President Marcos to tackle 'next chapter' on corruption in 2026 SONA

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Friday hinted that corruption could again take center stage in his upcoming State of the Nation Address (SONA), teasing reporters to "stay tuned" when asked if he would revisit the issue that figured prominently in last year's speech.

“Abangan ang susunod na kabanata,” Marcos said when asked whether he would once again tackle corruption, particularly in flood control projects, during his July 27 address.

In his 2025 SONA, the President publicly called out those behind alleged anomalies in flood control projects, telling them: “Mahiya naman kayo!”

Speaking to reporters in Pampanga, Marcos also shared that his speech is already in its final stages, with more than 90 percent of the text completed. Still, he said he expects to make last-minute edits, as he does every year.

“I’m never done. Until one hour before the Sona, I’m still changing it, you know, because, of course, we want it to be perfect. But on the whole, yes, on the whole,” he said in an ambush interview.

“I would say the actual language is 90% plus done; we’re just fixing it up and making sure that it’s not too long or too short, that we have everything that we want to talk about already,” he continued.

Marcos said the annual address serves as an accounting of his administration's performance and that this year's speech will center on how the government has responded to the country's current challenges, particularly the impact of global developments.

“But nonetheless, our response has been good, and we have had to make adjustments, but those adjustments have been effective and have served their purpose. And I know that it has helped people weather this storm and continue to weather this storm until things hopefully normalize,” the President said.

His remarks came a day after Palace Press Officer Claire Castro suggested that the President could make "earthshaking announcements" during Monday's SONA, his fifth since assuming office and the second to last of his six-year term.

“It’s always like that. So let’s just wait and see what the president will say. As we’ve seen, the administration’s accomplishments will certainly not be left out, but as for what else he will say, let’s wait until Monday,” Castro said during a Palace briefing on Thursday.

Castro also said this year's SONA would be "simple yet dignified," reflecting the government's austerity measures in light of the economic effects of the Middle East crisis.