Marcos Prepares for SONA Amidst Public Focus on Anti-Corruption Drive

MANILA, Philippines — President Ferdinand Marcos made final preparations for his fifth State of the Nation Address (Sona) on Monday, which he will deliver before a joint session of Congress at Batasang Pambansang in Quezon City. Malacañang shared photos as he rehearsed his speech with his team on Sunday evening. The president himself shared a video reel on his official Facebook page of what the public should expect on his annual address. The Sona serves both as an account of the Marcos administration’s performance, and a roadmap of the Executive’s priority measures it intends to pursue with lawmakers during the opening of the second regular session of the 20th Congress. While Malacañang hinted of another “earthshaking announcements” this year, some sectors are anticipating a follow-through on his “Mahiya naman kayo! (Have some shame!)” rebuke from last year’s Sona. Last year, he exposed and ordered a sweeping investigation into the multibillion corruption scandal involving anomalous flood control projects. Surveys conducted by different polling firms showed that Filipinos are expecting Marcos’ fifth Sona to focus on combating corruption – particularly by holding accountable those involved in the flood control projects controversy. READ: Filipinos want Marcos’ Sona to focus on anti-corruption drive – survey Malacañang has been calling on Filipinos to avoid being impatient, saying that President Marcos is keeping his promise of catching the “big fishes” in the massive corruption scandal. Palace press officer Claire Castro, in an interview on dzMM on Sunday, said some big personalities were already behind bars, while others are awaiting their warrants of arrest. At least 45 individuals now face charges spread across the Sandiganbayan and regional trial courts. They include two sitting lawmakers, two former representatives, 33 former Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) officials, and eight contractors. While investigations are still ongoing and some cases are pending before courts, she noted that the court already ordered the freezing of billions of bank accounts and assets connected to the flood control scandal. On Friday, a panel of investigators from the Office of the Ombudsman filed a supplemental complaint for the preliminary investigation of former House Speaker and President Marcos’ cousin Leyte Rep. Martin Romualdez, former congressman Zaldy Co and others for plunder, direct and indirect bribery, graft, and money laundering, in relation to the flood control anomalies. However, Co, who remains hiding in Europe, had his separate graft case in the Sandiganbayan archived after law enforcement failed to arrest him within six months. Among the high-profile personalities detained for these investigations include Senator Jinggoy Estrada, former Senator Bong Revilla, contractors Pacifico “Curlee” and Cezarah “Sarah” Discaya, and several officials of the DPWH. However, the charges against former DPWH Manuel Bonoan were dropped by the Ombudsman as he was accepted last month to be a state witness. “What proof do they need that the government is working on these cases? Imagine, in less than a year, the government has made these developments,” Castro said. “Some groups just want to criticize the administration. But if they have evidence, go ahead and file the cases against these big personalities,” she added. WATCH: Marcos teases ‘next chapter’ in upcoming SONA Malacañang refused to disclose any topics that the president may raise during his fifth Sona. Asked whether he would again address the corruption issues in this year’s Sona, Marcos made a brief response: “Abangan ang susunod na kabanata!” (Watch out for the next chapter.) The president admitted on Friday that he could be changing his speech even “until one hour before the Sona,” because he wanted it to be “perfect.” Malacañang said President Marcos prefers a more austere fifth Sona to cut government expenses, given that it incurred additional expenses for its response to the Middle East crisis. There will be no celebrities or A-listers in this year’s Sona program. Castro said the award-winning Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) will sing the national anthem, while Radio Television Malacañang (RTVM) will direct the Sona’s broadcast. There will be no red carpet for the Sona, which was traditionally a highlight for guests in the event, especially the spouses of lawmakers. It will also be the first time that House Speaker Faustino “Bojie” Dy III and Senate President Sherwin Gatchalian will be leading the chambers of Congress, following shake-ups in their leaderships. Vice President Sara Duterte will not attend the Sona as she is abroad and will not return to the country until July 31. The last time Duterte attended Marcos’ Sona was in 2023, when their political alliance was not yet broken. /apl