‘Cory escorts not withdrawn’

Malacañang denied yesterday that the Estrada administration has withdrawn the security personnel assigned to former President Corazon Aquino, who has been spearheading the movement calling for President Estrada’s resignation.

Press Secretary and Presidential Spokesman Ricardo Puno Jr. said Brig. Gen. Rodulfo Diaz, commanding general of the Presidential Security Group, gave him assurances that the unit assigned to Mrs. Aquino has not been withdrawn.

Tarlac Rep. Benigno "Noynoy" Aquino III was quoted in reports as saying that his mother’s security men were prevented by their superiors from continuing their dual roles as military officers and personal security, adding this could be a form of harassment of his mother.

Meanwhile, Palace officials are confident that President Estrada will sign the P715-billion national budget for 2001 into law early next year. The House approved the budget on third and final reading Tuesday night.

"We agreed to fast-track the process. Only the heads of the four departments with the biggest budgets will be invited to the hearings to speed up the process," Executive Secretary Ronaldo Zamora said. — Marichu Villanueva