Four groups seek permits for SONA rallies
By Trixee Rosel
Published Jul 18, 2026 12:59 pm
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Updated Jul 18, 2026 02:16 pm
In this file photo, progressive groups march toward St. Peter Shrine along Commonwealth Avenue in Quezon City on July 28, 2025, less than an hour before President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos delivers his State of the Nation Address.
At least four groups have applied for permits to hold protest rallies in Quezon City during President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.’s fifth State of the Nation Address (SONA) at the Batasang Pambansa on July 27.
The National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) learned of the planned protests from the Quezon City government, according to NCRPO spokesperson Police Major Hazel Asilo.
Asilo said the police could not yet disclose the identities of the groups that have expressed their intent to hold protest activities during the SONA.
The NCRPO is still finalizing its security and traffic plans for the event, including possible road closures and alternative routes for motorists once security protocols are implemented, she said.
The plans cover areas around the Batasang Pambansa and other locations where rallies have been held in recent months, including Commonwealth Avenue, Quezon Avenue, Katipunan Avenue, and the EDSA Shrine.
Around 20,000 personnel from the NCRPO, support units, and other government agencies are being considered for deployment to secure the event, the report said.
The House of Representatives, which holds office at the Batasang Pambansa Complex, held the first SONA Inter-Agency Coordination Meeting for Marcos’ 2026 address on June 9.
House officials earlier said they wanted the event to be “simple but dignified,” with no red carpet and “no long gowns.”
The SONA is the President’s annual report to Congress, traditionally delivered every fourth Monday of July.
This year’s SONA will be held on July 27 and will serve as Marcos’ report on the country’s condition and the administration’s priorities and agenda for the coming year.
The event is mandated under Article VII, Section 23 of the 1987 Constitution, which states that “the President shall address the Congress at the opening of its regular session.”