Aquino cancels annual Cabinet Christmas party

MANILA, Philippines - President Aquino has decided to cancel the annual Christmas party of the Cabinet, in deference to the hundreds of people who have been killed in flashfloods due to the storm that hit Mindanao over the weekend, Palace officials disclosed yesterday.

Secretary Ricky Carandang of the Presidential Communications for Strategic Planning and Development Office said the decision to cancel the party was reached over the weekend.

“There was also a scheduled Christmas party for the Cabinet secretaries and in deference to the Mindanao flooding and Mindanao casualties, the President has decided to cancel the Christmas party,” presidential spokesman Edwin Lacierda said.

The two officials also defended Aquino’s attendance at the Christmas party of the Presidential Security Group (PSG) last Sunday, saying that it had to push through because the families of PSG members were already in Manila for the yearly gathering.

“The PSG decided to push through with its party since relatives of soldiers have already flown in from the provinces. The President dropped by the PSG party for a few minutes,” Carandang said.

Lacierda justified that PSG members have been providing security to Aquino for 365 days every year, and Christmas Day is not an exception. “Separation from their loved ones is part and parcel of the job and holidays are not exceptions.”

“The Christmas celebration is meant most especially for the younger members of their families who refer to this one day where the importance of the family is emphasized. It would be most unfair to deprive them of this singular familial activity,” he added.

PSG chief Col. Ramon Dizon said the President stayed only for a few minutes. “Besides, food for the occasion has already been paid for.”

“The President also mentioned to Colonel Dizon that he won’t be staying long in deference to the Mindanao flood and he did not sing. He just sat and watched for a few minutes at the party, and then he left immediately,” Lacierda recounted.

As to the tweet of actress-host Valerie Concepcion, Lacierda said they could not do anything about it because it was the perspective of somebody who attended the party and performed on stage.

“But the President was very well aware. When he dropped by in that particular Christmas party of the PSG, he immediately informed Dizon that he was just dropping by to say hello to the family members (of PSG soldiers),” Lacierda stressed.

Lacierda said this is one opportunity where the members of the PSG and their relatives get to see the President, who only wanted to show his appreciation for the service that the PSG is providing the President on a daily basis. – With Helen Flores