Inauguration of President Noynoy Aquino

16 nations sending top-level delegations to Aquino inaugural 

East Timorese President Jose Ramos-Horta arrived in Manila Monday night for the inauguration Wednesday of President-elect Benigno Aquino III at Rizal Park. Fifteen other countries are sending high-level delegations to the event.

“It’s my pleasure and honor to be here. I attended a few months ago the funeral of his mother Cory whom I greatly admire and I couldn’t miss the inauguration of her son as president,” Ramos-Horta told reporters at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport.

Japan is dispatching its foreign minister, Osamu Fujimura, for the event.

In a statement released by the Japanese Embassy, Fujimura said he hoped that the strategic partnership between the two countries would be further enhanced with the new administration. It said the two countries shared values such as freedom, democracy and respect for human rights.

A total of 101 foreign dignitaries will be in town for the ceremonies, including the resident and nonresident ambassadors who have been designated as special envoys by their respective governments for the event.

The following are the other leaders of their respective delegations:

• China–Yan Junqui, vice chair of the National People’s Congress.

• Holy See–Oswaldo Padilla, titular archbishop of Pia (Apostolic of Korea), Edward Joseph Adams and Rev. Msgr. Gabor Pinter of the Apostolic Nuncio in the Philippines.

• Indonesia–Dr. H.R. Agung Laksono, coordinating minister for people’s welfare, and Indonesian Ambassador to the Philippines Kristiarto Legowo.

• Korea–Kim Hwang-sik, chair of the Board of Audit and Inspection.

• Laos–Souban Srithirath, minister, chief of Cabinet to the President of Laos.

• Malaysia–Senator Dato’ Sri Shahrizat, minister of women, family and community development.

• New Zealand–John Hayes, member of Parliament, chair of foreign affairs and trade select committee.

• Peru–Jorge Castañeda Mendez—Peru’s ambassador to Indonesia.

• Saudi Arabia–Dr. Nizar bin Abaid Madani, minister of state of the foreign affairs.

• Spain–Ombudsman Enrique Mugica and Ambassador to the Philippines Luis Arias-Romero.

• Thailand–Ongart Kiampaiboon, minister in the prime minister’s department.

• Vietnam–Vu Huy Hoang, minister of industry and trade.

Cemetery visit

Aquino is expected to visit the tombs of his parents at Manila Memorial Park in Parañaque City on Tuesday, according to a source from the inaugural committee, who requested anonymity.

The source said that Aquino was advised that it was “bad feng shui” to attend an inauguration directly after visiting a cemetery.

Former President Joseph Estrada went to the cemetery before being sworn into office at Barasoain Church in Bulacan. Estrada was ousted from office in 2001, midway into his six-year term.

Instead of a Mass and a visit to Manila Memorial Park, Aquino will start his inauguration day at 9:45 a.m. when he will depart from Times Street in Quezon City to fetch President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo in Malacañang.

Aquino said he expected his brother-in-law, basketball star James Yap, to attend his inaugural despite sister Kris’s public announcement on Sunday that her marriage with Yap was over without giving any specific reason.

“I understand he will be attending,” Aquino said in an interview after attending a rehearsal for the inaugural’s military honors at Camp Aguinaldo Monday afternoon.

Aquino said that he had not yet talked to his sister Kris, although they had exchanged text messages. He said he did not watch Kris’ interview on her show “The Buzz” as he was working on his inaugural address on Sunday.

Yap went to see Aquino at his Times Street residence on Thursday apparently for advice after Kris announced she was having unspecified marital problems.

Cost over P10M

Also on Monday, Malacañang announced that the supposedly austere inauguration rites was set to breach the P10-million budget set aside by the outgoing Arroyo administration.

Elena Bautista-Horn, chief of the Presidential Management Staff (PMS), said the amount covered only preparations at Quirino Grandstand where Aquino would take his oath as the country’s 15th President.

Horn said the budget was expected to shoot up once expenses for the subsequent luncheon and vin d’honneur were included in the equation. She said some 750 foreign dignitaries were invited to the affair.

“I don’t know the total yet but it seems we will go over the P10 million,” she told reporters after meeting with the incoming PMS officials of the Aquino administration.

Horn said her counterpart had agreed to retain for two more months the 97 contractual employees working in her office. She described them as “highly technical” workers involved in research and writing policy papers.

But what awaits the 1,000 or so members of the Malacañang household—cooks, waiters, housekeepers—will be up to the arrangement between Executive Secretary Leandro Mendoza and his successor, Paquito “Jojo” Ochoa.

Final Cabinet meeting

Ms Arroyo will hold her final Cabinet meeting Tuesday, Horn said.

She said that 16 former Cabinet members had been invited, except for members of the “Hyatt 10,” the group who left Ms Arroyo and demanded her resignation at the height of the “Hello Garci” scandal in 2005.

Before the inauguration rites, Ms Arroyo will share a ride with her successor from Malacañang to Quirino Grandstand.

Following protocol, Ms Arroyo will be seated to the right and Aquino to the left in the back seat of the presidential limousine, according to Horn.

“She will be seated to the right because she will still be the President when they leave Malacañang,” she explained.

Security

Six teams from the Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) unit and six teams of K-9 will support the Philippine National Police in ensuring a smooth inaugural, said the military spokesperson, Lt. Col. Arnulfo Burgos Jr., in a talk with reporters Monday.

Two Army battalions have been placed on stand-by as requested by the PNP and the Presidential Security Group, he said.

“We have not monitored any threats that may disrupt the transition of power,” Burgos said. “The deployment of EOD and K-9 teams are just precautionary measures to double the security to make sure everything will be OK.”

Once Aquino lowers his right hand in the administration of his oath by Supreme Court Justice Conchita Carpio-Morales at noon Wednesday, the military’s cannon will cast a 21 gun-salute to the country’s new leader.

The 21-gun salute will be rendered by an Honor Guard Battalion with the acting AFP chief of staff Lt. Gen. Nestor Ochoa as military host.

The same military honors, with a 21-gun salute, will be rendered to outgoing President Arroyo.