Vice President Sara Duterte to Read Marcos’ Sona for Flattery, Deception
MANILA, Philippines — Vice President Sara Duterte announced she will not attend President Marcos’ fourth State of the Nation Address (Sona). However, she said she will read the speech closely to understand the “flattery” and “deception” the President might present to the public.
Speaking at a rally in Seoul, South Korea, Duterte openly criticized Marcos’ flood-control projects, foreign policy, and borrowing practices. She admitted she once believed the President aimed to improve the country but now feels she was mistaken.
“I thought… what he wanted was a more beautiful Philippines,” she said in Filipino. “Why? Because our children are there, who will be the next Filipinos to live in our country, so we want to leave it in good condition. Beautiful. Prosperous. Disciplined. With Filipinos and the country being rich.”
She also lamented the disconnect between their visions. “I don’t understand why he does not have the same view when it comes to what needs to be done for the country. I don’t know why all of us have the same dream for our country, but there are some, and unfortunately for us they are all sitting in the government, who do not have the same dream for our nation,” Duterte added.
Why Duterte Avoids Watching the State of the Nation Address
The Vice President said she avoids watching the Sona because it triggers strong emotions. “Sometimes, it goes past irritation. Sometimes it’s anger. You just want to break the screen of your phone,” she confessed.
Still, she stressed the importance of reading the speech. “We need to read because we need to know what kinds of flattery are being said to the public. What sort of deception,” she said, urging vigilance against misleading narratives.
Alleged Scams in Flood-Control Projects and Budget
Duterte accused the Marcos administration of mismanaging flood-control initiatives. She questioned the President’s recent claim that heavy rainfall and flooding represent the “new normal.”
“Just go swimming because that is how it is. When there’s a storm, there’s floods. But why, if that’s how it is, when there’s a storm, there’s a flood, that’s the new normal, that’s just how it is, why are there so many flood-control projects? Billions and billions,” she questioned.
She also slammed the country’s budget allocation, alleging funds are split among congressmen and sometimes end up in officials’ pockets or on “useless” projects.
“How was I able to say that? I came from the Department of Education (DepEd). They had me sign a budget wherein the entire budget of a school building program was divided between several congressmen. And they told me, that’s really how the budget is made,” Duterte recalled. She resigned as DepEd secretary last year after differences with the Marcos administration.
“That really made me think, was I wrong? Or did they just get used to that sort of process? Our budget does not go to the true and correct projects for the community,” she added, further noting that borrowing has led to the country’s growing debt.
Concerns Over Foreign Policy and Militarization
The Vice President criticized the lack of a clear, independent foreign policy under Marcos, emphasizing the constitution’s mandate that the Philippines should not side with any foreign power.
“But what do we see now? What we are seeing is the militarization of our country. The entry of Americans into the different areas of our country. The establishment of arms factories in our country,” she said.
Duterte cited US President Trump’s recent remarks during Marcos’ official visit, noting the shift from a China tilt to a stronger alignment with the United States.
Upcoming Travels and Final Remarks
Earlier, Duterte announced she would skip the Sona, stating no law requires her attendance. She also revealed plans to visit South Korea to personally thank the Filipino community before returning home.
During the Seoul rally, she mentioned an upcoming trip to Kuwait but did not specify dates.
For more news and updates on Vice President Sara Duterte, visit Filipinokami.com.
