Noynoy cries foul over plan to defer proclamation

(Updated 10:38 PM) President-apparent Senator Benigno "Noynoy" Aquino III on Friday cried foul over House Speaker Prospero Nograles's reported plan to move back the proclamation of president and vice president from June 4 to June 30, the same day President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo steps down from office. Nograles, who lost the mayoralty race in Davao City, was quoted as saying that the Senate and the House of Representatives, convening as the national board of canvassers, would proclaim the winning president and vice president "on or before high noon of June 30." "Offhand yung aabutin ng June 30, meron pang on or before, noon na sinasabi. Parang napaka hindi tama na sabihin ng Speaker yan," Aquino said in an interview with reporters after he was visited in his Times Street home by US Ambassador Harry K. Thomas Jr. (A June 30 proclamation has been mentioned offhand. But a proclamation on or before that date has also been raised. It doesn't seem right for the Speaker to say that.) Nograles should review his plan because proclaiming a new president only on the day that President Arroyo steps down might create a power vacuum, said Aquino, who is ahead of his closest rival by over five million votes in partial and unofficial tallies. "Ang pagbigay ng pangamba na walang mamumuno sa atin pagdating ng Hunyo 30 di paglilingkod sa taumbayan yan," Aquino said. (Raising doubts about the possibility of not having a leader by June 30 is not public service.) Deputy Presidential Spokesperson Charito Planas meanwhile said there will be no delay in the transfer of power even as Congress plans to wait until June 30 to proclaim the winners in the presidential and vice presidential contests. She said preparations by transition committee, chaired by Executive Secretary Leandro Mendoza, are for the transfer of power are underway and will be ready by June 30. "The Arroyo administration is ready and prepared to receive the incoming president," Planas said, adding they are not expecting much opposition to Aquino’s proclamation in light of the other presidential aspirants conceding to his imminent ascent to power. Different government bodies have likewise started preparing for the transfer of power to their counterparts or successors under the incoming administration, she further said. Congress will begin canvassing the votes for the country's top two posts next week. Nograles earlier said he expects the canvassing to be done by June 4. The winning candidates are traditionally proclaimed right after the canvassing. Nograles and Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile will be sitting in the committee during canvassing. Those to be excluded from the Senate committee are presidential candidates Aquino, Manuel Villar Jr; Richard Gordon; Jamby Madrigal; and vice presidential candidates Loren Legarda and Manuel Roxas II. Aside from Nograles, members of the House group are majority leader Arthur Defensor Sr., minority leader Ronaldo Zamora, senior deputy majority leader Neptali Gonzales II, Cavite Rep. Crispin Remulla, Rizal Rep. Jack Duavit, Shariff Kabunsuan with Cotabato City Rep. Didagen Dilangalen, and Quezon City Rep. Matias Defensor. Alternate members are Makati City Rep. Teodoro Locsin Jr., Cagayan De Oro City Rep. Rufus Rodriguez, Quezon Rep. Lorenzo Tañada III, Liwayway Vinzons-Chato (Camarines Norte), Maguindanao Rep. Simeon Datumanong, Isabela Rep. Giorgidi Aggabao, Camiguin Rep. Pedro Romualdo, Cavite Rep. Joseph Emilio Abaya, and Parañaque City Rep. Eduardo Zialcita. - JMA, RJAB Jr., GMANews.TV