Palace: Not yet sure if Duterte will 'physically' deliver SONA at Batasang Pambansa

Malacañang on Thursday could not confirm whether President Rodrigo Duterte will be at the Batasang Pambansa in Quezon City on July 27 to deliver his fifth State of the Nation Address (SONA).

Duterte’s spokesperson Harry Roque said he has yet to receive information on the matter.

“The venue is confirmed, it is Batasan. Pero ang alam ko po hindi pa po 100% sure kung physically maga-attend ang Presidente or magbo-broadcast po from Malago [Clubhouse in Malacañang] to Congress,” he said in a televised briefing.

"Hayaan n’yo po 'pag plantsado na, mag-aanunsyo po tayo diyan."

Senate President Vicente Sotto III earlier said Duterte will deliver his SONA at the Batasang Pambansa but only a maximum of 50 persons will be allowed inside the venue to watch the President’s speech due to health and safety protocols amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

The senator said the 50 persons will be divided into delegations from the Executive department, the Senate and the House of Representatives. Last week, Roque said  going online for the SONA amid the pandemic would be a “safe fallback position.”

The President of the Philippines is required by the Constitution to give an annual report to the nation and disclose policy directions before a joint session of Congress. —KBK, GMA News