Metro Manila, Philippines – Vice President Sara Duterte described President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s fifth State of the Nation Address (SONA) as “a waste of time” and cast doubt on the president’s latest anti-corruption claims, saying she does not expect former House Speaker Martin Romualdez or other lawmakers to be jailed over the alleged flood control scandal.
Speaking to supporters after visiting former President Rodrigo Duterte in The Hague on Monday, July 27, Duterte said she neither watched the SONA nor planned to read its transcript or summary.
“Hindi ako nanood ng SONA like last year and wala akong plano basahin ang nilalaman ng SONA o kahit man ng summary. Dahil I truly believe it is a waste of time of the Filipino people,” she said.
[Translation: I did not watch the SONA like last year, and I have no plans to read its contents or even a summary because I truly believe it is a waste of the Filipino people’s time.]
During his address, Marcos said his administration’s investigation into alleged flood control anomalies had already resulted in charges against contractors, senior government officials and lawmakers.
The president also said the Office of the Ombudsman is preparing to file multiple cases against a former House speaker.
“At dumating na tayo sa punto na ayon sa Ombudsman ay malapit na ang paghain ng patong-patong na kaso laban sa dating speaker.”
[Translation: We have now reached the point where, according to the Ombudsman, multiple cases are close to being filed against the former speaker.]
Marcos said nearly ₱25 billion in funds and assets linked to the accused had been recovered, frozen or preserved, with more than ₱800 million already returned to the National Treasury.
Responding to those claims, Duterte said no one had actually been jailed over the alleged flood control scandal.
“Wala naman siya napakulong sa flood control scandal,” the vice president said.
[Translation: He has not put anyone in jail over the flood control scandal.]
She said Marcos made a similar promise in last year’s SONA but failed to deliver.
“Di ba yan din ‘yung sinabi niya last year, bago mag-December may makukulong na. So meron bang makulong bago mag-Christmas?”
[Translation: Didn’t he say the same thing last year—that someone would be jailed before December? Was anyone jailed before Christmas?]
Duterte said she does not expect Romualdez or members of the House of Representatives to be imprisoned.
“Huwag niyo na i-expect na makulong ‘yang dating speaker o mga members ng House of Representatives.”
[Translation: Don’t expect the former speaker or members of the House of Representatives to be jailed. ]
She ended by questioning Marcos’ credibility, citing what she described as unfulfilled promises, including his campaign pledge to lower rice prices to ₱20/per kilogram.
