Aquino gives PSG scare, shuns bullet-proof SUV to wave to crowds

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY, Philippines—President Benigno Aquino III gave his security detail a scare on Wednesday when he opted to ride not in a bullet-proof sports utility vehicle provided for him but in one of the back-up vehicles so that he could roll down its windows and wave to the crowd.

Here for a day for several engagements, President Aquino braved the 40-minute ride from the airport to his appointments on board a silver Toyota Innova instead of the black Ford Expedition provided for him.

The President told reporters he ditched the Expedition because its windows couldn’t be rolled down.

“You come here and its frustrating that people waved at you and you waved back but both of you can’t see each other,” he said, in reference to having closed windows in a vehicle passing through crowds.

President Aquino further said he has not been able to visit provinces often enough and would like to maximize his visits to “reach out.”

Asked whether members of his Presidential Security Group got concerned when he chose to ride in a vehicle with open windows, he said: “There was concern but I overruled them.”

But he stressed there was no point for him to go to the provinces and just “hide” from the people.

Still, President Aquino expressed hope the Palace could one day have a presidential vehicle that would “satisfy security needs and at the same time would allow access to the people.”