By Gemma Q. Casas
Variety News Staff

Tight security will be observed today at the Multi-Purpose Center in Susupe when Gov. Benigno R. Fitial delivers his State of the Commonwealth Address.
Police Sgt. Joe Saures said 25 police officers will secure the multi-purpose center where Washington Rep. Pete A. Tenorio will also deliver his State of the Washington Office Report.
Saures said there will be a SWAT team on standby and at least three bomb-sniffing dogs in the area.
“Security will be extra tight,” Saures told Variety in an interview yesterday.
Some 500 people are expected to witness the joint session of the Legislature that will hear the speeches of Fitial and Tenorio.
Saures said visitors will be subjected to a metal detector and their bags and belongings will be inspected.
He added that the public is encouraged not to bring any liquid other than “water.”
Glenna Palacios-Reyes, the deputy director of the Legislative Bureau, said they expect a lot of people but unlike the previous year, there are no expected off-island guests.
“This is open to the public,” she said.
The event starts at 9 a.m.
The entry hallway of the multi-purpose center will be divided with the VIPs — government officials and elected leaders, including consuls — entering from the right wing.
The governor on Wednesday told reporters that he would make a very important announcement in his address.
Asked for details, Press Secretary Charles P. Reyes Jr. said: “I cannot comment on the governor’s address because I was not as directly involved as I was last year. We will have to wait until Friday.”
Members of the public interviewed by this reporter complained about the islands’ worsening economic hardship.
“This is the worst…there are too many problems,” said Jacob Taisacan who works as a driver/messenger for a private company. “I’d give him an F,” he said when asked how he would “grade” the governor’s performance.
A government employee who asked not to be identified said the administration has created a climate of fear when it comes to their job security.
And with the government’s revenue expected to decline further by $30 million, other government employees believe that the governor may announce further reductions in the workforce.