Duterte eyes low-key inauguration; only 150 guests invited

Presumptive President-elect Rodrigo Duterte. NESTOR CORRALES/INQUIRER.net FILE PHOTO

Presumptive President-elect Rodrigo Duterte will shun the typical presidential inauguration at the Quirino Grandstand and will hold his inauguration in the Office of the President in Malacañang Palace on June 30  — with only 150 invited guests.

Duterte told reporters on Monday night that the guests will include members of the diplomatic corps, generals and some officials of the armed forces.

READ: Duterte opts for simple Malacañang inauguration

“I tend to keep it as low as 150 (guests),” he said.

He said that he opted to hold his inauguration in Malacañang Palace because he does not want to burden people with heavy traffic.

“I will not take my oath of office in Luneta because I will just create a monstrous traffic congestion. As I have said, I hate putting pressure on the people that day and inconvenience to everybody,” Duterte said.

After his inauguration, he plans to deliver a five-minute speech to the nation where he will bare his government’s programs and policies.

He said that he is still deciding whether he will take his oath before Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno.

As to his attire, he said that he might not wear a traditional barong Tagalog made of jusi or piña because it is itchy to the skin.

But don’t expect Duterte to go to Manila anytime soon. He said that he plans to go to Manila on the day of his inauguration and take a commercial flight.

Seven presidents opted to hold their inauguration at the historic Quirino Grandstand: Elpidio Quirino, Ramon Magsaysay, Diosdado Macapagal, Ferdinand Marcos, Fidel Ramos and President Benigno Aquino III.

In 2004, Gloria Macapagal Arroyo delivered her inaugural speech at the said grandstand after an inauguration ceremony in Cebu City. RAM/rga