Palace: June 30 not a holiday

MANILA, Philippines – A Palace official on Wednesday announced that June 30, inauguration of the two highest officials of the country, is not a holiday.

Presidential Communications Operations Office Chief Herminio Coloma Jr. said that based on a text message he received from Executive Secretary Paquito Ochoa Jr on Wednesday afternoon, June 30, 2016 is a regular working day.

Incoming Presidential Communications Secretary Martin Andanar said it is President Benigno Aquino III’s call to declare June 30 as the two highest officials of the land take their oaths of office.

“Si President Aquino ang magdedesisyon kung holiday o walang pasok bukas sa inagurasyon ni President-elect Rodrigo Duterte,” Andanar said in a televised interview on Umagang Kay Ganda on Wednesday morning.

Andanar said the president-elect and Aquino are also scheduled to meet. He however said Duterte has no scheduled meeting with Vice President-elect Leni Robredo yet. 

In a separate televised interview, Andanar said Robredo and Duterte’s meeting will happen as a “surprise” and will happen as the two officials have six years left to cross paths.

Meanwhile, Andanar also assured the public that there will be a live streaming of the separate inauguration ceremonies of the president and vice president for those who will have no access in the televised ceremony. Duterte’s oath of office as the 16th president and Robredo’s oath of office as the 14th vice president will be held at the Malacañang Palace and Quezon City Reception House, respectively. 

In 2010, President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo declared June 30, Aquino’s inauguration as the country’s 15th president, a special non-working holiday.