Nobody is exempted in the health protocols that even President Duterte is set to undergo Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR)-testing for COVID-19 the night before he delivers his fifth State of the Nation Address (SoNA) at Batasang Pambansa on Monday.
In his Thursday presser, Presidential spokesman Harry Roque said everyone who will go to Batasang Pambansa for the annual affair will have to undergo testing to make sure that no one can infect or be infected by the dreaded disease.
“Ang alam ko lang po lahat ng papasok sa loob ng Batasan will be subjected to PCR testing on Sunday, the night before (SoNA). At lahat po ng mga nasa grounds ng Batasan will be administered with the rapid tests,” he said.
When asked if this includes President Duterte himself, Roque responded: “Yes.”
A total of 15 Cabinet Secretaries and 50 legislators will attend President Duterte’s SONA on Monday.
“That’s what I know, so far. But I think Malacañang was given a specific number because it includes the Presidential Security Group (PSG),” Roque said.
According to Roque, he asked to be seated next to his former colleagues in the House of Representatives but he was still counted as a part of Malacañang’s delegation.
Meanwhile, he said he was unsure if Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea will attend the SoNA after eight PSG personnel assigned to the latter tested positive for COVID-19.
Roque was also uncertain if the President’s family will be with him on Monday. However, it was understandable if they will not be able to make it.
“I’m not sure, I’m not saying they will not be there. Basta the entire Office of the President was given X number of seats and it’s allocated to include 15 Cabinet secretaries,” he said.
“Marami-rami pa po ang slots left for the President pero marami po doon (There are a lot of slots left for the President but a lot of those), as you can imagine, is the Presidential Security Group,” he added.
Roque likewise confirmed that unlike President Duterte’s weekly public addresses which are aired late after being edited, the SoNA will be aired live.
He reiterated that the President’s speech will tackle COVID-19, particularly the recovery roadmap.
“As far as the speech of the President is concerned, sinabi ko na na what will definitely be in the speech will be a roadmap for recovery,” he said.
“As far as the other details are concerned, I’d rather the nation listen to the President on Monday,” he added. (Argyll Cyrus B. Geducos)
