Sona 2024: Marcos’ most explosive, emotional yet

Screenshot from RTVM/LIVE

MANILA, Philippines—President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s third State of the Nation Address (Sona) has shaped up to be his most explosive and emotional yet, highlighted by the announcement of several measures, including the ban on Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (Pogos).

Prior to the speech, Marcos arrived early at the Batasang Pambansa Complex despite heavy rains, at exactly 3:33 p.m., by presidential helicopter.

READ: Highlights: Sona 2024

In INQUIRER.net’s time count, Marcos’ Sona lasted a total of one hour and 21 minutes, making this also his longest yet—slightly longer than last year’s one hour and 11 minutes and his first Sona which took one hour and 14 minutes.

Here are some of the biggest highlights of Marcos’ third Sona:

All Pogos now banned

Perhaps the biggest announcement in this year’s Sona is the ban on all Pogos nationwide. Pogos are online casinos catering mainly to Chinese clients despite a ban on online gambling in China.

The announcement came after years of clamor from both the public and lawmakers who called for Marcos to ban the entities due to their “social cost.”

In making the announcement, Marcos cited the “loud outcry of the people” against Pogos.

He said Pogos were establishments disguising as legitimate entities, pointing out how these have already ventured into illicit practices such as financial scamming, money laundering, prostitution, human trafficking, kidnapping, brutal torture, even murder.

“The grave abuse and disrespect to our system of laws must stop. Kailangan nang itigil ang panggulo nito sa ating lipunan at paglalapastangan sa ating bansa,” he said.

“Effective today, all Pogos are banned,” he then added.

He immediately gave instructions to two government agencies: Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation to wind down and cease Pogo operations by the end of the year; and the Department of Labor and Employment to find alternative jobs for Filipino workers who will be displaced.

West Philippine Sea

Marcos was most emotional while discussing the country’s dispute with China over the West Philippine Sea.

The Philippines and China have been engaged in tense encounters in WPS as China tries to enforce its so-called 10-dash line claim to nearly the entire South China Sea, including Philippine exclusive economic zone.

While China’s claims have been effectively invalidated by a July 2016 international tribunal ruling that stemmed from a case filed by Manila in 2013, China continued encroaching in Philippine waters, continuing its aggression and militarization even in areas inside Philippine EEZ.

In his speech, Marcos stressed that the Philippines cannot yield to these aggressions, assuring the public that the government will continue to assert the country’s rights, interests and sovereignty “in the same fair and pacific way that we have always done.”

“Ang West Philippine Sea ay hindi isang kathang-isip natin lamang. Ito ay atin. At ito ay mananatiling atin, hangga’t nag-aalab ang diwa ng ating mahal na bansang Pilipinas,” Marcos stated.

He vowed to maintain peace and community-building to be the country’s clarion call, especially with the Philippines as the host of the ASEAN Summit in 2026.

The President also announced that the country has been “more strategic” in improving its aerial and maritime domain awareness, and defense posture through self-reliance and partnerships with other like-minded states.

Marcos also stressed the need to educate the public on West Philippine Sea issues, further underscoring the need to pass a Legislative Executive Development Advisory Council (Ledac) priority bill by June 2025: the proposed Laws on our Maritime Zones and Archipelagic Sea Lanes.

He then — seemingly tearfully — thanked the Armed Forces of the Philippines, the Philippine Coast Guard and fisherfolk in the West Philippine Sea for their courage and sacrifices.

He got one of loudest and longest applause for his speech on the West Philippine Sea issue.

Drug war gains; hit vs previous admin?

Another noticeable part of Marcos’ third Sona were pronouncements which could easily be viewed as a subtle dig at his predecessor, Rodrigo Duterte—Marcos’ erstwhile ally and now critic.

In revealing his administration’s significant achievements in the fight against illegal drugs, Marcos stressed his campaign did not have the element that defined Duterte’s—bloodshed.

READ: Marcos on bloodless drug war gains: No exterminations involved

“Our bloodless war on dangerous drugs adheres, and will continue to adhere, to the established ‘8 Es’ of an effective anti-illegal drugs strategy. Extermination was never one of them,” Marcos stressed in his speech.

This could be seen as a dig against Duterte, who is being investigated by the International Criminal Court for thousands of killings that marked his anti-drug campaign.

Government records show that at least 6,200 drug suspects have been killed in police anti-drug operations, but many human rights groups claim that the actual number of individuals slain during the drug war can be between 12,000 and 30,000.

A University of the Philippines (UP) study on July 23, 2021 said the drug war had killed an estimated two people each day.

It should also be noted that the fight between the two escalated after Duterte, in a prayer rally back in January, accused Marcos of being “bangag,” or an addict, which has since been denied by the President, clapping back by saying Duterte may just still be reeling from the effects of the opioid fentanyl, a highly addictive pain killer.

Rift between two leaders aside, Marcos and Vice President Sara Duterte seem to have also been caught up in a strife after Sara decided not to attend Marcos’ Sona, shortly after quitting her post as education secretary.

This was the first time the Vice President stood up Marcos’ Sona in the past three years.

Marcos also did not mention the Vice President even once in his speech.

Other Topics

Several other subjects were also tackled by the President in his speech.

On food and water security, Marcos admitted high prices of food, especially rice, but assured the public that the government is doing everything to address the problem.

He then provided updates on the administration’s infrastructure projects, announcing that two years since assuming office, these programs remain on track—with at least 12,000 kilometers of roads and

1,200 bridges built.

Regarding health, Marcos again vowed to provide extra aid for pregnant women, securing the health of both the mother and the unborn child.

Marcos said the government has already included in its proposed 2025 national budget the additional grant under the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program.

On education, Marcos stressed the need to close the digital gap. He said that the government must do so as it addresses gaps in education.

He noted that digitalization and solar-powered electricity must “become the standard feature in our schools and our classrooms,” tagging such an effort as an “educational reform through technology.”

By the end of his Sona, Marcos quoted English philosopher John Stuart Mill’s speech about individuals who remain silent despite being surrounded by evil in society.

Due to this, he said that Filipinos must always rise up against evil.

“We should always fight for what is right and good. We should always love the Philippines and the Filipinos,” he added in Filipino.

During the speech, Marcos was applauded four times, with the last being the longest, lasting for one minute and 14 seconds. This marked how explosive this year’s Sona was.

While Marcos’ third Sona has finally concluded, a post-Sona discussion with various government agencies is set to be conducted on Wednesday, July 24.

This aligns with Marcos’ earlier pronouncement of tapping the help of his Cabinet to implement orders and policies he listed in his Sona.