President Rodrigo Duterte on Monday is to address a joint session of the Philippine
Congress where his allies have greater control to press for his priorities like reinstating the death penalty and amending the pro-democracy constitution.
Duterte will deliver his state of the nation address at the House of Representatives, where thousands of
protesters are beginning to mass outside to call for his removal over a range of issues, including his brutal anti-drug campaign.
More of his allies captured congressional seats in midterm
elections in May, giving them a tighter grip on the legislature, especially in the 24-member
Senate, which opposed some of his key legislative proposals last year.