Palace exec: PNoy's second SONA to be delivered in Filipino

A big chunk of President Benigno Aquino III’s second State of the Nation Address (SONA) will be delivered in Filipino, a Malacañang official said Saturday. “Sa aking pagkakaalam, in Tagalog [ang SONA]. Hindi ko pa nakikita ang kabuuan nguni’t nakikita ko Tagalog po siya," deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte said over government-run dzRB radio. She said English translations of the SONA will be made available as soon as possible. While she declined to give details, Valte said the SONA will update Filipinos on what has been done in the past year and where Aquino intends to take the nation in the next year. Aquino will give “undisputed facts and figures," Valte said without elaboration. When asked if Aquino will name the new Ombudsman in his SONA, Valte said she does not know. Also, when asked if the President will mention election fraud in his speech, she said, “Hindi ko alam. I don’t want to preempt the President." When asked if Aquino will discuss anti-corruption efforts in his SONA, she replied, “That is something we will have to wait." She also declined to say if Aquino will mention specific economic measures he wants Congress to legislate. “Until the president says it is ready, it is still a work in progress," she said of the SONA. — JE, GMA News