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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider Duterte to undergo PCR test on eve of SONA

Duterte to undergo PCR test on eve of SONA

Published Jul 23, 2020 03:23 pm

President Duterte is set to undergo PCR-testing for COVID-19 the night before he delivers his fifth State of the Nation Address (SONA) at Batasang Pambansa on Monday.

President Rodrigo Roa Duterte updates the nation on the government's efforts in addressing the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) at the Matina Enclaves in Davao City on June 4, 2020. JOEY DALUMPINES/PRESIDENTIAL PHOTO

In his Thursday presser, Presidential spokesman Harry Roque said everyone who will go to Batasang Pambansa will have to undergo testing.

"Ang alam ko lang po lahat ng papasok sa loob ng (From what I gather, all those entering) Batasan will be subjected to PCR testing on Sunday, the night before. At lahat po ng mga nasa grounds ng (Those on the grounds of) Batasan will be administered also rapid tests," he said.

When asked if this includes President Duterte himself, Roque responded: "Yes."

A total of 15 Cabinet Secretaries and 50 legislators will attend President Duterte's SONA on Monday.

"That's what I know, so far. But I think Malacañang was given a specific number because it includes the Presidential Security Group (PSG)," Roque said.

According to Roque, he asked to be seated next to his former colleagues in the House of Representatives but he was still counted as a member of Malacañang's delegation.

Meanwhile, he said he was unsure if Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea will attend the SONA after eight PSG personnel assigned to the latter tested positive for COVID-19.

Roque was also uncertain if the President's family will be with him on Monday. However, it was understandable if they will not be able to make it.

"I'm not sure, I'm not saying they will not be there. Basta the entire Office of the President was given X number of seats and it's allocated to include 15 Cabinet secretaries," he said.

"Marami-rami pa po ang slots left for the President pero marami po doon (There are a lot of slots left for the President but a lot of those), as you can imagine, (would be members of)  the Presidential Security Group," he added.

Speech

Roque likewise confirmed that unlike President Duterte's weekly public addresses which are aired late after being edited, the SONA will be aired live.

He reiterated that the President's speech will tackle COVID-19, particularly the recovery roadmap.

"As far as the speech of the President is concerned, sinabi ko na na (I already said that) what will definitely be in the speech will be a roadmap for recovery," he said.

"As far as the other details are concerned, I'd rather the nation listen to the President on Monday," he added.

Off limits to media

Media will not be allowed to cover the SONA.

Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO) had earlier announced in an advisory that members of the media will not be allowed inside the Batasang Pambansa in Quezon City during the President's SONA on Monday.

Cabinet Secretary Karlo Nograles said that the committee in charge of planning President Duterte's SONA was probably only thinking of everyone's safety when it decided to limit the media coverage of the annual event.

In an interview with ANC, Nograles believes that the decision was made while taking the safety of everybody into consideration, especially now that the number of COVID-19 cases in the country has reached 72,269.

“I think the primordial reason is safety,” he said.

“You have to ensure the safety of everybody in the hall that's why we have to limit the number of people who may attend,” he added.

However, Nograles said that the PCOO may still be open to recommendations and possibly allow special arrangements so private media can cover the event.

“I can't speak on behalf of the planning committee because I'm not part of it. But nevertheless, I think they'll be open to any recommendations whatsoever,” he said.

“At the end of the day, kung ano man ang magiging desisyon ay sana respetuhin natin (We must respect their decision),” he added.

Based on the advisory released by the PCOO, the decision to limit the
coverage of the SONA was based on the recommendations of the Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) for the Management of Emerging Infectious
Diseases.

The PCOO said that only the Presidential Broadcast Staff-Radio Television Malacañang (PBS-RTVM) will be allowed to cover the event.

Private media entities were advised to hook up with the live feed of PTV or cover through RTVM's social media pages.

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