Marcos to deliver 2nd SONA amid lifting of COVID-19 emergency, ICC disengagement

President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. will be delivering his second State of the Nation Address (SONA) on Monday, fresh off lifting the national COVID-19 state of public health emergency, signing the Maharlika Investment Fund into law, and declaring that the Philippines will disengage from any communication with the International Criminal Court (ICC).

With the lifting of the COVID-19 health emergency—made public by a Palace statement on Saturday—Marcos' second SONA will be delivered with all pandemic medical protocols, including face-mask wearing, no longer enforced.

The Philippines has been loosening COVID-19 restrictions as daily cases ebbed. On Sunday, the Department of Transportation also said that masking on public transportation is no longer required.

Marcos will also deliver the Address after announcing that the Philippines will "disengage" from coordination with the International Criminal Court, as the ICC rejected the government's bid to suspend the investigation into the country's drug war. 

"Basta tapos na lahat ng ating pag-uusap sa ICC [We're done talking with the ICC]," Marcos told reporters on Friday, as the international tribunal moved to proceed with its probe into possible crimes against humanity committed during 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 also said.

The build-up to the second SONA also includes the President's signing the Maharlika Investment Fund (MIF) Bill into law. 

The Fund would tap state assets for investment ventures to generate additional public funds, with Marcos stressing that the MIF is a step towards an economic transformation as the country recovered from the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.

SONA security

At the Batasang Pambansa, House Secretary General Reginald Velasco said that the House of Representatives is 100% prepared for a safe SONA, with the complex locked down to ensure that every corner was inspected by the Presidential Security Group and by House security.

"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 "maximum 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 said the Marcos effigy will be burned in the morning because, in their experience during past SONA protests, there were downpours in the afternoon.

In Quezon City, protesters will conduct separate activities as early as 7 a.m. before merging at the Commission of Human Rights Office on Commonwealth at 11 a.m. They will then march together to Tandang Sora Avenue, where the “People’s SONA” program will be held from 11:30 a.m. until 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 said.

Protesters will carry the message: “Dagdag na sahod, kabuhayan, at pagkain sa mesa! Itigil ang karahasan! Kapakanan ng masa, hindi Maharlika!”

(Wage increase, livelihood, food on the table! Stop the violence! For the welfare of the masses, not Maharlika!) — DVM/BM/KG, GMA Integrated News