Palace: Sara Duterte’s baseless criticism, not PBBM’s SONA, is a waste of time

Malacañang on Wednesday said that it was Vice President Sara Duterte’s baseless criticism, not President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s State of the Nation Address (SONA), that was a “waste of time.” Duterte had said in an interview in The Hague, Netherlands, that she did not watch or read Marcos’ fifth SONA. In response, Palace Spokesperson Jose Amor Amorin said that Duterte’s remarks were the ones that constituted a “waste of time,” emphasizing the importance of the SONA as a platform to outline the nation’s direction. The exchange highlights the underlying political tensions between the Marcos administration and Vice President Duterte, who is the daughter of former President Rodrigo Duterte, a political rival of the current president. SONA is typically a significant event where the president reports on policy goals and achievements for the year, attracting considerable attention both domestically and internationally. Malacañang’s counter-statement suggests a perception that the Vice President’s criticism lacks substantive basis and may be politically motivated. Such public exchanges are not uncommon in Philippine politics, reflecting factional rivalries. The Vice President’s apparent dismissal of the SONA further underscores potential rifts within the administration.