Duterte might deliver 5th SONA from Palace —Sotto

President Rodrigo Duterte delivering his fifth State of the Nation Address (SONA) in Malacañang is a possibility, according to Senate President Vicente Sotto III on Tuesday.

In a virtual interview, Sotto explained that there are currently three options—first is to hold the SONA at the Batasang Pambansa, like the usual, but with social distancing and zero guests.

The second option is to gather the lawmakers at the House of Representatives while Duterte remotely delivers his speech from the Palace.

Convening the two houses of Congress in their respective buildings while Duterte is in Malacañang would be the third option.

"I think they would go for option number three, two or three. They would favor two or three which is ang Presidente nasa Malacañang," Sotto said.

If the government chooses option number three, some senators may also be allowed to attend virtually.

"Palagay ko puwede ring nasa bahay 'yung iba. It will be better if we would have at least twelve in the Senate, in the plenary hall," Sotto said.

The Palace also said it saw a "blended" SONA on July 27.

It added that there would be no "fashion show" in this year's address because no guests would be allowed to attend in a bid to prevent the possible transmission of COVID-19. -MDM, GMA News