President Aquino is a skipper, really! Now we can say it again. President Benigno S. Aquino, III is a skipper, really!
The latest event the Philippine head of state snubbed and skipped was the second year commemoration of the super typhoon ‘Yolanda’ anniversary of survivors, more particularly in Tacloban City.
Apparently, there was no plan by Malacanang to mark the event other than issuing a statement asking the nation to offer prayers for the 6,300 people who perished after super typhoon “Yolanda” (Haiyan) ravaged the Visayas regions on Nov. 8, 2013.
Aquino skipped the Tacloban event by attending the wedding of business tycoon Andrew Tan’s youngest son, Kester, who tied the knot with the Singapore-based Kelsey Cheng at St. Therese of the Child Jesus Shrine in Newport City, Pasay City. Also in his company were Cabinet Secretary Rene Almendras and Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr.
Before this event, the immediate skipping incident was the ‘homecoming’ of the 44 agents of the Philippine National Police elite Special Action force in the infamous Mamasapano massacre in Maguindanao.
President Aquino was not present at the Villamor Air Base in Pasay City where the remains of the slain SAF members were given arrival honors on January 29, 2015.
Aquino instead attended the inauguration of the Mitsubishi Motors’ plant in Santa Rosa City in Laguna where he delivered a speech. Accompanying the president were Trade and Investment Secretary Gregory Domingo and Cabinet Secretary Rene Almendras.
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President Aquino did not receive any invitation to attend the commemoration rites of ‘Yolanda’ survivors, hence his absence, according to Palace spokesman Herminio Coloma.
He stood as principal sponsor in the wedding. He had an invitation!