Eight senators likely to be physically present for Duterte's 5th SONA, says Zubiri

At least eight Senators are expected to physically attend President Rodrigo Duterte's fifth State of the Nation Address (SONA) on July 20 amid the COVID-19 pandemic, Senate Majority Leader Juan Miguel Zubiri said Thursday.

“So far, ang balita sa amin, posibleng i-address ng Pangulo ang joint session sa Kongreso at gusto ng Presidential Security Group, 50 tao sa Kongreso maximum [at] on the side of the senators, the Senate President (Vicente Sotto III) requested eight members to attend plus five members from the Senate secretariat,” Zubiri said in a virtual forum.

“Isa po ako sa sasama kay Senate President. I’m sure may allotment [rin] ang minority.” 

Aside from Sotto and Zubiri, other senators expected to be physically present during the annual presidential address include Panfilo Lacson, Francis Tolentino, Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa, Pia Cayetano and Sherwin Gatchalian.

Zubiri said Senator Christopher “Bong” Go is also expected to be physically present as part of Duterte’s delegation. Before getting elected senator, Go was Duterte's special assistant.

“No other persons will be invited, magla-lock down ang Kongreso. Posibleng kami lang ang nasa Kongreso and live siya (Duterte) sa Malacañang,” he said.

Zubiri, however, said that guidelines on media coverage for this year’s SONA has yet to be released. --KBK, GMA News