minority Leader Alan Peter Cayetano confirmed they would not attend the President’s annual address at the Batasang Pambansa. Both senators appeared at the Senate session earlier in the day dressed in black as a symbolic gesture of protest.
Speaking to reporters, Senator Marcos said members of the minority bloc were saddened by what they viewed as the filing of charges and detention of some of their colleagues.
For his part, Cayetano said he chose to watch the President’s speech on television, adding that staying away from the venue was his personal and peaceful form of protest.
The two senators clarified that there was no collective decision among minority bloc members to boycott the SONA. However, Marcos said Senators Loren Legarda and Robin Padilla were also considering not attending.
The Senate minority bloc has recently faced legal and political challenges. Senator Jinggoy Estrada remains detained in Quezon City over plunder charges linked to the alleged flood control controversy, while Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa has kept a low profile following the issuance of an arrest warrant by the International Criminal Court in connection with the Duterte administration’s anti-drug campaign.
Senator Marcos downplayed the political implications of skipping her brother’s SONA, noting that she has worn black during previous SONA events and throughout her 2025 senatorial campaign after leaving the administration’s senatorial slate to join Vice President Sara Duterte’s political lineup.
This year’s SONA was held under more modest arrangements, with organizers foregoing the traditional red carpet and encouraging guests to avoid extravagant attire in light of the country’s energy concerns and the recent earthquake in Mindanao.
Meanwhile, Cayetano is scheduled to deliver the Senate minority bloc’s kontra-SONA on Tuesday. The impeachment proceedings involving Vice President Sara Duterte were removed from the Senate calendar for both Monday and Tuesday.
elamigo/xf
