Palace to host Aquino-Arroyo Cabinet meet

MANILA, Philippines - Malacañang is going to host the first joint Cabinet meeting between the administrations of President Arroyo and president-elect Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III, Executive Secretary Leandro Mendoza announced yesterday.

Mendoza said the planned joint Cabinet would push through, citing the positive response from Aquino’s transition team.

The transition team of the Arroyo administration headed by Mendoza and their counterparts from the side of Aquino, headed by Paquito Ochoa as the incoming executive secretary, met twice following the proclamation of Aquino since last week.

Mendoza said a specific date for the joint Cabinet meeting has yet to be agreed on since Aquino is still in the process of completing the list of his Cabinet members.

Given that Cabinet meetings are presided over by the President, it is expected that Mrs. Arroyo and Aquino would sit together and preside over the meeting.

Earlier this week, the transition teams of the two sides met to discuss the plans for the inauguration of Aquino on June 30.

There were no agreements as to where the inauguration would be held as well as the protocol and traditions that would be followed.

Presidential Management Staff Director General Elena Bautista-Horn, a member of the Arroyo transition team, previously aired the possibility of Mrs. Arroyo riding with Aquino on the same car on the way to the site of the inauguration.

Tradition has it that the outgoing president would leave the inauguration site on board a private vehicle once the new president is sworn in.

Mendoza said the National Historical Commission headed by Ambeth Ocampo was able to present to the Aquino transition team the traditional and past experiences and practices during inaugurations.

“They are still studying it and until yesterday, we still don’t know where their inauguration site will be,” Mendoza said.

Mendoza said Mrs. Arroyo would convene two more Cabinet meetings before June 30, the first this Tuesday in Pampanga and on June 29.