Manila on Full Alert Ahead of Marcos SONA

Marcos is set to deliver his sixth SONA before a joint session of Congress at the Batasang Pambansa complex in Quezon City. The address comes at a tense moment for the administration. The president faces mounting public criticism over inflation and a political rift with the Duterte family that has weakened his legislative coalition.

Security officials have not cited a specific threat. The deployment is standard for the annual address, though the 21,261 figure is higher than the roughly 18,000 posted for last year's SONA. The Philippine National Police said the increase reflects standard force adjustments, not intelligence about a particular danger.

Traffic will be rerouted around the congressional complex from early Monday. Several Metro Manila rail lines have announced adjusted schedules. The full alert runs through Monday evening, after the president's departure from the session hall.