Palace: SONA will be brief as Aquino hates long speeches

Less than a week before the President delivers his State of the Nation Address (SONA), Malacañang Palace said it is trimming down the SONA because President Benigno Simeon Aquino III hates long speeches. Aquino will deliver his second SONA on July 25 before a joint session of Congress at the Batasan Complex in Quezon City. Presidential Communications Operations Office head Herminio Coloma Jr. said on Wednesday they are trying to fit into a short SONA all the details that Aquino has to share in his annual address. "Ang medyo suliranin paano isasama lahat na mahalagang punto. Ang pangulo hindi mahilig magtalumpati nang matagal. Inaayos, ine-edit, pinipili," Coloma said in an interview on dzXL radio. However, Coloma did not give an estimate on how long Aquino wants his SONA to take. Coloma said the Palace has spent nearly a month preparing the SONA, taking inputs from members of the Cabinet and government agencies. He said the "significant accomplishments" that would not fit into the SONA may be included in a "comprehensive technical report." "(Ang significant accomplishments) na di mailalahad dahil sa panahon iuukol sa talumpati, ito maisasama sa comprehensive technical report na ipapamahagi sa ating mga kababayan pagkatapos ng pagtatalumpati ng pangulo sa darating na Lunes," he said. - VVP, GMA News