Former vice president Leni Gerona Robredo has declined the invitation for her to attend the second State of the Nation Address (SONA) of President Ferdinand 'Bongbong' Marcos Jr. on July 24.
This was confirmed by House of Representatives Secretary General Reginald Velasco, who also noted that former presidents Rodrigo Roa Duterte and Joseph Estrada will be part of the over 2,000 attendees at the Batasang Pambansa in Quezon City next week.
Velasco told reporters that their guest list is nearly finalized and that the House is ready to hold SONA anytime.
"Well we are ready, kahit nga ‘yong SONA gagawin bukas ready na kami, so we’re ready na, almost all the guests, (the) list is complete. Of course may mga pahabol kasi, you know, and we are prepared for that, ‘yong mga pahabol, ‘yong mga dagdag ina-accommodate naman namin lahat kasi we’re prepared for these contingencies already," he said.
"So over 2,000 na ngayon ‘yong guests namin, and we have some reserved seats pa rin for those who will request us last minute, we are already prepared for these contingencies, so we can accommodate more guests kung kinakailangan. As I’ve told in one interview, we have reserved a function room for these types of guests na mga may medical condition at saka ‘yong seniors," he added.
“We clear it with the VIPs who they want to be seated with. As much as possible, we want them to be comfortable. For some reasons, maybe they want to be with their family, or they want their caregiver at their back," he said.
There will also be seats designated for the VIPs’ families, diplomatic corps, and Cabinet members.
