THE House of Representatives intends to invite more than a thousand guests for President Marcos’ first State of the Nation Address (SONA) on July 25 at the Batasang Pambansa.
House Secretary General Mark Llandro Mendoza said the House has started sending out invitations to 1,365 guests.
Among those invited to physically attend the event are Vice President Sara Duterte, former presidents and vice presidents, speakers, and Senate presidents and justices.
Also invited were members of the diplomatic corps and Cabinet members.
It would be the first time since the COVID-19 pandemic started in 2020 that all 315 members of the House of Representatives and 24 senators were invited to physically attend the SONA.
The number of media outfits in the plenary hall, however, will be limited due to space limitations.
The total capacity of the gallery would be around 1,200 persons, Mendoza noted.
Those who will enter the plenary are required to undergo RT-PCR tests to ensure the safety of attendees.
Mendoza also said the Batasan Complex will be locked down starting either this Thursday or Friday as part of security measures.
PNP APPEAL REJECTED
The leftist Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan) yesterday rejected the appeal of the PNP not to pursue planned protest actions during the SONA.
In a radio interview, Bayan Secretary General Renato Reyes Jr. said they will proceed with the protest actions so the Filipino people will be made aware of the true state of the nation.
He said the first SONA of Marcos, who assumed the presidency last June 30, won’t be spared from protest actions.
Last Sunday, PNP Director for Operations Maj. Gen. Valeriano De Leon urged protesters not to proceed with their protest actions, noting that Marcos has so far served for less than a month.
De Leon said the protesters should instead listen to Marcos lay down the programs that his administration will pursue during his six-year administration.
“This administration is not different (from previous administrations) to be given an exemption from SONA rally,” Reyes said. “That is the time when we should present to the people the issues, seek response from the government. We also want to present the true state of the nation.”
He said the issues they will present include the rising cost of basic commodities, low salary of workers, and transportation problems, among others.
Reyes also described as “overkill” the PNP plan to deploy some 15,000 to 21,000 personnel to secure the SONA.
The National Capital Region Police yesterday said the number includes personnel who will man checkpoints in Metro Manila entry points and standby force.
De Leon had said only 15,000 policemen, soldiers and force multipliers will be deployed to ensure peace and order during the SONA.
“There is no basis for their overkill preparation. Their plan to deploy 21,000 security personnel is too much and they are just wasting public funds; it’s the taxpayers who pay for such deployment,” said Reyes.
Reyes added they have applied for a permit from the Quezon City government to be allowed to stage protest actions along the Batasan Road near the Batasang Pambansa complex where Marcos will deliver his SONA.
“We filed the application for a rally permit. We are hoping Quezon City Hall will (favorably) act on it,” said Reyes.
Reyes noted that authorities allowed protest actions along Batasan Road in 2016 and 2017.
He also noted that SONA protests have been generally peacefull during the past six years. — With Victor Reyes
