Duterte will ‘say what’s in his heart’ in 4th Sona — Palace

MANILA, Philippines — Expect President Rodrigo Duterte to “say what’s in his heart” in his fourth State of the Nation Address (Sona), Cabinet Secretary Karlo Nograles said Wednesday.

“The most special thing is that the President usually diverts from the speech and says his mind and says what’s in his heart and I think that’s what people look forward to. The speech, yes, but more so the candid moments of the President,” Nograles told reporters in Malacañang.

He said the government’s focus now is “sustaining [the] growth” the administration has achieved in the first half of the Duterte administration.

“Now we’re moving towards malasakit (concern), so you’ll see more of our poverty reduction programs and ‘yan ang magiging direksyon natin sa last 3 years (that’s going to be our direction in the next three years),” he said.

The Palace official said the government’s peace and order program would still be part of the President’s Sona speech.

“Yung (The) peace and order program will obviously still be a focus,” he said.

In his previous Sona speeches, Duterte did not follow his speech and instead added several impromptu remarks. (Editor: Eden Estopace)