President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. shall be delivering his second State of the Nation Address (SONA) on Monday, contemporary off lifting the nationwide COVID-19 state of public well being emergency, signing the Maharlika Investment Fund into legislation, and declaring that the Philippines will disengage from any communication with the International Criminal Court (ICC).
With the lifting of the COVID-19 well being emergency—made public by a Palace assertion on Saturday—Marcos’ second SONA shall be delivered with all pandemic medical protocols, together with face-mask carrying, now not enforced.
The Philippines has been loosening COVID-19 restrictions as each day instances ebbed. On Sunday, the Department of Transportation additionally stated that masking on public transportation is now not required.
Marcos may even ship the Address after saying that the Philippines will “disengage” from coordination with the International Criminal Court, because the ICC rejected the federal government’s bid to droop the investigation into the nation’s drug warfare.
“Basta tapos na lahat ng ating pag-uusap sa ICC [We’re done talking with the ICC],” Marcos informed reporters on Friday, because the worldwide tribunal moved to proceed with its probe into attainable crimes in opposition to humanity dedicated throughout Rodrigo Duterte’s administration.
“The appeal has failed. In our view, there’s nothing more that we can do… At this point we are essentially disengaging from any contact, communication with the ICC,” he earlier additionally stated.
The build-up to the second SONA additionally consists of the President’s signing the Maharlika Investment Fund (MIF) Bill into legislation.
The Fund would faucet state property for funding ventures to generate extra public funds, with Marcos stressing that the MIF is a step in direction of an financial transformation because the nation recovered from the affect of the COVID-19 pandemic.
SONA safety
At the Batasang Pambansa, House Secretary General Reginald Velasco stated that the House of Representatives is 100% ready for a secure SONA, with the complicated locked down to make sure that each nook was inspected by the Presidential Security Group and by House safety.
“We are confident na wala hong magiging bulilyaso sa SONA [We are confident that the SONA would be delivered without a hitch],” Velasco added.
At least 25,000 personnel of the Philippine National Police (PNP), meanwhile, will be deployed in Metro Manila, with some undergoing training for possible scenarios during the occasion.
A gun ban in Calabarzon, Central Luzon, and National Capital Region (NCR) went into effect at 12:01 a.m. on July 24 and will last until midnight, July 25. Only members of the PNP, Armed Forces of the Philippines, and other law enforcement agencies who are performing official duties and wearing their uniforms will be allowed to carry firearms.
“This is to ensure that the activity will be free from firearm-related incidents and the populace will be safe,” PNP spokesperson Police Colonel Jean Fajardo said.
PNP Chief Police General Benjamin Acorda Jr. said they had not received any threats against Marcos’ SONA. Nevertheless, he said, the PNP will expect the worst and hope for the best.
“With regards to threat assessment, wala tayong nare-receive na threat [we have not received a threat],” he added.
SONA protests
The PNP also said that there will be “most tolerance” for protesters. So far, two requests for a permit to rally have been received.
Progressive group Bayan said the SONA protests will be bigger this year, with thousands of protesters and 50 organizations expected to join. The protest actions, to be held in different parts of the country and the world, will push through “rain or shine.”
“The SONA protest this year will be bigger compared to last year. Mas maraming galit. Mas marami ang naliwanagan. Kasama yung mga kababayan natin na gustong i-register yung protest doon sa mga polisiya ni Marcos,” Bayan secretary general Mong Palatino said.
(More people are angry. More people are enlightened. Filipinos who would like to register their protest against Marcos’ policies will come together.)
Bayan dubbed the Marcos effigy that would be used during the SONA protest along Commonwealth Avenue in Quezon City as “Doble Kara” (two-faced). The effigy depicts Marcos as two-faced, with a “Tallano gold” coin embossed on it.
Palatino stated the Marcos effigy shall be burned within the morning as a result of, of their expertise throughout previous SONA protests, there have been downpours within the afternoon.
In Quezon City, protesters will conduct separate actions as early as 7 a.m. earlier than merging on the Commission of Human Rights Office on Commonwealth at 11 a.m. They will then march collectively to Tandang Sora Avenue, the place the “People’s SONA” program shall be held from 11:30 a.m. till 1 p.m.
“Placards, banners, effigies are being readied; and most importantly, various people’s organizations representing thousands of members are gearing up for the People’s SONA on July 24,” Bayan stated.
Protesters will carry the message: “Dagdag na sahod, kabuhayan, at pagkain sa mesa! Itigil ang karahasan! Kapakanan ng masa, hindi Maharlika!”
(Wage improve, livelihood, meals on the desk! Stop the violence! For the welfare of the plenty, not Maharlika!) — DVM/BM/KG, GMA Integrated News
Source: www.gmanetwork.com
