Even Speaker Romualdez doesn't know what Marcos will say in SONA
House Speaker Martin Romualdez (left) and President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. (Speaker's office, MANILA BULLETIN)
The contents of President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr.'s State of the Nation Address (SONA) this coming Monday, July 24 will be a surprise even to his top ally in the entire legislature. This, as House Speaker Martin Romualdez told reporters Saturday, July 22 that he doesn't know exactly what the Chief Executive would say during his second SONA. "I have not seen, I don’t know what he is going to talk about," Romualdez admitted candidly during an interview in Makati City. "Obviously he will give an update," he added, noting that it's been a full year since Marcos' first SONA. "I heard this might just be not more than one hour long, baka (maybe) 45 minutes," Romualdez said of Marcos' much anticipated speech. At any rate, Romualdez, Leyte's 1st district representative and leader of the House of Representatives, praised Marcos for steering the Philippines to its current economic status. "The country as you’ve already seen is clocking at the fastest growth rate in terms of GDP (gross domestic product) globally...and the President ranks on top as one if not the most trusted leaders in the globe and the country enjoys the highest political stability," he said. Marcos will deliver his annual speech before a joint session of the House and Senate on Monday at Batasan Complex in Quezon City. Batasan is the home turf of the House members, or congressmen. SONA day will mark the start of the second regular session of the 19th Congress.