Invitations for Marcos' first SONA sent out, House exec says

More than 1,000 personalities have been invited to attend the first State of the Nation Address (SONA) of President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. next week.

According to House Secretary General Mark Llandro Mendoza on Monday, a total of 1,365 invitations would be sent out for Marcos' SONA.

"Naglabas na tayo ng invitations, noong weekend... (we've sent invitations last weekend). The rest will be released this week also. We're sending out 1,365 invitations," Mendoza told GMA News reporter Tina Panganiban-Perez.

Among those invited are Vice President Sara Duterte, former presidents, vice presidents, speakers, and Senate presidents, as well as the diplomatic corps, justices, and members of the Marcos cabinet.

Mendoza says among those invited as VP Sara Duterte, members of the Marcos cabinet, members of the diplomatic corps, former presidents/VPs/speakers/senate presidents. @gmanews pic.twitter.com/OIpiEKNV5z

— Tina PanganibanPerez (@tinapperez) July 18, 2022

Mendoza said the 1,200 initial capacity of the plenary hall of the Batasang Pambansa in Quezon City has been adjusted to accommodate more guests.

He said the House of Representatives has been coordinating with various government agencies for this year's SONA.

"Mga minor revisions na lang tayo. So far okay naman na tayo," he said.

(We're just having minor revisions. So far, we are good.)

Meanwhile, Mendoza also said a lockdown would be implemented beginning Thursday or Friday at the House of Representatives for security purposes.

"Total lockdown will be on Friday, pero baka mag-adjust kami, agahan namin siguro 'yung lockdown to prepare 'yung security preparations natin," Mendoza said.

(Total lockdown will be on Friday but we might adjust, we might implement an earlier lockdown for the security preparations.)

At present, Mendoza said they are already starting to limit the personnel entering the premises of the Batasang Pambansa. During a lockdown, only the Presidential Security Group are allowed inside the complex, he added.

The 17th Philippine president is set to deliver his first SONA next Monday, July 25.

No details have been released yet by the Palace regarding the event.

More than 21,000 security personnel will be deployed for the SONA, according to the National Capital Region Police Office.

A gun ban will also be imposed in Metro Manila from July 22 to July 27 to guarantee security during the SONA, the police said. —Anna Felicia Bajo/KG/RSJ, GMA News