For Duterte on June 30, just ‘maruya & buko’

By Al S. Mendoza

 

WHEN you come down to it, it would still smell sweet.

I refer to the oath-taking of President-elect Rodrigo Duterte and Vice President-elect Leni Robredo.

As everybody knows by now, the occasions are to be held separately.

Like a rose, call it by any name, it would still smell sweet.

Duterte will take his oath of office in Malacanang and Robredo Q.C.

They’d break tradition.

Presidents are usually inducted into office at the Quirino Grandstand in Luneta, together with the vice president.

Robredo chose the Q.C. Executive House known before as Erap’s Boracay Mansion when Erap was the Chief Executive from 1998-2001

OK, you want more history?

Erap’s six-year term ending 2004 was cut short to three  years when a corruption-tainted Erap stepped down following Edsa Dos  in 2001.

His alledged Boracay Mansion would soon become Q.C. property and Mayor Bistek declared it the City Executive House not long after.

Erap was convicted of plunder after being put under house arrest for six years, was pardoned by then President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and is now serving his second term as Mayor of Manila.

When Robredo saw the Boracay Mansion for the first time while scouting for an office of the vice president, she immediately fell for it.

There is a tinge of drama attending both oath-taking ceremonies set for June 30.

The President will be sworn in by Justice Bienvenido Reyes and Robredo a barangay captain

Reyes and Duterte were classmates at the San Beda College of Law and are fraternity mates of Taliones.

Swearing Robredo in would be the captain of the farthest barrio of Naga City, the vice president’s birthplace.

It will mark the first time in history that both the president-elect and vice president-elect will take their oaths of office separately in deference to Duterte’s wish.

Answering his critics, Duterte said he very much wanted Robredo to do what pleases her most with her own inauguration.

Duterte said his wishes for his oath-taking might not sit well with Robredo.

First, he said he wanted a simple ceremony in Malacanang.

Then he ordered the lowly “maruya and buko” as the occasion’s main menu.

He wanted his guest list not to exceed 500.

And, yes, he barred his Cabinet’s wives from attending.

Before he won in May 9, Duterte has already established a lot of firsts in his march to Malacanang.

He was the first presidential candidate substituting for a guy who had erroneously written he was aspiring for mayor in his certificate of candidacy.

When Duterte won, he became the first mayor to go straight to the Palace as president of the republic.

As mayor of Davao City, he becomes the first Mindanaoan to assume the presidency.

What would be the next first for this reluctant candidate for president, only God knows.

Maybe make durian the national fruit and rename the lapu-lapu fish to trillanes?

With Digong, you’ll never know what will happen next.  Ask Gonz aka Digonz.

(For your comments and reactions, please email to: punch.sunday@gmail.com)

Share your Comments or Reactions

comments

Powered by Facebook Comments