Noy to proceed with SoKor visit

SEOUL – President Aquino yesterday said he will push through with his two-day visit to South Korea despite the powerful earthquake that rocked the Visayas and Mindanao.

The President, who is scheduled to leave tomorrow, said the visit is a commitment that must be honored by the Philippine government.

In an ambush interview with reporters after his meeting with Cabinet members at the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council operations center at Camp Aguinaldo in Quezon City, Aquino said he would cancel his trip if initial assessment showed there were a lot of things that were not being taken care of.

“Then we will reconsider the visit. But, as of this time, the things that have to be done are being done,” Aquino said.

He will receive on behalf of his father, the late senator Benigno “Ninoy” Aquino Jr., a certificate of recognition from South Korea. Ninoy covered the Korean War in the 1950s as a correspondent for the Manila Times.

President Park Geun-hye will also host a state dinner for Aquino tomorrow. – With Aurea Calica