Senate Minority Leader Alan Peter Cayetano will not attend President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.'s fifth State of the Nation Address (SONA) at the Batasang Pambansa in Quezon City on Monday, July 27, saying he will watch the speech remotely as a form of protest.

Speaking to reporters before the opening of the Senate session, Cayetano said he would watch the President's address on television instead of attending in person, while wearing black to the Senate session as a symbolic protest against what he described as the country's "erosion of democracy."

"Hindi pa kami nag-uusap lahat, ako mas preference ko siguro panoorin na lang sa TV [ang SONA]. Baka mas komportable rin 'yung administrasyon that way and it's my simple way of protesting, pati sa pagbablack," Cayetano said.

Cayetano alleged that individuals who criticize the administration have become targets of legal cases and intimidation.

"Unlike in 1986-1987, ramdam talaga ang na may question of democracy. Ngayon it's more of poverty, economy at saka yung corruption. But I really believe that our democracy is endangered and talagaang 'pag nagsalita ka target ka talaga," he said.

He also described the current situation as akin to an "undeclared martial law," arguing that freedom of expression is under threat.

"That’s been said in the last 6 months. It’s about freedom and democracy. Tingnan niyo lahat ng nakakasuhan at nakukulong. Pag tahimik ka at sumama ka, if you can’t beat them, join them. Happy ka pero malungkot ang bansa. Pero kapag tinayuan mo ang prinsipyo mo ikaw pa ang kakasuhan," Cayetano said.

Marcos is set to deliver his fifth SONA before a joint session of Congress on Monday, outlining his administration's accomplishments and legislative priorities.