Rude welcome for Ermita during graduation rites

MANILA, Philippines - Executive Scretary Eduardo Ermita got a rude welcome from students of a state college during a graduation ceremony in Pasay City Friday morning. Q-11 television's Balitanghali newscast reported that Ermita was the guest speaker at the Polytechnic University of the Philippines (PUP)'s graduation rites at the World Trade Center. Many of the students carried banners that read "Oust Gloria!" but these failed to ruffle Ermita, who dismissed the incident. President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo had been the recipient of such rude welcomes in past years. Presidential guards and police arrested the "offending" students and charged them. But in Friday's incident, Ermita did not call the police to arrest the students. A radio dzBB report said he was to address some 2,500 graduating students at the event. "Akala ko wine-welcome ako ... I don't take this thing very seriously. Siyempre may gusto magpatawag pansin (I thought they were welcoming me ... But I don't take these things very seriously. Of course, there are some people who want attention)," he told reporters while laughing. - GMANews.TV