By Ruth Abbey Gita-Carlos
MANILA – President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on Tuesday skipped two scheduled engagements to monitor the rally along EDSA near the People Power Monument in Quezon City.
Marcos was supposed to attend the inauguration of the state-of-the-art marine cleanup vessel MV Nilad at South Harbor in Port Area.
However, his speech for the inauguration ceremony was instead delivered by Transportation Acting Secretary Giovanni Lopez.
Presidential Communications Office Acting Secretary Dave Gomez also confirmed that Marcos would no longer attend the Foreign Correspondents Association of the Philippines Presidential Luncheon at Makati Shangri-La scheduled on Tuesday noon.
Gomez said the President is closely monitoring developments related to the EDSA rally.
According to reports, the protest staged by unidentified groups near the People Power Monument caused heavy traffic.
Gomez, nevertheless, said the President’s scheduled activities at Malacañan Palace would proceed.
Palace Press Officer Claire Castro said Marcos is being regularly briefed on the developing situation along EDSA, where ongoing rally has caused significant disruption to travel and work.
“Nagmo-monitor po ang Pangulo sa ngayon sa kasalukuyang sitwasyon. Patuloy na inaalam ang nangyayari sa mga kababayan natin na naantala sa paglalakbay at pagtatrabaho dahil sa nangyayari sa EDSA (The President is currently monitoring the situation. He continues to be informed about what is happening to our fellow citizens whose travel and work have been delayed due to the situation in EDSA),” she said.
She said the President is closely tracking developments to ensure that appropriate responses are coordinated across relevant agencies.
“Mino-monitor din niya ang kapakanan ng ibang kababayan na naiipit sa gitna ng EDSA pati na rin ang pagsasagawa ng mga kapulisan ng kanilang mandato na magbigay proteksyon at seguridad sa mga inosente nating kababayan (He is also closely monitoring the welfare of other citizens who are caught in the middle of EDSA, as well as the police’s implementation of their mandate to provide protection and security for our innocent fellow citizens),” Castro said. (PNA)
