PMS chief: Arroyo shows no signs of sadness over leaving the presidency

While some members of her Cabinet are growing sentimental over leaving government by June 30, outgoing President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo is looking forward to the next phase of her "public life" after that date. Outgoing Presidential Management Staff (PMS) head Elena Bautista-Horn on Friday said Mrs. Arroyo has shown no sign of sadness over leaving the presidency after nine years. "Alam natin ang pagbaba ng pangulo sa June 30. [Pero] patuloy po siyang maninilbihan sa bayan bilang congresswoman ng second district of Pampanga (We know Mrs. Arroyo will continue to serve as Pampanga congresswoman after stepping down from the presidency on June 30). She's looking forward to serving her province mates from Pampanga," Bautista-Horn, who heads the Arroyo government's transition team, said in an interview on dwIZ radio. Mrs. Arroyo and the outgoing Cabinet members are planning a private get-together before parting ways, she said. "May mga ganoon ding plano dahil sanay kaming nagkikita halos araw-araw o every week, tapos ngayon sa June 30 we will all start our separate lives. Parting ito so it is also a nice event for the outgoing officials (There are such plans for a get-together because we have become used to meeting almost every day or every week, but the meetings will end June 30, after which we will start our separate lives. This is a parting, so it is also a nice event for the outgoing officials)," Bautista-Horn said. Mrs. Arroyo, who was vice president then, took the presidency in 2001 after the EDSA-2 popular uprising ousted Joseph Estrada. Amid criticisms, she ran and won in the 2004 presidential race. She will leave office on June 30, as one of the most unpopular Philippine presidents linked to several controversies during their incumbency, including the "Hello Garci" scandal in 2005 that involved allegations of cheating in the 2004 presidential election. On the other hand, Bautista-Horn did not say if the Arroyo Cabinet officials who may be retained by the incoming administration would be invited to the get-together. Aquino earlier said he is open to retaining some Arroyo officials in his Cabinet, based on their track record and integrity. While he has so far appointed two former Arroyo officials to his Cabinet — Corazon Soliman (social welfare) and Teresita Deles (presidential peace process adviser) — the two broke away from Mrs. Arroyo in 2005, at the height of the "Hello Garci" scandal. June 30 scenario Last Thursday, Bautista-Horn led the Arroyo government's transition team in meeting with their counterparts from president-elect Benigno Simeon "Noynoy" Aquino III’s camp. Citing agreements from the meeting, she said the scenario for Aquino's inauguration on June 30 would involve Aquino and Mrs. Arroyo arriving at the inauguration venue on the presidential limousine. Mrs. Arroyo will then leave the venue for her home at the posh La Vista subdivision in Quezon City. The new president is then expected to convene his Cabinet, then hold a president's ball or Vin d'Honneur. Expected to be invited to the ball are members of the Diplomatic Corps, officials of branches of government, including those from the legislature and judiciary. But Bautista-Horn said the transition teams have yet to discuss if the outgoing administration's officials will also be invited to the ball. "Hindi namin napag-usapan yan. This is the event already of the newly installed president, so nasa sa kanila na kung sino iimbitahin nila (We did not take that up. This is the event of the newly installed president, so it is up to his camp)," she said. "Over the years ang outgoing president wala sa ceremony, hinahatid lang ang papasok na pangulo tapos aalis na ang palabas na pangulo (Over the years, the outgoing president is not part of the ceremony, and leaves after accompanying the new president to the venue)," Bautista-Horn said. She said Aquino's camp is still deciding on the inauguration venue. Aquino said he is choosing between Luneta in Manila and the Quezon Memorial Circle in Quezon City. - LBG, RJAB Jr., GMANews.TV