MANILA (PNA) — Malacañang believes constituents of Pampanga province Rep. Gloria Macapagal Arroyo can best judge her decision to skip the maiden State of the Nation Address (SONA) of her successor President Benigno Aquino III.

Communications group official Herminio "Sonny" Coloma said Mrs. Arroyo's constituents are in the best position to make such judgment since she represents them in Congress.

"It's her duty to be present during the SONA but if she believes there are more important things to focus on, like looking after her husband's health, let's leave to her constituents the decision if that's right or wrong," he said.

President Aquino's maiden SONA is scheduled for July 26 this year when the 15th Congress opens.

Mrs. Arroyo will reportedly skip this SONA to be in Hong Kong with the former First Gentleman Mike Arroyo.

Such reports continue fueling talks that the couple deliberately decided on this Hong Kong trip so Mrs. Arroyo can avoid being present in Congress during the SONA while President Aquino bares in this speech alleged anomalies during her administration.

Malacañang already confirmed this SONA will cover such anomalies aside from the administration's solutions to various problems plaguing the country.

"The President will report on anomalies his Cabinet secretaries discovered," Coloma said.

Mrs. Arroyo's camp denies she fears Mr. Aquino's SONA.

According to lawyer Raul Lambino, spokesperson of Lakas-Kampi coalition which is Mrs. Arroyo's political party, the former First

Couple flew to Hong Kong on Sunday since experts there scheduled for the following day, July 26, their medical check-up on Mr. Arroyo.

Lambino noted Mr. Arroyo has a heart condition and his family believes this must be monitored closely.

Malacañang believes Mrs. Arroyo's absence from the 2010 SONA would not change facts.

"Even if Mrs. Arroyo won't be here for the SONA, the reality about anomalies during her administration is still there," Coloma said.

He assured the SONA's accurateness, noting its contents are from reports the Cabinet submitted to President Aquino.

"This is based on official data," he said.

Mr. Aquino earlier ordered Cabinet secretaries to report on state of affairs in respective agencies to help ascertain the nation's true state.

"It's a leader's responsibility to get the data right," Coloma noted.