ShareThis
June 25, 2010 By ALFRED G. GABOT Manila Bureau Chief Special to Fil-Am Megascene
3 heads of state lead guests at Luneta ceremonies
MANILA (PilipinasNews) — It’s all systems go for the inauguration of President-elect Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III and Vice President-elect Jejomar Binay on June 30 at the Quirino Grandstand in Luneta.
Thousands of people, including three heads of states and foreign dignitaries, are expected to witness the event. Thailand Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva, Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak and East Timor President Jose Ramos- Horta will attend the inauguration as well as the dinner at Malacañang along with other guests, including members of the diplomatic corps.
It was not known who will represent US President Barack Obama in the ceremonies, although some officials in Washington had suggested Vice President Joe Biden or Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. It will also be the official exit of President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo as Chief Executive.
After the ceremonies, she will be sworn in as congresswoman of the second district of Pampanga by Associate Justice Antonio Nachura at the Governor Bren Guiao Convention
Center in San Fernando City. Last Wednesday, Mrs. Arroyo bid goodbye to the nation after her nine-year reign as President, saying she leaves to her successor a strong nation, even as she rallied the people to united behind the new President and leaders.
Volunteers of Aquino during the campaign will take their pledge of allegiance for change and what they would do for the country after Aquino’s oath.
Aquino will be the fifth president to take his oath of office on June 30, Ferdinand Marcos, Fidel Ramos, Joseph Estrada and Mrs. Arroyo being the others. Aquino will take his oath at high noon as the 15th President of the Philippines and the fifth president of the Fifth Republic of the Philippines. Before his oath-taking, Binay will be sworn in in the same venue. As the inauguration approached, the nation was bothered by an apparent rift that has developed between Aquino and his camp and Binay who eventually refused to accept any Cabinet position in the Aquino administration.
Binay was offered four positions, but not the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) which he preferred owing to his experience as a long-time mayor and Metro Manila governor and as a seasoned lawyer. He rejected all four posts, including the secretary of agrarian reform, housing and development, the Metro Manila Development Authority or head of a commission to investigate Mrs. Arroyo.
Binay said even without a Cabinet post, he would still be a working vice president. He said would go around the country to consult with the people and know their condition. “Basta mag-iikot ako sa buong Pilipinas. Kasama yan sa function ko as vice president, to consult with the people,” he said.
Former President Joseph Estrada urged Binay to rethink his decision and urged him to get any assignment from Aquino just like he did with then President Fidel V. Ramos. The apparent rift between some groups in the Aquino camp and Binay elicited a statement from the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) which urged the two leaders to work things out to assure smooth relationships within the Aquino administration in the next six years.
Caloocan Bishop Deogracias Iniguez, chairman of the CBCP public affairs committee, said it is important that the top two government officials in the land must co-exist and not to be at odds.
Sen. Edgardo Angara said what had transpired concerning Binay does not speak well of the incoming administration.
“They have yet to assume (power) and they seem to be already engaged in a conflict. That’s not a good sign. I hope those level-headed ones would meet halfway because this is not good as a first step…it’s a bad omen,” Angara said.
After the ceremonies at Luneta and Malacanang, Aquino will lead a party at the Quezon City Memorial Circle by way of celebrating his election victory with the people. The President will return to his residence on Times Street, Quezon City, after the inaugural concert and street party.
The inauguration will kick off with nationwide prayer service from 6 a.m. to 9 a.m. The assembly of guests and supporters at the Quirino Grandstand in Manila will commence at 8:30 a.m. At 9:30 a.m., VIP guests will arrive at the freshly-renovated grandstand.