Aquino's SONA to focus more on 'social transformation'

(Updated 8 p.m.) President Benigno Aquino III’s second State of the Nation Address (SONA) will be devoid of theatrics or new slogans, and will focus more on “social transformation," Malacañang said on Sunday. “The President will talk about transforming our society," said Presidential Communications Development and Strategic Planning Secretary Ricky Carandang, who was part of the team that drafted Aquino’s speech. Carandang said Aquino saw six drafts of the speech before the final version. “But we actually had about eight or nine drafts." He said he does not expect the President to make any more changes in his speech. Deputy presidential spokeswoman Abigail Valte said Aquino’s SONA will neither have theatrics nor new slogans. “We don’t have human props. That’s not the style of President Aquino," she said. Valte, however, was tight-lipped on the specifics of Aquino’s second SONA. “What we can share is, it will be in Filipino and just like his speech in his first anniversary in office, there will be audiovisuals," she said.
Peaceful SONA Valte enjoined Filipinos to listen to Aquino’s SONA and appealed to policemen and protesters, who are expected to flock to the Batasan Complex in Quezon City, to keep demonstrations peaceful. “We hope there will be no untoward incidents tomorrow. We understand each other’s sentiments. We hope there will be order and the demonstrations will be peaceful," she said. She said the Palace is taking note of the comments, both positive and negative, from all sectors regarding the Aquino administration’s achievements. However, she reminded the public that Aquino has five more years to go to fulfill his campaign promises. “The President was not elected for a year alone, but for six years. We know we still have a lot to do," she said. “We are not after making an impression but giving a true report of the state of the nation. Our listeners will be the one to judge the speech of the President." Aquino will deliver his SONA before a joint session of Congress at 4 p.m. Monday at the Batasan complex in Quezon City. State-run NBN-4 will start its SONA coverage at 2 p.m. No threats Meanwhile, top military officials said there is no threat monitored to Aquino’s SONA. Nevertheless, about 700 soldiers will be deployed around the Batasan Complex in support of the police force. Battle tanks and other soldiers will also be on standby at Camp Aguinaldo for any eventuality. “No specific threats," said Armed Forces chief Gen. Eduardo Oban. “We’re very well supporting the Philippine National Police through our NCRcom (National Capital Region Command). We are directly coordinating with them and everything is in place for the SONA on Monday." Oban said intelligence personnel will also be deployed as it is part and partial of the overall security plan. “That includes intelligence work and we also have manpower to beef up police force," he said. For his part, NCRcom commander Maj. Gen. Tristan Kison said they are on the normal white alert status due to the absence of threat. - KBK, GMA News