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Prior to the start of President Rodrigo Duterte's speech, a prayer was conducted which was followed by the singing of "Lupang Hinirang", the national anthem, by Morissette. [8] Duterte's speech started at 4:13pm. He was joined by Senate President Tito Sotto and House Speaker Lord Allan Velasco. [9]
Duterte began his speech with a tirade against ABS-CBN, the Lopezes who own the company and Senate Minority Floor Leader Franklin Drilon. He accused Drilon of defending the Lopezes as "oligarchs" and for linking the anti-dynasty system to his daughter Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte and son Davao City 1st District Representative Paolo Duterte.
The SONA is traditionally held annually. The presidential speech has been delivered in English until 2009 when it was last delivered in the said language. [citation needed] Benigno Aquino III was the first president to deliver the presidential speech in Filipino. He used Filipino in all of his six speeches from 2010 to 2015.
Three former Presidents, Fidel Ramos, Joseph Estrada, and Gloria Macapagal Arroyo attended the SONA. This was the first time that Arroyo attended Congress after being detained for four years at the Veterans Memorial Medical Center in Quezon City, after the Supreme Court voted 11-4, dismissing the plunder case filed against her in connection with the alleged misuse of the Philippine Charity ...
President Ferdinand Marcos Sr. delivers a speech in the 1972 SONA. The tradition of delivering the SONA on the fourth Monday of January ended in 1972, when from 1973 to 1977, President Ferdinand E. Marcos delivered the Address every September 21—the official anniversary of his imposition of Martial Law upon the country.
The president felt that the bank has strayed from its intended purposes of being a bank for farmers lamenting that it has been "mired in so many commercial transactions." [9] The Philippines' policy towards China and the South China Sea dispute was also a subject of the speech. Duterte defended his foreign policy amidst accusation of treason.
House Secretary General Reginald Velasco said that he expected about 2,000 guests will attend the speech, making it the largest SONA by attendance. [2] There were 1,814 seats in the plenary. [4] Former presidents Joseph Estrada and Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, who is also the incumbent representative from Pampanga's 2nd district, attended the SONA. [5]
Former presidents Joseph Estrada, Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, and Rodrigo Duterte confirmed attendance to the SONA, [4] however Duterte later rescinded. According to his aide, Senator Bong Go, he was tired after his personal trip to Beijing, China and instead went back home to Davao City. [5] Vice President Sara Duterte attended the event in person.