Duterte arrives at Batasan for third Sona

President Rodrigo Duterte arrived Monday afternoon at the House of Representatives in Quezon City for his third State of the Nation Address (Sona).

Duterte arrived onboard the presidential chopper at 3:53 p.m.

The President was received by Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Chief Carlito Galvez Jr., Senate sergeant-at-arms Jose Balajadia Jr., and House sergeant-at-arms Rolando Detabali.

At the end of the honor guards’ formation, he was welcomed by Senate President Vicente Sotto III and Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez.

He was also welcomed by Senate and House officials.

Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque had earlier quoted the President, saying he would read a prepared speech, which will not exceed 35 minutes

READ: Duterte on 3rd Sona: I will read my speech and it won’t exceed 35 minutes

Roque said the President’s speech would be “a continuation of his two previous Sonas.”

“As the Father of the Nation, President Rodrigo Roa Duterte will once again articulate the people’s desire for genuine and meaningful change,” he said.

“Traditionally, the Sona is a highlight of achievements of the previous year, but this year’s Sona is all about the essentials on what [Duterte] intends to do in the next twelve months of his administration,” he added.

The President is set to deliver his Sona amid an approval rating of 88 percent and trust rating of 87 percent.

But his Sona, like in previous years, was met with protests amid disappointment on the policies of the administration. /je