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A suspected improvised explosive device (IED) was recovered outside the Senate premises in Pasay City on Monday morning, July 27, ahead of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s fifth State of the Nation Address (Sona), according to the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO).

An employee of a towing service along Diokno Boulevard flagged the suspected IED during a routine security inspection by Pasay City Police Station personnel, the NCRPO said in a police report.

‘Thereafter, the team implemented the appropriate Render Safe Procedure (RSP) utilizing the Hand Entry Technique to safely examine and neutralize the suspected IED. The procedure was successfully completed without incident,’ the police explained.

‘The operation yielded a positive result for the presence of explosive components/materials,’ it added.

The police report noted that operatives recovered a 9V battery, a blasting cap, a clock and a plastic jar containing a brown powder ‘suspected to be an explosive material.’

In an interview with reporters in Quezon City, Philippine National Police chief Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. said the agency was now investigating the circumstances surrounding the suspected IED.

Hundreds of protesters begin to gather in Quezon City hours before President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. delivers his fifth State of the Nation Address (Sona). Inquirer.net reporter John Eric Mendoza provides live updates from the rally, where various progressive groups voiced their demands on key national issues.

For the second regular session of the 20th Congress, the House of Representatives will focus on measures that will lower rice prices, strengthen the Universal Health Care (UHC) Act, and ensure greater transparency, Speaker Faustino ‘Bojie’ Dy III said on Monday.

During the resumption of the session, Dy said that the House will continue working for bills that would directly respond to the needs of the people, particularly the proposed Rice Industry and Consumer Empowerment (RICE) Act, the UHC amendments, the proposed Citizen Access and Disclosure of Expenditures for National Accountability (CADENA) Act, and the proposed Cybersecurity Act.

‘For our Second Regular Session, we will continue working to push for reforms that would directly respond to the daily problems of our people,’ Dy said.

‘Our priority is the passage of the [RICE] Act so that we can bring down the prices of rice and strengthen support to our farmers; amendments to the [UHC] Act so that health services will be of high quality and accessible; the CADENA Act to ensure that details on fund use will be open and transparent; and the Cybersecurity Act which aims to protect every Filipino from the threats of the Digital Space,’ he added.

According to Dy, the House has to prove that the people can lean on them during challenging times – and one way of proving this is by working towards a better future for Filipinos.

‘While our country faces different challenges, we need to continue helping the people achieve their goal of a better tomorrow. It is in challenging times like this that our people need their representatives, more than ever, to house and shelter their most important dreams,’ Dy said.

‘Let us prove to our people that we are a Congress that fulfills our duties. With the session opening, you can hold on to our resolve that we will continue to work hard, listen more intently, and serve with accountability,’ he added.

But aside from legislature, Dy also said that progress can be attained while preserving Filipino core values, noting that the country must never lose sight it.

‘However, more importantly, for our country to really move forward, we must never lose sight of what has always been our greatest strength: our Filipino core values,’ Dy said.

‘This is our strength, our true wealth that we have to take care of and be proud of. The biggest danger is if we allow our trait of taking care of each other to be lost. When we stop caring for our fellow Filipino,’ he added.

Dy presided over the resumption of session, which started at 10 a.m. During the session, the House adopted House Resolution (HR) No. 1207, informing the Senate that the House has entered the exercise of its functions, and HR No. 1208 informing President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. that the chamber is ready to hear his fifth State of the Nation Address (Sona).

The House and the Senate will convene for a joint session at 4 p.m. to hear Marcos’ report, which comes a year after his controversial Sona speech in which he called out people who allegedly benefited from flood-control projects.

Earlier, church leaders called on Marcos to deliver truth and accountability in his Sona regarding the flood control corruption scandal.

In a statement, church leaders group ONE VOICE recalled Marcos’ revelation of the scandal during last year’s Sona, when he rebuked those who received ‘kickbacks’ from the corruption.

The church leaders also emphasized that the government must conduct an independent investigation and prosecute every individual involved in the flood control anomalies, including ‘those who have the power to prevent such corruption.’

According to Palace press officer and Undersecretary Claire Castro, Marcos’ fifth Sona will last one hour and 20 minutes.

Castro did not provide further details about the key topics to be discussed, but Marcos said last week that the public should wait for the next chapter of the government’s fight against corruption.

Malacañang on Monday said Vice President Sara Duterte’s declining trust and performance ratings in the latest Octa Research survey reflected public recognition of her lack of contribution to addressing the country’s pressing problems.

For the Palace, it also indicated that Filipinos are now rejecting her side’s claim that the impeachment case against the vice president was merely propaganda by the administration.

‘The survey shows that the evidence presented in the impeachment trial is not just for propaganda but the truth,’ Palace press officer Claire Castro said in a message to reporters.

‘Filipinos should clearly see who is genuinely working and who is doing nothing but attacking others,’ she added.

Castro also linked Duterte’s declining ratings to what she described as the vice president’s failure to help the government address pressing issues such as inflation and rising fuel prices due to the Middle East crisis.

‘All she does is criticize, but she has not offered any concrete solutions,’ she said.

Octa Research reported that Duterte’s trust rating fell by 8 percentage points, from 55 percent in March to 47 percent in July, while her performance rating declined from 50 percent to 45 percent.

According to the survey, the vice president’s latest trust and performance ratings both fell below the majority level for the first time since November 2024 and reached their lowest levels since Octa began tracking the indicators in October 2022.

The survey also found that Duterte’s decline was recorded across socioeconomic classes and most regions, although Mindanao remained a stronghold, with trust at 89 percent and satisfaction with her performance at 90 percent.

In its analysis, Octa Research said the timing of the decline coincided with the opening of Duterte’s impeachment trial on July 6, which received extensive media coverage.

The firm said the ongoing impeachment proceedings were the ‘most direct and best-supported explanation’ for the vice president’s record-low ratings, while noting that perceptions about governance and corruption allegations may have also contributed.

A third possible factor in Duterte’s weakest showing in the surveys may be ‘the apparent absence of a sufficiently visible social safety net to cushion the impact of inflation and rising petroleum prices on lower- and middle-income households,’ Octa Research noted.

Malacañang, however, did not comment on Marcos’ also lower-than-majority scores.

His trust rating declined by 5 percentage points, from 54 percent in March to 49 percent in July, while satisfaction with his performance fell more sharply by 8 points, from 55 percent to 47 percent.

The president’s steepest declines were recorded in Mindanao, where trust fell by 19 points and satisfaction dropped by 25 points.

Air Force canine units on Monday inspected the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) building in Pasay City following the reported improvised explosive devices (IEDs) outside the Department of Justice (DOJ) building in Manila and the Senate building in Pasay.

Five Air Force personnel and two canines were deployed to examine the divisions of the NBI’s nine-story building starting around 11:30 a.m.

Meanwhile, the NBI is currently on red alert status due to the State of the Nation Address (Sona) of Pres. Ferdinand ‘Bongbong’ Marcos Jr. this Monday afternoon.

It was past midnight when a suspected IED exploded near the entrance of the DOJ building, which resulted in no casualties.

Hours later, a suspected IED was discovered outside the Senate amid a routine inspection along Diokno Boulevard.

Marcos’ Sona at the Batasang Pambansa Complex in Quezon City is expected to begin at 4 p.m.

The House of Representatives is ready to translate the priorities outlined by President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. in his fifth State of the Nation Address (SONA) into legislation and concrete action, Speaker Faustino ‘Bojie’ G. Dy III said on Monday.

He said the president’s address provided Congress with a clear legislative direction as lawmakers begin work on the administration’s priority measures, including proposals to ease the tax burden on Filipinos and lower electricity costs.

‘The Sona signified the administration’s direction. The role of the House is to make sure to give this the necessary support through an orderly, scrupulous, and timely discussion of bills,’ Dy said in Filipino.

According to Dy, the House is prepared to prioritize measures requested by the president – those that would expand the income tax exemption to cover more workers earning up to P350,000 annually; reduce income taxes for other workers; exempt small businesses from the minimum corporate income tax; and grant tax amnesty for unpaid income tax, estate tax, donor’s tax, value-added tax (VAT), and the corresponding penalties.

‘The House fully supports the president’s call to provide meaningful tax relief to our people. We will carefully study these proposals and work to pass measures that will allow Filipino workers to keep more of what they earn, help small businesses grow, and give qualified taxpayers a fresh start through a fair and responsible tax amnesty,’ Dy said.

He also welcomed the president’s call for reforms aimed at reducing electricity costs, including the passage of the Sariling Kuryente Act to make rooftop solar panels and battery storage systems more accessible and affordable for households, as well as amendments to the Electric Power Industry Reform Act (EPIRA) to prohibit the charging of systems loss and the corresponding VAT to consumers.

‘The president has made it clear that bringing down electricity costs is a national priority, and the House stands ready to do its part. We will give due priority to the proposed Sariling Kuryente Act and the amendments to the EPIRA to ensure that consumers are no longer made to shoulder charges that should not be passed on to them,’ Dy said.

He said the president’s message was in line with the direction he outlined at the opening of the second regular session of the 20th Congress, when he urged fellow lawmakers to prioritize reforms that directly benefit ordinary Filipinos.

‘The challenge now is to make sure that every proposal that the House would tackle will be beneficial to every Filipino. That’s the measure of our work,’ Dy said.

He also underscored the importance of close coordination between the executive and legislative branches in carrying out the administration’s agenda.

‘These are practical reforms that respond to the everyday concerns of Filipino families. The House is committed to working closely with the Executive to turn these priorities into laws that will ease the cost of living, strengthen our economy, and improve the quality of life of every Filipino,’ he said.

Dy said the House would continue to uphold responsible and people-centered lawmaking.

‘In the end, the executive and the legislature have one goal – to deliver proper service and a better life to every Filipino. It’s easier to do this if we act together,’ he said.

‘It’s not only passing laws that’s important. What’s more important is to make sure that every law is really meaningful and beneficial to our countrymen,’ he added.

Senate Minority Leader Alan Peter Cayetano on Monday challenged Sen. Panfilo Lacson to identify the specific infrastructure projects behind his allegations of irregularities in Taguig, as he maintained that, to his knowledge, there were no ghost projects in the city.

‘E, alin project nga yun? Alin project yun?’ (Which project is that? Which project are you referring to?’) Cayetano said in an ambush interview hours ahead of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s fifth State of the Nation Address (Sona).

Cayetano was responding to Lacson’s series of posts on X about allegedly anomalous slope protection and drainage projects funded under the 2025 national budget.

‘You cannot respond to an allegation if you don’t know what the allegation is,’ he added, speaking Filipino.

Cayetano said the allegations should be laid out in full, including the people, amounts and projects involved, for him to give a specific response.

Lacson has been posting online findings on what he called ‘Taguig ghost infra projects,’ including alleged duplicate appropriations and separate projects that purportedly used the same photograph for billing.

On July 18, Lacson said that of P6.79 billion in what he described as Cayetano’s ‘budget insertions’ under the 2025 General Appropriations Act, P6.715 billion had already been spent.

‘Out of his P6.79B budget insertions under the 2025 GAA, 68 out of the 70 projects were implemented. So, only 2 projects, equivalent to around P75M are left unreleased or unobligated. In short, a total of P6.715B ang nagastos,’ Lacson posted on X.

‘While you do the math, we will keep digging,’ he added.

Asked about the P6.79-billion figure, Cayetano said he was prepared to respond but wanted Lacson to specify the projects, amounts and basis for linking them to him.

‘If you’re in the minority, it’s called an insertion. If you’re in the majority, it’s called an amendment. When you’re in the majority, any senator can have an amendment. I will answer that in the proper forum and at the proper time, even in front of you,’ Cayetano said in Filipino.

‘But I want him to lay out exactly what he is alleging-how much, where, and so on. Is he saying that just because it’s in the budget and it’s in Taguig, I was the one who put it there?’ he added.

Lacson flags duplicate projects, billing photos

Lacson’s allegations became more specific in subsequent posts. On July 22, he said his team had initially documented at least two case studies involving P2.085 billion worth of slope protection and drainage projects. He later raised the amount to P2.385 billion after finding three additional P100-million projects.

‘Two items appear to be double appropriations, involving two (2)-P100M for the same slope protection project. One of the two must be ghost,’ Lacson wrote.

On July 26, Lacson alleged that two different projects, with separate appropriations, locations, technical descriptions and contractors, used the same photograph for billing. He said both had already been billed and collected.

He also cited ‘one slope protection project, one location, one technical description’ that allegedly received two separate budget appropriations, which he said were both billed and collected.

‘Are these not criminal acts?’ Lacson wrote.

In a July 27 update, Lacson said more similar cases had been found and that the evidence, including what he described as ‘proof of the money trail,’ would be submitted to the Office of the Ombudsman.

‘To my knowledge, walang ghost project’

Cayetano said he was neither a Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) official nor an engineer, although he said that as someone from Taguig, he monitored projects in the city as much as he could.

‘[I said], to my knowledge, [there are no] ghost projects. I’ve said that again and again,’ Cayetano said.

‘I’m not the secretary of DPWH. I’m not the regional director. I’m not an engineer. But of course, [I’m from Taguig]. So as much as I can [I keep an eye on things]. It’s on the record.’

Cayetano also said he had not made some of the statements or taken some of the actions Lacson had attributed to him. He cited his previous scrutiny of a bridge that collapsed in Isabela and contractors he had accused of wrongdoing as examples of his record in investigating questionable projects.

‘I never said certain things that he says I’m saying or doing,’ Cayetano said. ‘But when we uncover something wrong, you saw me practically holding the hearing here by myself on the bridge that collapsed in Isabela. I also exposed corrupt contractors and what they were doing, whether it’s in our city or otherwise.’

‘Until now, that contractor has not been charged,’ he added.

He said he had previously pursued questionable contractors and officials and would also face Lacson’s allegations.

‘So we’ve made many enemies in Taguig, and many people have been removed, whether from the local government, the national government, or among contractors. So perhaps they’re the ones making these complaints. They should just verify them carefully. But we will face the allegations,’ Cayetano said in Filipino.

‘We have no choice but to face them,’ he added.

Cayetano, however, said the public should also consider what he described as the ‘bigger picture,’ claiming that people who investigate or criticize the administration were themselves becoming subjects of investigation.

‘All we’re asking is for people to see the bigger picture-that those who investigate, those who criticize, suddenly become the ones they want investigated,’ he said in Filipino.

‘We’re not backing away from that, but we shouldn’t be singled out. There are many others. I have a long list of things that can be looked into,’ he added.

He said he would address the allegations after the Sona and what he called the ‘Kontra-Sona,’ along with issues surrounding the impeachment.

‘Then we’ll have all the time for both impeachment and allegations of corruption. But we will face them,’ Cayetano said.

He also questioned why Taguig appeared to be singled out, saying investigations into questionable infrastructure should cover other areas as well.

‘When they brought up Discaya, I said, investigate everything-Pasig, Baguio, the entire Philippines. It’s been a year, and there’s still no report. Then after a year, suddenly it’s Taguig. Right?’ he said in Filipino.

‘So we cannot just remain silent. If the intention is to silence us, sorry,’ he added.

Cayetano also defended his record in Taguig, saying strict rules had been enforced there while leaving open the possibility that irregularities could have escaped scrutiny.

‘You know me, you know my policies. Ask about our reputation in Taguig, whether we tolerate wrongdoing. The rules are strict. If something slipped through, let’s see,’ he said in Filipino.

‘You might not always like me, maybe more often you’re annoyed with me or not, but you know us. And people know us,’ he added.

Earlier in the interview, Cayetano said he had expected to face attacks after taking on his role as minority leader but was surprised that they were coming through a senior senator known for his investigative work.

‘When I took the job, I knew many persecutions would be coming my way. I just didn’t expect it would be through a senior senator whom many people admire for his investigation skills,’ Cayetano said.