MANILA -- President Benigno "Noynoy" Aquino III, for the second time, was not able to make it on time of his schedule Wednesday.
He was supposed to attend a so-called 9 a.m. Red Mass officiated by Manila Archbishop Cardinal Gaudencio Rosales at the Manila Cathedral.
Aquino came more than one hour late of schedule. He arrived after the homily.
The mass was offered to pray for unity under the administration of the new bachelor President.
The first time Aquino was late of his schedule was during the turnover ceremony at the Armed Forces of the Philippines.
Aquino is not using a siren in traversing the busy roads of Metro Manila. But despite the consequences, the President is firm on his stand against the use of “wang-wang” or sirens.
In an ambush interview after the mass, the President said he had a stomachache that was why he was late.
Aquino was not able to sit beside Vice President Jejomar Binay who came early before the mass. The former just sat at the right side of the Cathedral.
Several Cabinet officials of the President were also there such as Executive Secretary Jojo Ochoa, Presidential spokesperson Edwin Lacierda, and Justice Secretary Leila de Lima.
In an interview with Lacierda, he said that the President was late because he came home late Tuesday night from a seminar of Liberal Party in Tagaytay.
“Napuyat siya kagabi galing.. midnight dumating siya sa Liberal Party (seminar) kagabi. Nabalitaan namin walang kuryente kaya hindi siya nakatulog sa Times," he said. (Jill Beltran/Sunnex)