House on 3-day lockout for Duterte’s Sona

MANILA, Philippines — A three-day lockout shall be enforced in the House of Representatives at the Batasang Pambansa complex in Quezon City as a security precaution ahead of the State of the Nation Address (Sona) on July 22.

In an advisory, the House secretariat announced a “complete lockout policy” effective from July 19 to 21 during which people, including the chamber’s own personnel, would not be allowed entry if they did not have official business within the premises.

Acting House secretary general Dante Roberto Maling said it was just one of the pre-Sona security requirements to ensure the safety of hundreds of guests when the President addresses Congress on July 22.

Last week, Maling said he had received no security threats, adding that he had so far no basis to believe the outbreak of violence in Mindanao, including the June 28 suicide bombing in Indanan, Sulu, would spill over to the House complex on Sona day.

Under the lockout policy, the House secretariat, congressional staff and heads of offices must submit a list of those who will report for work on each lockout day to the Office of the Executive Director, Legislative Security Bureau.