Minority senators Alan Cayetano, Imee Marcos to skip Marcos' 5th SONA — ANC

[0:00] A new session of the Philippine Congresses are also opening this Monday. [0:04] The new Senate leadership vowing to pass measures aimed at ensuring genuine growth for Filipinos. [0:09] Let's get details from her very own Victoria Tulad. [0:12] She joins us now on the line. Victoria, over to you. [0:14] Hi, I'm going to have four resolutions approved and the opening address of Senate President Sherwin Gachalian. [0:25] These resolutions are resolutions informing the House of Representatives and the President [0:30] that a column in the Senate was present and that the upper chamber had entered the exercise of its functions [0:36] for the second regular session of the 20th Congress. [0:39] The other approved resolutions were about the holding of a joint session [0:43] to hear the fifth State of the Nation address of the President this afternoon. [0:48] In his opening address, Gachalian said the Senate is ready to face the challenges the country faces [0:53] and that it is aware of the hardships that Filipinos face. [0:57] Gachalian brought up the reduction of the country's economic growth forecast for 2026 [1:02] from 5% to 6% to 3.5% to 4.5% according to the Development Budget Coordination Committee. [1:10] Thus, Gachalian said that they will prioritize legislation which will reinvigorate the economy. [1:15] He emphasized the importance of passing the national budget on time in order to reach critical services [1:21] and ensure that new projects can begin as scheduled. [1:25] Aside from the budget, Gachalian outlined five Senate priorities, which are high prices of commodities, [1:31] small take-home pay of workers, high cost of electricity, lack of infrastructure and transportation, [1:37] and the absence of job security. [1:40] The Senate President also proposed the creation of an ad hoc committee [1:43] that will help drive economic growth, pay jobs, and make the cost of living more affordable. [1:48] Senators will be going to the House of Representatives to clear the sauna, [1:53] which will be delivered by the President at 4 p.m. [1:56] Some, though, will be absent, such as Presidential Sister Senator Aimee Marcos. [2:01] Marcos says they are upset that members of the minority are being charged with cases and imprisoned. [2:07] Senator Marcos was also absent from the sauna last year. [2:10] Senate Minority Leader Alan Peter Cayetana said he will also not attend. [2:14] Mas preference ko siguro panuori na lang sa TV. Baka mas komportable din yung administration that way, [2:24] and it's my simple way of protesting pati sa pagbla-blak. [2:30] Carmina, we are still confirming if other minority senators will attend the sauna. Carmina? [2:35] Thanks a lot, Victoria Tula there. [2:37] Joining us on the line over at the House of Representatives, [2:40] Speaker Bocci D. delivered his address for the opening of the second regular session, [2:45] raising concerns on technology's impact on the youth. [2:49] Agatha Gregoria joins us live with details. [2:52] Agatha, over to you. [2:53] Carmina, House Speaker Faustino Bocci D. III warned against the supposed negative effects of technology on the youth. [3:07] D. also appealed to the public not to let so-called noise on social media shape their beliefs, [3:12] especially amid the presence of false information during the opening of the second regular session of the 20th Congress here at the House. [3:20] They also talked about the lower chamber's approval of the Digital Media Anti-False Information Act [3:25] and Child Online Safety and Protection Act of 2026. [3:29] Na nakakabahala po na ang ating kabataan ay na-expose sa karahasan, kabastusan at iba pang sensitibong content na nakakalason sa kanilang murang kaisipan. [3:51] Sa kasamang palad, maging tayong mga matanda ay hindi na ligtas sa mga maling impormasyon na nagiging sani ng pag-aaway at pagkakawatak-watak. [4:04] Wag po sana nating hayaan ng ingay ng social media ang humubog sa ating paniniwala. [4:13] As he filed the Children's Social Media Safety Act along with other House members to prohibit those under 13 years old from using social media, [4:41] D. said he hopes this would become one of the LEDAC priority bills. [4:46] D. also vowed to continue working every day to regain the public's trust. [4:50] According to D., the lower chamber was able to pass 163 bills, including 26 LEDAC priority measures. [4:58] As for the SONA presidential son, Representative Sandro Marcos said that his father's speech is around one hour and 30 minutes long. [5:06] Carmina? [5:08] Thanks a lot. [5:09] Agatha Gregoria there, joining us live from the House of Representatives. [5:12] We are just four hours away from President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.'s fifth progress report. [5:18] Civil society and progressive groups are already gathered along Commonwealth Avenue in Quezon City, [5:23] expressing their frustration over what they say are the Marcos administration's shortcomings. [5:29] Michael Deliso now joins us live to lead us off. [5:32] Michael. [5:32] Hi Carmina, good afternoon. [5:36] I'm here in front of a church and a mall along Commonwealth Avenue where several progressive groups under the coalition of Bayan are expected to converge later today. [5:47] And just now we're seeing their PNP chief, General Osemele Anshan Artadis Jr., giving media interview after he inspected the security here. [5:57] Now, at the moment, the different groups remain spread out across several sections of Commonwealth where they are holding their respective programs before marching toward the main convergence area. [6:08] Organizers are calling the protest. [6:10] The People's Sona, which they describe as an opportunity to present what they say is the true state of various sectors in the country. [6:19] Among the key issues being raised are the country's economic woes, such as the rising costs of fuel and electricity, [6:26] the lack of quality jobs and wages that they say have failed to keep pace with increasing cost of living. [6:34] Protesters are also denouncing corruption scandals and are calling for all those involved to be held accountable. [6:40] The demonstration, likewise, highlights anti-U.S. sentiments, with protesters criticizing what they describe as U.S. attacks on Iran, [6:49] the U.S.-led Pax Basilica in New Clark City, as well as alleged U.S. influence over the Marcos administration's domestic policies. [6:58] The protest also features a papier-mâché effigy that's depicting U.S. President Donald Trump as a puppet master controlling President Marcos, [7:06] symbolizing what organizers describe as the Philippine government's subservience to the United States. [7:13] And meantime, a brief scaffold erupted during the protesters' program along Commonwealth Avenue [7:19] after firefighters extinguished a burning U.S. flag and the arrest team was alerted. [7:25] At about 7 a.m., a short-shoving incident occurred between police and protesters at Filcawa [7:31] after officers moved the rallies back to prevent them from occupying the roadway. [7:37] Police have maintained a strong security presence in the area, [7:40] with traffic enforcers and public court personnel deployed to manage the demonstration. [7:45] Authorities are also ensuring that protesters remain within the designated rally area, [7:50] so traffic along Commonwealth Avenue continues to flow. [7:54] And now here in front of a church and a mall along Commonwealth Avenue, [7:59] security remains tight. [8:01] We're seeing police on standby. [8:03] That's General Jose M. Lentatis Jr., the PNP chief, [8:08] who is currently giving a media interview. [8:10] Now we're also seeing here a concrete barricade, [8:13] and this will keep the protesters in a specific area. [8:17] They will be confined here to keep the traffic continuous, continue to flow. [8:23] Carmina, back to you. [8:24] Thanks a lot. [8:25] And Michael Deliso, they're joining us live. [8:28] Back here in the newsroom, thousands of police personnel have been deployed [8:31] to prevent demonstrators from getting near the Batasang Pambansa, [8:35] where the chief executive will deliver his State of the Nation addresses. [8:38] Now get an update on the situation near Batasang Pambansa [8:41] from her correspondent, Jeff Caparas. [8:43] Jeff, go ahead. [8:49] Yes, Carmina, good afternoon. [8:50] We are here in front of St. Peter's Parish Church, [8:54] where the situation remains calm just hours before President Marcus Jr.'s State of the Nation address. [9:03] Around 13,000 Philippine National Police personnel have been deployed [9:08] to secure the zona and maintain peace and order throughout the area. [9:13] Police officers remain on standby here outside St. Peter's Parish [9:18] and near the entrance of New Capital Estate. [9:22] The designated protest area is located beyond Evergatesco Mall, [9:26] where three lanes of Commonwealth Avenue have been barricaded [9:31] to separate demonstrators from regular traffic [9:35] and ensure the orderly conduct of protest activities. [9:39] Earlier, NCRPO Chief Police Major General Anthony Abirin ordered the MMDA to tow an SUV [9:46] that was blocking the police command post after its owner failed to remove the vehicle. [9:51] Aside from the PNP, fire trucks from the Bureau of Fire Protection [9:56] and the response vehicles from Bureau of Jail Management and Penology [10:01] remain on standby as part of the overall security preparations. [10:06] Authorities expect more protesters to arrive later this afternoon [10:10] with the turnout projected to reach or even exceed last year's participation of more than 4,000 rallies. [10:18] According to Abirin, additional police officers were deployed this year [10:21] because the zona coincides with the anniversary celebration of the Iglesia Ni Cristo [10:27] with more personnel assigned to traffic management, [10:31] particularly along the westbound lanes of Commonwealth Avenue. [10:34] The NCRPO says it recognizes the public's right to peaceful assembly [10:38] but it's urging demonstrators to comply with the law [10:41] and the conditions set by the Quezon City government. [10:44] Police say they will exercise maximum tolerance and uphold human rights [10:50] but warn that anyone who violates the law may be arrested. [10:54] Authorities also said they will prevent any attempt to breach the designated rally boundaries [10:59] or a burning of effigies during the demonstrations. [11:03] Despite the expected influx of protesters, Carmina, [11:06] the NCRPO says the security situation along Commonwealth Avenue remains generally peaceful [11:11] and that all security measures are in place to ensure a safe, orderly, and secure state-of-the-nation address. [11:19] Carmina. [11:20] Thanks a lot, Jeff Caparas. [11:22] They're joining us live back here in the newsroom. [11:24] Vice President Sara Duterte vowing not to resign amid her impeachment trial. [11:29] Jervis Manahan on the line to tell us more about that. [11:31] Jervis. [11:32] Yes, Carmina. [11:33] Vice President Sara Duterte said she will not be stepping down amidst the impeachment trial. [11:37] that could possibly remove her from office. [11:40] In a video posted on social media, Duterte firmly said she will not resign. [11:45] She said that she will not resign because this will be a betrayal to the 32.2 million Filipinos [11:50] who voted for her and she told that in a packed London crowd. [11:55] Duterte has currently outside the country for a series of events. [11:58] She told the crowd that if the president wants to remove her, then he can do so, [12:03] but she will not be stepping down from her office. [12:06] She was also seen saying God saved the Philippines to a crowd of Filipino supporters. [12:11] Duterte is facing a historic impeachment trial that seeks to remove her from office [12:15] due to various grounds such as betrayal of public trust and culpable violation of the Constitution. [12:21] Carmina. [12:22] Thanks a lot, Jervis Manahan there. [12:24] Joining us on the line, Malacanang reacting to the drop in the trust ratings [12:27] of both President Marcos and Vice President Sara Duterte in his new survey. [12:31] Katrina Domingo on the line now with details. [12:34] Kat. [12:34] Carmina, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and Vice President Sara Duterte's trust and performance [12:40] ratings slipped in the second quarter of 2026. [12:44] That's according to a recent survey from the OCTO Research Group. [12:47] Now, Marcos' trust rating decreased by 8 percentage points to 49 percent in July from 54 in March, [12:53] while his performance numbers stumbled to 47 percent from 55 percent in the same period. [12:59] Duterte, on the other hand, saw an 8 percentage point decline in trust [13:02] as ratings fell to 47 percent from 55 percent, while her performance numbers skidded by 5 percentage points [13:09] to 45 percent from 50 percent. [13:13] Now, Communications Undersecretary Claire Castro told Dallas reporters in a statement [13:19] that this survey is a more accurate depiction of reality, [13:23] saying that this survey was meant to show what the public sentiment is and is not being used in propaganda. [13:29] If you recall, Carmina, during last week's impeachment proceedings, [13:34] Vice President Sara Duterte's defense lawyers presented or flashed a photo showing that Duterte enjoys [13:40] higher trust ratings compared to Marcos, saying that this should be considered when evaluating [13:45] if the second in command has indeed violated public trust. [13:50] Castro underscores that the public is aware that Duterte has been leaving the country quite often [13:56] and has been rarely seen in the Philippines compared to the chief executive. [14:01] Thanks a lot. Katrina Domingo there, joining us on the line. [14:06] One year after President Marcos' iconic Mahiana Mankaya remark during his 2025 State of the Nation [14:12] address, Public Works Secretary Vince Dizon says the government's investigation into alleged flood [14:17] control corruption is now nearing its conclusion. [14:20] Dizon says the president himself is growing impatient and frustrated over the pace of holding those [14:26] responsible to account. But he adds, the president also understands that due process must be followed [14:32] to ensure that any case filed is backed by strong findings. [14:36] Ang pangulo mismo ang nagsiwalat nitong napaka-laki at napaka-grabe at kahindik-hindik na [14:46] pagnanakaw ng pondo ng ating mga kababayan last year. [14:50] Siya mismo ang nagsabi sa harap ng mga kongresista, sa harap ng mga senador, sa harap ng taong bayan [14:59] na mahiya namang kayo. Ang pangulo, walang tigil, relentless sa kanyang efforts para unang-una [15:07] panagutin ang dapat managot kahit sino pa yan. Kung saan ang ebidensya papunta, [15:15] doon tayo pupunta. Kahit na sino pa yan. [15:18] At ngayon, nakikita na natin, dahan-dahang nakikita na natin yan. [15:23] Kailangan i-build up ang ebidensya. Hindi pa pwedeng magpapay lang kung ano-anong kaso lang. [15:31] Kailangan matiba ang ebidensya. Pero tingin ko, malapit na po tayo sa konklusyon nitong prosesong ito. [15:41] At yung hinihintay ng ating mga kababayan, sinabi na rin ng ating ombudsman, malapit na. [15:47] Dizon also outlined what the public can expect from the DPWH during the final two years of the Marcos administration. [15:57] Ang mga kababayan natin, nakikita lahat nitong mga pagnanakaw na ito. [16:02] And yet, pag ikaw ay nasa mga lugar all over the country, meron kang nakikitang tulay na kalahati lang. [16:10] Meron kang nakikitang bypass road na hindi tapos. [16:13] Ginagamit lang na pang bilad ng palay. [16:16] Meron kang nakikitang mga classroom na posti lang. [16:22] Hindi matapos-tapos. [16:23] I think the biggest legacy of the President is to try our best to finish all these, if not a lot, of these unfinished projects that have been unfinished for years, if not decades. [16:38] Kung yan lang ang laking bagay na nun. [16:40] Kasi itong mga proyektong to, talagang hindi lang sa nahihirapan ng mga kababayan natin. [16:46] Kaya galit sa gobyerno eh. [16:48] Pero ang trabaho na binigay sa akin ng Pangulo, once and for all, ayusin na natin yan. [16:56] Another massive spike in local fuel prices. [16:58] Oil firms are expected to hike the price of gasoline by 6 pesos per liter this Tuesday. [17:04] Diesel, on the other hand, will see an uptick of 7 pesos per liter. [17:08] The increases reflecting the rising cost of global oil prices due to the war in the Middle East. [17:15] Checking now on the local financial market, the Philippine Stock Exchange. [17:18] Up hours before the President's address, its main index climbing by 8 tenths of a percent at noontime Monday, [17:25] as investors await pronouncements related to business and the economy from the State of the Nation address. [17:30] The broader All Shares Index in most sectors, also in the green, while total value is at 2.5 billion pesos. [17:37] The Philippine peso, meanwhile, staying weak against the U.S. dollar. [17:42] The currency trading at 61 pesos and 76 centavos to the greenback after another historic low of 61.84 on Friday. [17:54] While the Philippine economy has shown some signs of resilience, great challenges, both domestic and global, remain. [18:00] As President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. delivers his fifth State of the Nation address. [18:05] The focus will be on how the government plans to keep growth on track while navigating through political issues. [18:13] In his fifth State of the Nation address, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. will tout a resilient economy. [18:20] Slower, yes, but doing slightly better than the global economy. [18:24] All reeling from the damaging toll of the U.S.-Iran war that's disrupted energy supply chains and triggered a fresh bout of inflation. [18:32] It will be an economy marked by sticky inflation, but improved global standing, having exited the Financial Action Task Force Gray List in 2025, and its recent shift to upper-middle income status. [18:46] But as the World Bank notes, the UMIC status offers a launchpad for the country's next stage of development, which will be just as demanding as it is promising. [18:54] But let's not forget, even before the war, the Philippines was already facing mounting economic pressures, having recorded only 4.4% GDP growth in 2025, the slowest since 2011, excluding the pandemic. [19:08] And also, the third year the administration missed its own target, as the flood control scandal hit consumer and investor confidence. [19:15] Foreign direct investments, which generate jobs and facilitate transfer of tech and knowledge to local businesses, fell too by 17% to $7.8 billion, the weakest since the COVID-19 pandemic broke out in 2020, and it's expected to remain weak for the rest of the year. [19:33] Government infrastructure spending also in contraction amid unresolved corruption allegations. [19:37] In fact, this sauna is widely expected to be a follow-up to the President's Mahiyan naman kayo call from last year. [19:44] Financial markets are also reflecting investor jitters with the Philippine Stock Exchange Index among the region's worst performing and the PESO testing new lows. [20:00] Recent surveys also show controlling the rising prices of commodities remain in the top three national concerns of Filipinos, together with corruption and workers' pay. [20:10] Reason why, the business community is urging the President to focus on economic execution this year. [20:16] The Management Association of the Philippines telling the administration, [20:20] the country is tired of politics, with Filipinos feeling the pressure of high living costs, businesses facing uncertainty, and many MSMEs continuing to struggle. [20:30] It adds, the fight against corruption should not become a break on economic growth. [20:35] While the Joint Foreign Chambers of the Philippines outlined a competitiveness agenda, [20:39] pushing for several priority measures, including amendments to the Electric Power Industry Reform Act, or RAPIDA, [20:46] the proposed Cybersecurity Act, and Digital Economy Act. [20:50] Plus, the full implementation of recently enacted reforms, such as the Create More Act, Ease of Doing Business Act, and the Ease of Paying Taxes Act. [20:58] The state of the nation is sound. [21:01] As Marcos enters the final two years of his office, many ask, [21:05] does he still have enough political capital to advance his remaining agenda? [21:09] Or, will political rifts and maneuvering, and global headwinds, derail strong policy, execution, and legacy? [21:18] Michelle Long, ABS-CBN News.