Wednesday, June 18, 2008 Mayor downplays his absence in bridge inauguration By Carlo P. Mallo
DAVAO City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte simply laughed off politically tinged speculations on why he will not be around to welcome President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo for the fifth consecutive time.
In an interview Monday afternoon, during a command conference called for by the mayor, Duterte said that he has long sent his apologies to the President for his non-attendance in Thursday's activities.
President Arroyo will arrive Thursday in Davao City for the inauguration of the newly constructed Governor Generoso Bridge I. On Friday, she will head off to the City of Mati in Davao Oriental to inaugurate the multi-million Mati Public Market.
Duterte said that his absence from the President's visits should not be given any political color.
"I am committed to the completion of the term of the President until 2010," he said.
"The vice mayor will be there, I guess that will do," the city mayor told reporters Monday.
Duterte also denied calling up the top security officials of the city in preparation for the President's arrival on Thursday.
"The PSG (Presidential Security Group) has its own protocol, it arranges everything," he said.
