8 Cabinet secretaries confirm attendance at President’s 5th SONA

FILE: President Rodrigo Roa on November 20, 2019. ACE MORANDANTE/PRESIDENTIAL PHOTO

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 Spokesperson Harry Roque, Cabinet Secretary Karlo Nograles, Chief Presidential Legal Counsel Salvador Panelo, Interior Secretary Eduardo Año, Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana, Budget Secretary Wendel Avisado, Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra and Agriculture Secretary William Dar.

Earlier, Roque said that 15 Cabinet members will be allowed to be physically present in Batasang Pambansa.

Other Cabinet members will have to attend the Zoom viewing rooms organized by the Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO) to mitigate the risk of contracting coronavirus disease (Covid-19).

In an interview over ABS-CBN News Channel, PCOO Secretary Martin Andanar said that despite testing negative for Covid-19, he will attend the SONA via Zoom.

“I will be here managing from home. I have a lot of things going on. We have the Zoom viewing room for the Cabinet members who will not be going to the Batasan,” he said.

He said there will be three separate Zoom viewing rooms for Cabinet officials, local chief executives, Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) officials and Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) who cannot be physically present during the address.

“I will make sure that broadcast is unhampered during the SONA and we will ensure that the entire population gets to watch the President from all screens,” he added.

Duterte is expected to deliver his second to the last SONA in Batasang Pambansa Complex in Quezon City.

In case one of those invited to attend the annual event tests positive for Covid-19, Andanar said Duterte might deliver his SONA at Malacañan in Manila instead.

All attendees will be required to undergo reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) before being allowed entry inside Batasang Pambansa.

Currently, a total of 50 seats are reserved for lawmakers and 15 for Cabinet members if Duterte delivers his SONA at the Batasang Pambansa.

Traditionally, the presidential family, members of Congress and their spouses, former presidents, foreign diplomats, government officials and other dignitaries are invited to attend the annual SONA.

There is no certainty whether Duterte’s family would grace the event.