No security threat to Duterte’s SONA 2018, House official says

Congress officials have not monitored any security threat to President Rodrigo Duterte's third State of the Nation Address (SONA) on July 23.

House Secretary General Roland Detabali made the pronouncement as Congress officials gear up for what they call the most important annual event in the legislative branch of the government.

In a press conference, Detabali said they have acquired more security assets, units, equipment and techniques to ensure maximum security for the President, his family, guests and other SONA attendees.

"We're actually doing exercises so that we can deal with these problems," he said.

"Nandun pa rin ang mga equipment like x-ray machines, K-9 units and other equipment not only coming from Congress but also from the different agencies who are contributing in the security aspect of our preparations," he said.

Security personnel, Detabali said, are expected to the apply their experiences in dealing with the Marawi siege to the SONA.

"We have other agencies who developed their capability to deal with the emerging problems especially on terrorism, sabotage. But we don't see any of these happening," he said.

Last year, Duterte went outside the Batasang Pambansa Complex to meet the protesters holding their demonstrations.

Detabali, however, said they would advise the President not to do it again this year.

"We've been talking to the presidential escort units especially the officers. For the sake of the President, we're advising not to do what he did last year. But the leaders might be invited after the SONA dito sa loob," he said.

Like in the previous years, the House will implement a lockdown period to ensure maximum safety within the vicinity, Detabali said

"Three days before the SONA, only those who have access to work here, to deliver supplies and work on the other facilities for the SONA will be allowed access," he said.

Slight changes

House Secretary-General Atty. Cesar Strait Pareja said there will be slight program changes in this year's SONA.

For one, a choir from Tagum City has been invited to sing the Philippine national anthem instead of the usual pre-recorded playback.

Pareja said the choir was a suggestion from Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez himself, a native of Tagum City, to "depart from the usual."

Aside from this, Pareja said they would also increase the seating capacity of the Plenary Hall of the House of Representatives, where Duterte will deliver his speech.

He said that the Plenary Hall's seating capacity of 1,500 will be doubled to accommodate more guests inside.

As for the attire, Pareja said Duterte "does not like it to be very formal," so business attire would do.

Pareja said they have also sent out an invitation to Vice President Leni Robredo to attend the SONA. A holding room has likewise been prepared for her.

Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque earlier announced that Cabinet officials will appear in a series of forums this month to report on the Duterte administration’s achievements in its first two years.

Organized by Malacañang, the two-week “Tatak ng Pagbabago” information campaign will hit the road from July 6 until July 18, or five days before Duterte's report to the nation. —NB, GMA News