PGMA to continue provincial visits despite aides’ fatal Holy Tuesday chopper crash
April 13, 2009 11:01 pm
MANILA, April 12 — President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo will continue with her regular governance activities in the countryside despite the helicopter crash that claimed the lives of eight Palace aides and crew on Holy Tuesday (April 7).
In an overseas phone interview aired over Radyo ng Bayan’s “Pilipinas, Pilipinas” program on Sunday afternoon, Press Secretary Cerge Remonde said the President “will continue working as hard as she used to,” despite the tragedy that brought a pall of gloom over Malacanang.
One of the fatalities, Brig. Gen. Carlos Clet (Philippine Military Academy Class of 1980), the presidential senior military assistant , had earlier escorted the President on that fateful day to the 67th Araw ng Kagitingan commemoration rites at Mt. Samat in Bataan.
The victims of the helicopter crash in the mountainous hinterland boundary between Benguet and Ifugao in the Cordilleras belonged to the Office of the Press Secretary, the Presidential Management Staff, the Presidential Security Group and the elite Presidential Airlift Wing of the Philippine Air Force.
They were on their way to an ocular inspection of the long-delayed Ifugao section of the Halsema Highway’s rehabilitation and improvement project, which the President was scheduled to visit the following day, Holy Wednesday.
President Arroyo canceled her Ifugao trip later at the insistence of her Cabinet.
The President had first honored her late aides with an overnight vigil at the Heroes Hall of Malacanang last Thursday, before going abroad the following day to attend the 14th ASEAN Summit and Other Related Summits in Pattaya, Thailand.
With the suspension of the summits following the declaration of a state of emergency in Pattaya, President Arroyo proceeded to Dubai Saturday, a day ahead of schedule to attend several employment-generation activities, including the important Jobs Summit.
The President is scheduled to return to the Philippines with her lean delegation early morning of Tuesday (April 14). She is set to traverse the Visayas immediately the following day.
The President will first go to Leyte, particularly to Southern Leyte, and then on to Tacloban City to inspect the latest improvements in the cross-country Roll-on, Roll-off (RORO) sea transport system.
On Thursday (April 16), the President will visit Naval in Biliran, Leyte and then proceed north-westward to check on the RORO connection in Masbate. (PNA)
RMA/OPS/rsm
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