‘No Lavish Inaugural Ball for Duterte’

Davao City, Philippines, 13 Sya’ban 1437/21 May 2016 (MINA) – There may be no extravagant balls or dinners during the inauguration of incoming president Rodrigo Duterte as the next Philippine leader wants his assumption rites to be simple, one of his aides said Friday.

Peter Laviña, spokesman of Duterte’s transition team, said the inauguration on June 30 would not be held in a large venue as only a limited number of people would be invited.

“He wants it to be simple so we can’t hold it in a big place like the Quirino Grandstand. It can be inside Malacañang. The number of invited people will be limited. It will be a simple oath-taking and maybe an inaugural speech and oath-taking of members of the Cabinet and immediately, everyone goes to work,” Laviña said.

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“Maybe there will be no inaugural dinner and ball that usually accompany inaugurations. It will depend on the discussions of the inaugural committee,” he added.

Among those who will be invited to the inauguration are incoming members of the Cabinet, family members and supporters of Duterte, and diplomats, Philstar reported, as quoted by Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA).

Laviña said even the meals to be served to guests will be simple.

“We will serve the barest. Water, maybe fruits from Davao. They would love our fruits like bananas and pomelos,” he said.
Duterte’s team visits Malacanang

Meanwhile, a team from the mayor’s office of this city Friday visited Malacañang as presumptive president Rodrigo Duterte prepares for his inauguration on June 30.

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According to Laviña, the four-person team is expected to conduct ocular inspections and to meet with representatives of the Malacañang Protocol Office.

“They are returning to Davao tonight (May 20) and report about the ocular inspection and the briefing made by the Protocol Office,” Laviña said in a press briefing here.

“The four-man team from the city mayor’s office is part of the inaugural team. They will be proposing activities and options and present them to the incoming president,” he added.

Laviña reiterated that the inauguration would be a simple ceremony to be held just outside the Malacañang Palace.

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On Thursday, Laviña said Duterte had ordered the inaugural team to ensure that his assumption rites would be simple. He said the lavish balls and dinners that usually accompany a president’s inauguration would likely be scrapped.

“The number of invited people will be limited. It will be a simple oath-taking and maybe an inaugural speech and oath-taking of members of the cabinet and immediately, everyone goes to work,” Laviña said in an earlier press briefing.

Laviña said members of the Duterte cabinet would start working immediately after the inauguration. (T/R07/R01)

Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA)