PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte arrived at the Batasan Complex in Quezon City for his third State of the Nation Address (Sona) around 3:53 p.m. Monday, July 23.
The Chief Executive was escorted by Armed Forces of the Philippines Chief of-Staff General Carlito Galvez Jr., Senate sergeant-at-arms Jose Balajadia Jr., and House sergeant-at-arms Rolando Detabali.
Senate President Vicente Sotto III and House Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez welcomed Duterte at the end of the military honor guards formation.
The President proceeded to the Legislator’s Lounge and will proceed to the plenary hall to deliver his third Sona scheduled at 4 p.m.
Former Presidents Fidel Ramos, Joseph Estrada, and Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo graced the annual event. Then President Benigno Aquino III, on the other hand, skipped his successor's third Sona.
To note, Arroyo was sworn in as the new Speaker of the House of Representatives minutes before Duterte arrived at the Batasan Complex.
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Vice President Leni Robredo, the second highest official in the land, was also present to witness the President's third Sona, despite her differing political stance with the current administration.
Duterte’s children from his first wife Elizabeth Zimmerman -- Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio, former Davao City Vice Mayor Paolo Duterte, and Sebastian Duterte -- were also spotted.
His common-law wife, Honeylet Avanceña, and daughter, Veronica Duterte, likewise attended the Sona.
Duterte, who used to deliver off-the-cuff remarks during his previous Sonas, is expected to read a prepared speech that would only last for 35 minutes.
Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque Jr. earlier said Duterte would tackle issues that are "close to his heart."
"We expect the President's State of the Nation Address to be a continuation of his two previous Sonas. As the father of the nation, President Rodrigo Roa Duterte will once again articulate the people's desire for genuine and meaningful change," Roque said.
"Traditionally, the Sona is a highlight of achievements of the previous year but this year's Sona is all about the essentials on what [Duterte] intends to do in the next 12 months of his administration," he added.
Last year, Duterte took note of his government's intensified campaign against illegal drugs, corruption and criminality. (SunStar Philippines)