A YouTube video claims that President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has cancelled his upcoming State of the Nation Address following the devastation brought by multiple severe weather disturbances. This is misleading.
While Marcos halted SONA preparations earlier this week, he did not announce the cancellation or postponement of the event set to take place on July 28.
Uploaded on July 22, an anonymous narrator said at the beginning of the video:
“Sobrang nakakagulat na balita. Grabe PBBM nagsalita na. First time in history pinahinto bigla ang SONA. Ayon sa nakalap nating impormasyon, mismong ang nag-utos ay si President Bongbong Marcos Jr. patungkol sa unahin muna ang mga nasalanta ng baha.”
(Extremely shocking news. PBBM spoke up. First time in history the SONA was stopped. According to our information, President Bongbong Marcos Jr. has ordered to prioritize efforts on helping those affected by the flooding.)
Its headline read:
“PBBM NAHINTO BIGLA SA SONA! GRABE GINULAT ANG LAHAT! NAPAHIYA SI VP SARA! FIRST TIME IN HISTORY!“
(PBBM suddenly stopped the SONA! Shocked everyone! VP Sara was shamed! First time in history)!
On July 22, Marcos suspended preparations for his fourth SONA after photos showing workers installing promotional posters of Marcos for the address amid heavy monsoon rains went viral. Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin said the president ordered the suspension so the government could refocus its efforts “toward flood response and relief operations.”
There has been no announcement from Malacañang or Congress that the SONA will be postponed. The Office of Civil Defense said the decision to suspend the address lies with Congress.
House of Representatives spokesperson Princess Abante said in a July 24 interview that 90% to 95% of preparations have already been finalized at the Batasang Pambansa where the SONA will happen.
Citing recent calamities, Leyte Rep. Martin Romualdez, who is seeking to remain House Speaker for the 20th Congress, called for the “simplification of red carpet and ceremonial arrangements” in the SONA.
For his part, Marcos said in a July 23 press briefing that his speech is about 80% done and will be ready in time for his address on Monday.
The SONA is an annual report mandated by the 1987 Constitution to be delivered by the president before a joint session of Congress every fourth Monday of July.
Since 1935, the SONA has happened yearly except in four instances: from 1942 to 1944 because of World War II, and again in 1986 when former president Corazon Aquino assumed office after the People Power Revolution.
Uploaded by YouTube channel BOSS BALITA TV, the video has so far received 42,133 interactions.
