The planned absence of several Senate minority bloc members from President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s fifth State of the Nation Address (SONA) is “not a loss,” Palace Press Officer Usec. Claire Castro said on Monday, July 27.

Speaking to reporters, Castro said the President’s message and the presence of those interested in hearing his address are what matter as Marcos delivers his SONA on Monday.

“Hindi sila kawalan. Ang importante dito ang mensahe ng Pangulo, ang importante dito ay ang presensya ng Pangulo at ‘yung mga taong interesadong marinig ang mensahe ng Pangulo,” Castro said in an interview.

She continued: “So sa mga taong walang interes at maybe ayaw nilang madinig ang Pangulo, hindi sila kawalan,"

“Matutuloy at matutuloy ang SONA kahit wala sila,” she added.

Senator Imee Marcos, the President’s elder sister, earlier confirmed that some members of the Senate minority bloc would skip the SONA in protest.

The senators cited the detention and filing of cases against their colleagues, Senators Rodante Marcoleta and Jinggoy Estrada, which they claimed were part of what they described as “selective justice” by the Marcos administration, particularly in connection with the flood control scam.

Other minority senators, including Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano, also confirmed that they would not attend the President’s annual address.

They said their absence was a form of protest over what they called the administration’s actions against opposition lawmakers.

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