SONA 2020
8 Cabinet secretaries confirm attendance at President’s 5th SONA
July 27, 2020, 1:46 pm
MANILA – Some Cabinet secretaries have confirmed their attendance to the fifth state of the nation address (SONA) of President Rodrigo Duterte at the Batasang Pambansa on Monday afternoon. As of posting time, the eight Cabinet secretaries who have confirmed their attendance are Presidential… Read More
Cops ordered to quickly fine, release mass gathering violators
July 27, 2020, 1:25 pm
MANILA – Philippine National Police (PNP) chief, Gen. Archie Francisco Gamboa, on Monday, instructed all police officers to immediately impose fines and release all persons caught violating protocols on mass gathering during President Rodrigo R. Duterte's fifth State of the Nation Address… Read More
Duterte’s fifth SONA will last for 80 minutes
July 27, 2020, 1:11 pm
MANILA – President Rodrigo Duterte’s fifth State of the Nation Address (SONA) is expected to last for 80 minutes sans adlibs, Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO) Secretary Martin Andanar said on Monday. “I think it will not go beyond an hour and 20 [minutes]. But, again,… Read More
Senate opens 2nd regular session with 'urgency, purpose'
July 27, 2020, 12:43 pm
MANILA – The Senate of the Philippines on Monday opened the second regular session of the 18th Congress with 17 senators physically present at the plenary, and six senators joining online. Present at the session hall were Senate President Vicente Sotto III, Senate President Pro Tempore Ralph… Read More
Deputy Speaker Johnny Pimentel tests positive for Covid-19
July 27, 2020, 12:36 pm
MANILA – House Deputy Speaker Johnny Pimentel confirmed on Monday that he has tested positive for the coronavirus disease (Covid-19). Pimentel said he received the result on Sunday night after undergoing reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) testing as part of the health… Read More
House opens second regular session of 18th Congress
July 27, 2020, 11:32 am
MANILA – The House of Representatives opened the second regular session of the 18th Congress on Monday morning, ahead of President Rodrigo Duterte’s fifth State of the Nation Address (SONA). The lower chamber started the session at around 10:25 a.m. with only a few House members allowed to be… Read More
Over 7K personnel to secure Duterte’s 5th SONA
July 26, 2020, 3:47 pm
MANILA – Around 5,400 Philippine National Police (PNP) personnel and another 1,900 operatives from allied security agencies will be securing President Rodrigo R. Duterte's fifth state-of-the-nation-address (SONA) Monday. In an interview with radio DZBB on Sunday, PNP deputy chief for operations… Read More
PCOO organizes Zoom viewing rooms for 5th SONA
July 26, 2020, 3:32 pm
MANILA – The Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO) will be organizing Zoom viewing rooms for guests who cannot be in the same room with President Rodrigo Duterte when he delivers his fifth state of the nation address (SONA) on Monday (July 27). In an interview over DZBB, PCOO… Read More
Manila archdiocese to offer all Masses for peace on SONA day
July 25, 2020, 4:17 pm
MANILA – The Archdiocese of Manila will offer all its Masses on Monday for peace and justice in the country. Apostolic Administrator of Manila, Bishop Broderick Pabillo, said the Masses would be the contribution of the Catholic Church when President Rodrigo Duterte delivers his 5th State of… Read More
5th SONA to bring hope for Filipinos amid pandemic: Go
July 25, 2020, 12:39 pm
MANILA – Senator Christopher Lawrence “Bong” Go is optimistic that President Rodrigo Duterte’s fifth State of the Nation Address (SONA) on Monday, July 27, will bring the hope of a better future for Filipinos amid the coronavirus disease (Covid-19 pandemic. Go said he is expecting the… Read More
RTVM to push through with SONA coverage plan: Andanar
July 25, 2020, 10:47 am
MANILA – The state-run Radio Television Malacañang (RTVM) will push through with its coverage plan for President Rodrigo Duterte’s 5th State of the Nation Address (SONA), Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO) Secretary Martin Andanar said on Saturday. Andanar made the… Read More
No rallyists along Commonwealth Ave. on SONA day: NCRPO
July 24, 2020, 7:20 pm
MANILA – No protesters will be allowed along Commonwealth Avenue when President Rodrigo Duterte delivers his fifth State of the Nation Address (SONA) on July 27, National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) chief, Maj. Gen. Debold Sinas, said on Friday. Sinas said mass gatherings are not… Read More
‘Plan B’ is to hold Duterte’s 5th SONA in Palace: Andanar
July 24, 2020, 3:00 pm
MANILA – Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO) Secretary Martin Andanar on Friday revealed there was an alternative plan to deliver President Rodrigo Duterte’s fifth and penultimate State of the Nation Address (SONA) at Malacañan Palace on July 27. Andanar said Duterte might… Read More
MMDA prepared for SONA 2020
July 24, 2020, 1:45 pm
MANILA – The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) will deploy over 1,000 personnel to manage traffic and clear road obstructions on Commonwealth Avenue, IBP Road, and other major roads in Quezon City for President Rodrigo Duterte’s 5th State of the Nation Address (SONA) on Monday,… Read More
Stronger gov’t-stakeholders’ ties cripple NPA in E. Visayas
July 24, 2020, 12:32 pm
TACLOBAN CITY – The fight against insurgency is bearing fruits in Eastern Visayas with communities, local governments, and central government linking arms to end the decades-long armed rebellion. The Philippine Army noted that since the creation of local task forces on ending local communist… Read More
How Covid-19 changed the hosting of SONA
July 24, 2020, 11:02 am
MANILA – President Rodrigo Duterte's 5th State of the Nation Address (SONA) makes a striking departure from tradition in the time of the Covid-19 global pandemic. The government has revamped the way SONA is traditionally held with current restrictions on mass gatherings in place to prevent the… Read More
Duterte, guests to undergo RT-PCR tests day before SONA
July 23, 2020, 4:20 pm
MANILA – President Rodrigo Duterte and attendees to his fifth State of the Nation Address (SONA) will undergo a reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) tests a day before the annual event that will be held on July 27, Malacañang said on Thursday. Presidential Spokesperson Harry… Read More
PH working with Asean neighbors to protect maritime borders
July 23, 2020, 2:02 pm
MANILA – The Philippines has entered into security agreements with neighboring states in the Southeast Asian region to protect its shared maritime borders. "We strengthened our maritime security cooperation with neighboring nations such as Indonesia and Malaysia," Defense Secretary Delfin… Read More
No double standard in enforcement of quarantine laws: DOJ
July 23, 2020, 9:33 am
MANILA – Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra on Wednesday denied allegations of a double standard in the government's enforcement of quarantine laws amid the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) pandemic. "I wouldn’t really say that there is inconsistent application of rule of law. It just so… Read More
Over 92K overseas Filipinos back in provinces: Lorenzana
July 22, 2020, 8:35 pm
MANILA – Over 92,000 overseas Filipinos who returned to the country amid the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) pandemic are now back in their provinces, Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana said on Wednesday. "As of July 18, a total of 92,530 overseas Filipinos have returned to their provinces,"… Read More
