Marilyn Cahatol

Members of an inter-agency coordinating committee conduct a walk through on July 15, 2024, as the House of Representatives prepares for the coming State Of the Nation Address of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on July 22. Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News

Article (news)

CONGRESS-SONA

Vivienne Gulla

ABS-CBN News

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px;display:block" width="960"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/178480380883420240715-congress-sona-preps-JC-7066.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Members of an inter-agency coordinating committee conduct a walk through on July 15, 2024, as the House of Representatives prepares for the coming State Of the Nation Address of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on July 22. <em>Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News </em></span></span></span></div><p>MANILA — The House of Representatives implemented a “lock-out” at the Batasang Pambansa complex beginning Thursday as part of the security preparations for President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s State of the Nation Address on Monday.</p><p>House Sergeant-at-Arms Ferdinand Melchor dela Cruz said only essential personnel with security clearances are allowed entry until early Monday.</p><p>“Also, we are in the process of inspecting everything para wala talagang ma-miss hangga’t maaari,” he told the media in an interview.</p><p>He said the preparations are standard operating procedure for the SONA, when the president addresses a joint session of Congress as mandated by the constitution.</p><p>“As far as security is concerned, all systems go,” dela Cruz added.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/7/23/sona-2026-rally-points-set-police-ramp-up-security-1329">SONA 2026: Rally points set, police ramp up security</a></div><p>Asked whether the alleged threats that Vice President Sara Duterte made against President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., First Lady Liza Araneta Marcos and Leyte Rep. Martin Romualdez were considered in their preparations, dela Cruz said &quot;we always consider [all possible threats].&quot;</p><p>Dela Cruz said personnel from the Philippine National Police, the Armed Forces of the Philippines, and the Presidential Security Command are ready to assist in securing Batasang Pambansa on SONA day.</p><p>Rallies are expected, he said, because of the Duterte impeachment trial as well as corruption issues in flood-control projects.</p><p>He said the Philippine National Police is deploying 22,000 personnel across Metro Manila, with the Armed Forces of the Philippines ready to provide support in case of an &quot;escalation of threats.&quot;</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/7/22/pnp-chief-says-over-20-000-cops-to-be-deployed-for-sona-security-2106">PNP chief says over 20,000 cops to be deployed for SONA security</a></div><div><br/></div><div><strong>RELATED VIDEO:</strong></div><div style="text-align:center"><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/nM7bk507SQE?si=e2-4rR0k6dG-rAqI" title="YouTube video player" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></div>

<p>The House of Representatives implemented a “lock-out” at the Batasang Pambansa complex beginning Thursday as part of the security preparations for President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s State of the Nation Address on Monday.</p>

The House of Representatives implemented a “lock-out” at the Batasang Pambansa complex beginning Thursday as part of the security preparations for President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s State of the Nation Address on Monday.

House implements 'lock-out' as part of SONA security preps

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House implements 'lock-out' as part of SONA security preps

Vivienne Gulla,

ABS-CBN News

Published July 23, 2026 07:22 PM PHT

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