Cayetano urges public to listen to Marcos' SONA

Senator Alan Peter Cayetano on Sunday urged the public to listen to President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.'s State of the Nation Address (SONA) on Monday, July 27, saying he is prepared to discuss the issues the President will raise in his speech. “So tomorrow may SONA. Dun sa mga pro-Marcos, walang problema. Manood po tayo kasi pro-Marcos kayo. Dun sa anti-Marcos, manood pa rin tayo [kasi] siya po ang ating Pangulo,” Cayetano said during a Facebook Live broadcast. (Tomorrow is the SONA. For those who support President Marcos, there's no problem. Watch because you're pro-Marcos. And for those who oppose him, you should still watch because he is our President.) “Let's look at his message tomorrow and saan nag-agree at saan hindi nag-agree (see where we agree and disagree),” he added. Marcos is set to deliver his penultimate SONA, with several key issues expected to be tackled, including Pax Silica, a US-led economic security initiative aimed at strengthening global supply chains for artificial intelligence, semiconductors, and other critical technologies. Cayetano said there could be consequences to either supporting or opposing developments related to Pax Silica. “Kung taga-Clark ka, kung pro o anti ka doon sa Pax Silica, kahit hindi ka taga-Clark, kahit hindi ka taga-Pampanga at Tarlac, may cost po ang pumanig o lumaban,” Cayetano said. (If you're from Clark, whether you support or oppose Pax Silica—even if you're not from Clark, Pampanga, or Tarlac—taking a side, whether in favor of it or against it, comes with a cost.) “Siyempre, usually kapag criminal syndicate ka, pagkakampi ka, marami kang reward. Pero ang cost noon is eventually crime does not pay," he said. (Of course, if you're part of a criminal syndicate, siding with it often comes with many rewards. But the cost is that, eventually, crime does not pay.) "Ang problema, pag sa start ikaw ang lumalaban, usually binabalik sa iyo yung imbestigasyon o inuusig ka rin because ayaw din nilang mabuko,” Cayetano added. (The problem is that if you're one of those who fight it from the start, the investigation is often turned against you, or you end up being targeted as well, because they don't want their activities to be exposed.) The senator clarified that he was not referring to any specific person or entity but was speaking in general terms. Various groups have raised concerns over the planned AI-focused industrial hub in New Clark City, citing its potential impact on electricity rates and the environment, as well as possible displacement and noise pollution. Cayetano also said he may hold another live broadcast before the SONA to discuss the difference between fighting corruption and fighting what he described as a “culture of corruption.” "Ang importante po, siguro ’yun ang iwanan ko sa inyo, anong difference po na labanan natin sa corruption at labanan natin sa culture of corruption? So let's see before the SONA bukas kung may time, yan ang pag-usapan natin,” he said. (What’s important, and perhaps this is what I’d like to leave with you, is the difference between fighting corruption and fighting the culture of corruption. So, if we have time before tomorrow’s SONA, let’s talk about that.) Meanwhile, no impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte will be held on Monday, July 27, to give way to Marcos' SONA. No trial will also be held on Tuesday, July 28, for the Senate minority's traditional Kontra-SONA. The impeachment trial will resume on Wednesday, July 29, under a new schedule of 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. — MCG, GMA News