Duterte finalizing 4th SONA

DAVAO CITY, Philippines — It will be his fourth, but preparations remain as meticulous as before for President Duterte’s State of the Nation Address (SONA) on July 22.

Sources said the President’s main speech is being finalized though he has yet to approve it and make the necessary corrections.

The President will reportedly hold rehearsals for his SONA starting July 19 when he returns to Malacañang. He will be in Davao City for a series of southern engagements until July 19.

It could not be determined yet if the President would segue to impromptu delivery, or stick to his prepared speech, as Duterte has a penchant to digress from script.

The President earlier said he might use the SONA to lecture Filipinos about why his recent remarks on allowing Chinese to fish in Philippine waters is constitutional. Duterte had decried critics lambasting him for saying so.

“What they’re saying as unconstitutional, well you wait. Maybe at the SONA I will educate people that what I did, saying you can fish, I’m right. It’s not unconstitutional,” the President said in a mix of Filipino and English at Malacañang last week.

The President stressed he had prepared an argument about why allowing China to take marine resources that are supposed to be exclusive for Filipinos is not a violation of the 1987 Constitution based on his understanding.

Meanwhile, preparations for the SONA reportedly include a possible performance of the Philharmonic Orchestra.

Directing the event will be filmmaker Joyce Bernal, who reportedly wants more lights to be used.