Palace: No politics in cancellation of PNoy visit to Pampanga

Malacañang on Friday said there was no politics involved in the cancellation of President Benigno Aquino III's scheduled visit to Pampanga where he would have distributed relief goods to flood victims in the province. "I don’t think it would be for that reason. The President is the President of all, hindi po yan namimili ke taga-Pampanga, taga-Zamboanga, taga-Albay, lahat po iyan kababayan po natin," deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte said at a press briefing in Malacañang. President Aquino was supposed to visit flood victims and distribute relief goods in the City of San Fernando but it was called off. He was supposed to go to San Jose Panlumacan Elementary School where he will be briefed by Mayor Oscar Rodriguez on the extent of the damage brought about by Tropical Storm Falcon. An advisory sent to Malacanang reporters late Thursday evening said the visit was cancelled as per advice by the Presidential Management Staff. Pampanga is the home province of former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo. The former Philippine leader now represents Pampanga's second district at the House of Representatives. President Aquino is a critic of his predecessor. On Monday afternoon, Pampanga was placed under a state of calamity due to floods that affected 18 municipalities of the province. — RSJ, GMA News