Mendiola, Malacañang Roads Secured Ahead of SONA 2026

Major roads around the Malacañang Palace in Manila, including Mendiola Street, were placed under strict security measures ahead of President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr.'s fifth State of the Nation Address (SONA). As early as Sunday night, roads surrounding the Palace were already closed. By 4 a.m. Monday, 1,500 police officers from Calabarzon were deployed on Recto Avenue to secure Mendiola Street, which leads directly to Malacañang. Mendiola Street itself has been barricaded with barbed wire, concrete barriers, and two container vans to prevent rallyists from approaching the Palace. The following roads were closed to motorists since Sunday: Authorities urged motorists to use alternate routes. Meanwhile, the Manila Police District (MPD) could not yet confirm which groups are expected to troop to Mendiola to conduct rallies on Monday. This heightened security is a standard measure to ensure public order and safety during the President's annual address, a significant political event. In the Philippines, the SONA period often sees protests from various groups expressing dissent, leading authorities to implement stringent security protocols annually. Mendiola Street has historically been a focal point for such demonstrations.