Straight from US trip, Arroyo pays last respects

CEBU, Philippines - There was none of the expected heckling or cold shoulder treatment for President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo when she visited the wake for former President Corazon Aquino at the Manila Cathedral immediately after arriving from her shortened trip to the US before dawn yesterday.

Right after arriving at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Centennial Terminal just before 3 a.m. from San Francisco, Arroyo boarded a coaster with some cabinet officials and it immediately left at the head of a convoy.

Palace reporters in vehicles tried to follow the presidential convoy, but were stopped by policemen at the airport who said instructions “radioed in” barred them from covering the event.

The journalists, however, still managed to follow and enter the cathedral a few minutes ahead of the President, whose convoy had been slowed down by the heavy downpour.

When she arrived at the crowded Manila Cathedral, she was met by her former finance chief Cesar Purisima and was brought to a small room while members of her party including Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita, Press Secretary Cerge Remonde and Foreign Affairs Secretary Alberto Romulo proceeded straight to the pews near the casket.

Purisima is one of the so-called “Hyatt 10” Cabinet officials who resigned and demanded that Arroyo step down from office in 2005.

Also inside the holding room were Mrs. Aquino’s nephew Rafael Lopa and Public Works Secretary Hermogenes Ebdane.

Several Cabinet members were already at the Manila Cathedral before the President arrived. They included Presidential Management Staff Director General Hermogenes Esperon, Public Works Secretary Hermogenes Ebdane and Presidential Adviser for Political Affairs Gabriel Claudio.

At around 3:40 a.m., Mrs. Arroyo, wearing a cream pantsuit, emerged from the left side entrance of the Manila Cathedral and was greeted by Mrs. Aquino’s son Sen. Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III. Other members of the Aquino family were not in the vicinity.

Also with Mrs. Arroyo were her son Camarines Sur Rep. Diosdado “Dato” Arroyo, Sen. Miriam Defensor-Santiago, Justice Secretary Agnes Devanadera, Metropolitan Manila Development Authority chairman Bayani Fernando and his wife Marikina City Mayor Marides Fernando, and Transportation Secretary Leandro Mendoza.

The long moving line of people, who wanted to catch a last glimpse of the former president, had to be stopped momentarily to allow Arroyo to pay her last respects. —/NLQ (THE FREEMAN)