‘Surprise’ in SONA 2018 can be expected, but it’s not ‘no-el’ —PCOO Asec

A surprise awaits the public when President Rodrigo Duterte delivers his third State of the Nation Address on July 23, according to an official of the Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO).

Presidential Communications Assistant Secretary Marie Rafael Banaag confirmed this during a Saturday morning radio interview, but was careful not to give too much away.

"Hindi na rin magiging surprise talaga kapag sasabihin ko," the official said.

She did, however, say President Duterte will not veer too far from his "primary" campaign promises, citing issues like illegal drugs, corruption, criminality and the proposed shift to federalism.

With this, Banaag brushed off the topic of a no-election scenario and noted it was a matter to be determined by Congress.

"Ito iyong mga bagay na—bagay na titingnan natin baka mamaya hindi ba—baka mamaya hinihintay pala nila na baka sabihin ng Pangulo na ‘No election,’" she said.

"Wala pong ganiyan. Kasi po ang ‘No election’ na bagay ay hindi na sa Pangulo, iyan po ay nasa Kongreso," she added.

The 'no-el' possibility was also shot down by the Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque on Thursday, reiterating  the elections in May 2019 should proceed as scheduled.

Meanwhile, Banaag said a closer working relation between the Office of theOmbudsman and the Office of the President can soon be expected with the impending change of leadership in the anti-graft body.

"Since matatapos na po si Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales, may itatalaga na ring bagong Ombudsman," Banaag said.

Carpio-Morales is retiring on July 26, ending her seven-year term.

"So with this one, with the new development, doon sa Ombudsman, sa pag-change ng leadership, malamang mas maigting pa because of course mas open sigurado ang communication ng Office of the Ombudsman and Office of the President," she added. — MDM, GMA News