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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider Stay home for SONA, Duterte urged

Stay home for SONA, Duterte urged

Published Jul 19, 2020 03:55 pm

Stay home, boss.

President Rodrigo Roa Duterte
(KING RODRIGUEZ / PRESIDENTIAL PHOTO / FILE PHOTO / MANILA BULLETIN)

This was the appeal of Partido Demokratiko Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan (PDP-Laban) spokesman Surigao del Sur Rep. Johnny Pimentel to  President Duterte Sunday amid reports that the Chief Exeutive is entertaining the possibility of physically going to the Batasang Pambansa complex later this month to deliver his fifth State-of-the-Nation Address (SONA).

"I think it would be better if he just stayed in Malacañang," Pimentel said, referring to the 75-year-old Chief Executive.

The Mindanao solon pointed to the obvious threat of the 2019 coronavirus in his appeal to the President to just stay put at the Palace come SoNA day on July 27. He noted Batasan complex, home of the House of Representatives, has already recorded multiple cases of COVID-19 among its employees.

"Congress (House) has already 16 positive cases of which two have died. He would be more safe in Malacañang," Pimentel said.

Although the supposed plan to have Duterte deliver his annual speech at Batasan would involve an empty gallery, Pimentel said the affair would still involve a lot of people and thus potentially expose them to the virus.

"There will be hundreds of staff (members) to conduct SoNA in Congress not including the PSG (Presidential Security Group)," he said.

Traditionally, the SoNA is a pomp event that is delivered in a joint session between congressmen and senators at the Batasan complex. It signifies the start of lawmakers' work for a given legislative calendar.

VIPs like former Philippine presidents and even foreign dignitaries grace the SoNA as guests.

Duterte chairs PDP-Laban.

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