Arroyo to go to Pampanga after bringing Noynoy to inauguration

After bringing her successor Benigno Simeon “Noynoy" Aquino III to the Quirino Grandstand in Manila for his inauguration on June 30, outgoing President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo will head straight to her home province for her oath-taking as congresswoman. Outgoing Presidential Management Staff (PMS) head Elena Bautista-Horn said Mrs. Arroyo will go to the City of San Fernando to take her oath there. “Nakausap ko ang pangulo at sabi niya na galing sa Quirino Grandstand, tutuloy siya sa San Fernando, Pampanga, para mag-take ng oath kasama ang ibang officials ng Pampanga," Bautista-Horn said on government-run dzRB radio. (I asked the president where she would go from the Quirino Grandstand. She said she will go to the City of San Fernando in Pampanga to take her oath with other officials of the province.) Mrs. Arroyo will continue serving in government as congresswoman of Pampanga’s second legislative district in the 15th Congress, after stepping down as President at noon of June 30. By that time, Bautista-Horn said, the Arroyo transition team will cease to exist. For now, she said it is on “wait-and-see" status and is ready to hold a full meeting with the transition team from the Aquino camp. “(After noon of June 30) pwede nila kausapin ang opisyales at empleyado na maiiwan, may career officials na maiiwan (After noon of June 30, they can talk to the career officials and employees)," she said, adding that the turnover of respective drivers of the presidents will also take place. She said Mrs. Arroyo’s driver will still be behind the wheel of the presidential limousine when Aquino accompanies Mrs. Arroyo to Quirino Grandstand from Malacañang before noon of June 30. “Ang nakaupong pangulo pa rin ay ang Pangulong Arroyo ... Siya pa ang pangulo. Ang seat of honor ibibigay pa rin kay Pangulong Arroyo. Pero pag-alis ng niya sa Grandstand may sarili na siyang driver, at ang driver ni President-elect Aquino, siya na magmamaneho (Before noon of June 30, Mrs. Arroyo is still the president, and will have the seat of honor in the vehicle. But once she leaves the Grandstand, it is Mr. Aquino’s driver who will take over the presidential limousine)," she said. A similar turnover of presidential guards will take place at noon of June 30, Bautista-Horn added. As to who among the former presidents will be invited to the inauguration, Bautista-Horn said Aquino’s camp has to decide on the matter, as the Arroyo transition team does not have any say on the guest list. The Aquino camp should also decide on requests for media coverage of the inauguration at the grandstand, where at least three press boxes are being designated. Moreover, Horn said the PMS will refer all requests from media outfits to the Aquino transition team led by incoming Executive Secretary Paquito Ochoa. Although a joint Cabinet meeting between the Arroyo and Aquino camps had been recommended, such will not take place anymore. But on June 29, the Arroyo administration will hold its final Cabinet meeting, Horn said. “The joint Cabinet meeting was a recommendation. If the Aquino camp did not want it, it is okay with us," she said in Filipino. — LBG, GMANews.TV