Pnoy due for business, politics

CEBU, Philippines - President Benigno Aquino III is expected to be in Cebu today, his first visit for this year.

The Philippine Information Agency (PIA) - 7, in a press briefing, said Aquino will grace the grand opening of Austal and Philippines Shipyard Operations at the West Cebu Industrial Park in the town of Balamban at 10:00 am.

Austal is a company that designs, constructs and maintains revolutionary naval platforms.

During the grand opening this morning, a ship that the company just built will be launched.

After the Balamban event, Aquino will proceed to the Mandaue City Sports and Cultural Center at 11:30 in the morning for a gathering with the senatorial candidates of the Liberal party.

But as of yesterday's press briefing, it was not yet certain who among the 12 Liberal Party senatoriables will attend.

Local LP leaders headed by its gubernatorial candidate Hilario "Junjun" Davide and vice gubernatorial candidate and now acting governor Agnes Magpale will grace the event.        

At the Capitol, suspended Governor Gwendolyn Garcia, who has been staying in her office since December 19, 2012, said Aquino is welcome if he wishes to visit the Cebu Provincial Capitol today.

Garcia said that as Cebuano, proper manners are extended even to those not known and how much more to the highest official in the country.

"You don't even need to ask that question as a Cebuano to another Cebuano," Garcia told reporters.

Aquino earlier announced that there is no need to remove Garcia forcibly and physically from her office since the suspension order was served last December 19, 2012.

Garcia said the President's statement runs counter to the previous declaration of Police Regional Office 7 Director, C/Supt. Marcelo Garbo and the previous insistence of Magpale.

Garcia said that she takes it as a signal of possible security as far as she is concerned who has been threatened by armed policemen.

"We don't know also the reason why those statements were said," Garcia added. – (FREEMAN)