Aquino to arrive late in Cambodia; still busy checking Metro ports, terminals

PHNOM PENH—President Aquino will arrive here late Monday night and will skip the welcome dinner to be hosted by Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen for leaders of the two-day Association of Southeast Asian Nations summit here.

President Benigno Aquino III INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

The dinner for Asean leaders is scheduled at 7 p.m. Monday at the Peace Palace, the venue for the 20th Asean summit.

Palace aides said Mr. Aquino will leave Manila at 8 p.m. Monday via a chartered flight and will arrive here at 9:30 p.m. (10:30 p.m. in Manila).

Apparently, the President has to attend to Holy Week preparations before he jets to the Cambodian capital for the Asean summit.

On Monday morning, Mr. Aquino was busy personally inspecting airport, bus terminals and ports as people stream out of Metro Manila and head for their hometowns for their Holy Week break.

The Chief Executive, who will be in Cambodia until April 4 (Holy Wednesday), had said that when he returns home, he will continue to monitor the movements of people as they travel back home from the provinces.