Former presidents – except Aquino – will attend the 3rd Sona de Duterte

The former president Benigno Aquino III will once again ignore the speech on the state of the nation (Sona) of President Rodrigo Duterte next week. as he has done for the past two years

The three other former presidents alive – Fidel Ramos and the mayor of Manila Joseph Estrada and the representative Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo – confirmed their presence at La Sona on 23 July.

Sona on television

Arroyo represents the second district of Pampanga in the House of Representatives.

The press and public affairs bureau of the House of Representatives said Monday that Aquino had already sent regrets to the House's interparliamentary relations. Special Affairs Office, which manages the Sona Protocol.

In previous years, Aquino stated that he preferred to watch Sona on television in order to better focus on the president's messa.

Vice President Leni Robredo said at a press conference on July 10 that she had been invited and would attend Sona.

Robredo took the opportunity to announce his intention to lead and unite the opposition against Duterte 's administration.

High Level Participants

Other confirmed personalities include former Senate Presidents Juan Ponce Enrile, Aquilino Pimentel III and Manny Villar, and former Speaker of the House Jose de Venecia Jr.

Legislators and their spouses, Cabinet members, Supreme Court justices and members of the diplomatic corps are also invited to Sona.

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