Duterte’s final Sona also a ‘farewell speech,’ bound to be emotional — Palace

President Rodrigo Duterte during his fifth State of the Nation address in 2020

MANILA, Philippines — President Rodrigo Duterte’s final State of the Nation Address (Sona) this Monday is bound to be emotional as it is also the Chief Executive’s farewell speech to the Filipino people, Malacañang said.

“It’s expected also to be a farewell speech, it is bound to be emotional at the end,” presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said in an interview with CNN Philippines.

The President is also expected to express gratitude to the people, and at the same time, ask for their cooperation as the country continues to grapple with eh COVID-19 pandemic.

“And as I said, he’s expected to thank the people for the confidence that they gave him where he gathered [the] single largest winning margin in recent history and he’s expected also to ask for the cooperation of the people as we face 10 more months of this pandemic,” Roque said.

Roque has said Duterte will discuss in his final Sona the gains of the Philippines since he assumed the presidency in 2016.

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the President’s Sona will be in a hybrid format, with some attending physically while some attending virtually via teleconference.

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