Vice President-elect Leni Robredo. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO
President-elect Rodrigo Duterte has not yet invited Leni Robredo, the country’s new second in command, to join his inauguration in Malacañang on June 30.
But if Duterte makes a last-minute decision and ask the Vice President-elect to come to his oath-taking ceremony, Robredo’s camp said they are willing to make changes in their schedule as they have prepared for a separate inauguration.
READ: Robredo to hold ‘modest’ inauguration at new VP office
“From the very start, it’s been very clear that we will take our cue from the camp of President-Elect Duterte with regard to how the Inauguration will be conducted,” Boyet Dy, Robredo’s chief of staff, in a press briefing in a Quezon City restaurant.
Dy said Duterte and Robredo have not formally spoken yet.
READ: Duterte open to ‘cordial relationship’ with Robredo
“It’s only proper for us to wait for their invitation and not to preempt the wishes of President-elect,” Dy said.
Duterte’s camp has decided that the President-elect and Vice President-elect hold separate inauguration. Bong Go, Duterte’s special assistant, said this was out of Robredo’s consideration so she could invite as many guests as she wants.
While Duterte has decided to break tradition and hold his inauguration at Malacañang instead of the Quirino grandstand, Robredo has decided to stage hers at the Quezon City Reception House.
Dy said Robredo wants her inauguration to be “as simple and as modest as possible,” even the choice of the food that will be served after the program—a similarly austere move has been announced by the camp of Duterte.
She also personally asked the inauguration committee to make sure that all sectors of the society are represented, particularly those she had worked with as a human rights lawyer—from women’s sector to farmers, fishermen and the labor sector.
No special seats
Due to the QC Reception House’s limited space, Robredo’s team had decided to limit their guests to 300.
And as a symbol of equality, Dy said there will be no seat plan for the guests as the seating would be on a first come, first served basis.
“Pantay-pantay lamang po ito at free seating kasi nga bahagi ng mensahe ay talagang—this is the Inauguration na magpapatibay at magbibigay ng mensahe kung anong klaseng pangalawang pangulo ang gustong maging ni Vice President-elect Robredo at iyan ay isang pangalawang pangulo na magpapatuloy at higit pang makapagpapasilbi sa mga nasa laylayan ng ating lipunan,” Dy said.
(Everyone will be treated equally, it is going to be free seating as this inauguration will further drive the message of Vice President-elect Leni Robredo on what kind of leader she is going to be—a vice president that will continue to serve the marginalized in the society.)
Asked if Robredo’s running mate, losing presidential candidate Mar Roxas, will attend the ceremony, he said the guest list is still being finalized.
The inauguration will start with a flag-raising ceremony. The Payatas Children’s Choir will sing the national anthem.
Robredo will be sworn in by the barangay (village) captains from Camarines Sur and Quezon City.
Administering the oath taking are Rolando Coner, captain of Barangay Punta Tarawal, the smallest, farthest and poorest town of Camarines Sur’s third district, and Regina Celeste San Miguel, captain of Barangay Mariana, Quezon City.
After her oath-taking from 9 a.m. to 10 a.m., Robredo will join her supporters in a gathering at the QC Memorial Circle at 5:30 p.m. IDL