FURTHER speculations of a widening rift in what was dubbed as “Team Unity” during the recent elections showed bigger cracks with Vice President Sara Duterte saying that she will not attend the third State of the Nation Address of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.

“No, I will not attend the SONA,” the vice president quipped when asked on the  inauguration of the Child and Adolescent Neurodevelopment Center in Davao City, if she will attend the SONA.

This marks the first time that Duterte will skip Marcos’ SONA. 

She was Marcos’ running mate during the 2022 elections under the tag “UniTeam.”

After both won, she was appointed as the secretary of the Department of Education (DepEd). 

She however resigned from her post last month, fuelling speculations that the Unity team is no more.

She cited that her resignation was not due to weakness but out of concern for teachers and students.

She also stepped down as vice chairperson of the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC).

Her father, former President Rodrigo Duterte and siblings, have been staunch critics of the administration.

The vice president maintained that she remains “friendly” with the President. 

“We are still friendly with each other on a personal level,” Duterte said.

“Pumunta ako sa opisina ni Pangulong Marcos at sinabi ko sa kanya dala ko ‘yung resignation letter ko, and maayos naman ‘yung kaniyang pagtanggap and maayos din ‘yung pagtapos ng aming pag-uusap,” she added.