Senate, Congress convene for Duterte’s 1st Sona

The 17th Philippine Congress opens its session Monday, July 25, 2016, at suburban Quezon city northeast of Manila, Philippines where President Rodrigo Duterte is to deliver his state of the nation address (SONA) later in the day. AP PHOTO

The Senate and the House of Representatives formally convened a joint session on Monday to listen to the first state of the nation address of President Rodrigo Duterte.

Newly-elected Senate President Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III and Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez opened the joint session at 4:00 p.m.

Among those who attended the session were former Presidents Fidel Ramos, Manila Mayor Joseph Estrada, Pampanga Representative Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, Cabinet members, members of the diplomatic corps, among others. IDL/rga