SONA 2026: Earth-shaking, but won’t touch Sara trial

MANILA, Philippines —  President Marcos is nearly finished writing his State of the Nation Address (SONA), a speech that Malacañang said would contain an “earth-shaking” announcement but would not touch on the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte.

Palace press officer Claire Castro was tightlipped on the theme of Marcos’ penultimate address, the final draft of which is expected by Sunday.

“The President is about to finish and he is reviewing his speech,” Castro said in a media briefing yesterday.

Asked whether there are earth-shaking announcements in the President’s fifth SONA, Castro replied: “It has always been like that.”

“Definitely the accomplishments of the administration will not be excluded, but let us wait for what he will say on Monday,” she added.

Pressed if the SONA would tackle the impeachment trial of Duterte, who ran alongside Marcos during the 2022 elections but has become an arch critic of his administration, Castro said: “That is not being discussed.”

Marcos will deliver his fifth SONA as the Senate is holding the impeachment trial of Duterte, who has been accused of plotting to kill him and amassing unexplained wealth. Malacañang had said that the President would not interfere with the impeachment proceedings.

Last Monday, Castro said Marcos’ SONA would be “simple but dignified.”

Class suspensions

Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte has suspended classes in all levels in the city on Monday in view of the SONA.

In an Executive Order dated July 22, Belmonte said residents and students may be hampered by road closures, surrounding the event at Batasang Pambansa. The suspension will cover all public and private schools in the city.

Belmonte directed relevant agencies – including the Quezon City Police District and the city’s Department of Public Order and Safety (DPOS), Traffic and Transport Department and Task Force Disiplina – to assist in the implementation of the order.

Manila Mayor Isko Moreno yesterday announced that classes in the city at all levels will also be suspended on Monday.

“The suspension of face-to-face and online classes applies to all public and private schools across all grade levels. This is to encourage Manileños and everyone, especially our children and educators, to watch and follow the President’s address to the nation,” Moreno said in a live telecast.

Meanwhile, the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority said it will not suspend the number coding scheme on Monday to avoid road congestion as wide demonstrations are also expected.

MMDA advised motorists to use alternative roads as heavy traffic is anticipated along Commonwealth Avenue, IBP Road and other major thoroughfares near the House of Representatives.

Protests planned

Several groups are expected to hold protests along Commonwealth Ave. during President Marcos’ SONA.

The militant group Bagong Alyansang Makabayan and its allied organizations will have their rally in front of the St. Peter Parish Church from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. as approved by the city government, according to Philippine National Police spokesman Col. Allen Rae Co.

Another militant group, Sanlakas, will have their program in front of Toyota, which is about 3.5 kilometers away from the Iglesia ni Cristo (INC)’s Central Temple.

Pro-administration group Better Brighter, meanwhile, were granted a permit for their program in front of the Commission on Audit and the Sandiganbayan scheduled from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.

“We will be deploying an appropriate number of personnel to assist in the traffic situation of course to ensure the safety of all participants and the general public,” Co said in a news briefing at Camp Crame.

Co said that over 20,878 police officers will secure the SONA. To ensure all personnel are ready for deployment, the PNP will go on full alert status on Monday.

As for the celebration of the INC’s 112th founding anniversary also on Monday, Co said that they are coordinating with officials of the religious group for details of their activities. Co gave assurance that they have contingency measures in place to secure the INC’s celebration.

Address teen pregnancy

A few days before the President delivers his SONA, a parents and teachers’ group called on the government to adopt adolescent pregnancy as an urgent national concern and certify measures addressing it as a priority legislation.

Citing data that 6.8 percent of Filipino girls aged 15 to 19 having already begun childbearing, Parents and Teachers for Adolescent Pregnancy Prevention urged the President to certify as urgent the proposed Adolescent Pregnancy Prevention Act, which was first filed in 2017.

Once enacted, the law will help ensure that young Filipinos receive age-appropriate information, access to support services, and better protection before a pregnancy happens. – Andrew Ronquillo, Emmanuel Tupas