Sara to skip Duterte’s last SONA

DAVAO CITY, Philippines — Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio will not attend the last State of the Nation Address (SONA) of her father President Duterte on July 26.

Carpio said yesterday she would just monitor the proceedings on television instead of going to the Batasang Pambansa.

The mayor also skipped her father’s SONA in 2016 and 2019 due to medical reasons, including her difficult pregnancy.

The President’s youngest son, Vice Mayor Sebastian Duterte, also did not attend the SONA in 2019.

Since she is not attending, Carpio said her mother Elizabeth Zimmerman is also skipping Duterte’s last SONA.

“I do not know about the other members of the family,” Carpio said.

The President’s eldest son, Paolo, is representative of the first district of this city.

Duterte’s partner Cielito Avanceña and their daughter Veronica are expected to join the President.

Last year, only a limited number of lawmakers attended the SONA due to the COVID-19 pandemic.