PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte's fifth State of the Nation Address (Sona) on Monday, July 27, 2020, will be aired live and unedited, Radio Television Malacañang (RTVM) assured.
"The event will be broadcast live, streamed live on Facebook and Youtube," Executive Director Demic Pabalan told reporters.
"Hindi po edited. Verbatim po kung ano 'yung events na nangyari," he added.
He gave the assurance after concerns were raised that Duterte's speech would be edited before it would be broadcast.
Duterte's speech before troops in Jolo, Sulu was heavily edited before it was aired on state television.
The Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO) earlier announced that only the Presidential Broadcast Staff - Radio Television Malacañang will be allowed inside the House of Representatives to cover the Sona.
Privately owned media organizations will be prohibited from covering the Sona physically.
All broadcast-related requirements will be coursed through the RTVM.
The officials said this was based on the recommendation of the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF).
"I think, so far, that is the decision and I see no reason for, at the moment, to reverse that decision. As Demic said, it will be broadcast live and it will be shown also in Youtube and Facebook so that everyone can see naman," House Secretary General Jose Luis Montales said.
As of Wednesday, no press conference was scheduled following Duterte's speech. (VoxPop Philippines)
