Erap: Palace cancels Obama wreath-laying at Rizal monument

MANILA, Philippines - The traditional wreath-laying at the monument of national hero Jose Rizal will not be part of the itinerary of visiting US President Barrack Obama, Manila Mayor Joseph Estrada said yesterday.

“I was supposed to escort him in the wreath-laying at Rizal’s monument, but it was cancelled by Malacañang. I don’t know why,” Estrada told The STAR.

Estrada said Malacañang invited him and his wife, former senator Loi Ejercito, to the state dinner hosted by Malacañang for Obama.

“We will have no other role, but to attend the state dinner,” he said.

Meanwhile, Estrada said his successful mission in Hong Kong was the best gift he received for his birthday.

Estrada turned 77 on April 19, but celebrated it only yesterday with his family and close friends at the EMAR building, which he owns, in Mandaluyong.

“I am very happy with what happened. As I have consistently said, it was a joint effort of the city government of Manila and the national government,” Estrada said.

Estrada said the apology to the Hong Kong government over the 2010 hostage crisis received good feedback, especially from overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) in Hong Kong.

“They welcome it with joy because the Hong Kong will no longer impose the non-extension of visas of OFWs as the next sanction to Filipinos,” he said.

Meanwhile,  Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) Chairman Francis Tolentino said yesterday his agency will deploy 601 employees to assist in traffic management and road cleaning during Obama’s two-day visit.

Obama is expected to arrive in Manila today from Malaysia and will leave for Washington D.C. on Tuesday. The Philippines is the last leg of Obama’s four-nation Asia trip, after South Korea and Japan.

Tolentino said the deployed MMDA personnel will not be assisting the police in crowd control work during Obama’s visit.