Aquino sworn in as Philippines' new president+

MANILA, June 30 Kyodo -
Benigno Aquino III was sworn in as the Philippines' 15th president on Wednesday
before an estimated crowd of 600,000 people.
Aquino, 50, took the oath of office from Supreme Court Associate Justice
Conchita Carpio-Morales at the Quirino Grandstand in Manila City.
''I will try my best to be a good example. I will not put your trust to waste.
I will make sure that this will also be the aspiration of my Cabinet and the
rest in government,'' Aquino said in his inaugural speech.
Repeatedly vowing to run a clean government in the next six years, Aquino
sought public support to stamp out corruption, generate new jobs, build more
infrastructure, provide health care to the country's 90 million people, improve
the quality of education, and create an investment-friendly nation.
''Our primary job is to try our best to take the country out of poverty through
honest and good governance,'' he said.
''It is my objective that when I step down from office, everybody can say that
we have gone a long way in treading the right path, and we can pass on a
brighter future to the next generation,'' he added.
''We wish him luck. I hope God will help him,'' 16-year-old Robigail
Mangalinda, a student, said as she came to witness the inauguration.
''My father is a driver. My mother is a sales clerk. They supported Noynoy
(Aquino's nickname) because he pledged to help small people like us,''
Mangalinda added.
Aquino, son of former President Corazon Aquino, won the May presidential
election by a landslide with vows to fight corruption. He takes office after
three other presidents who followed his mother -- Fidel Ramos, Joseph Estrada
and Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.
On Tuesday, he unveiled his Cabinet, which is mainly a mix of former officials
who served in the administrations of his mother from 1986 to 1992, and Arroyo
from 2001 to 2010, as well as executives from the private sector.
During the campaign period, Aquino promised sweeping changes to the way the
country is run. Specifically, he has vowed to end corruption and improve the
country's investment climate to lure more foreign investors.
He also vowed to nail tax evaders and smugglers in the Philippines, saying
widespread corruption in the country is contributing to increased poverty.
Arroyo's nine-year presidency was marred by allegations of corruption,
electoral fraud, and human rights violations that resulted in numerous protest
rallies and impeachment and coup attempts.
Aquino also said he will set up a ''Truth Commission'' to investigate the
allegations against Arroyo and her administration. Arroyo denies any
wrongdoing.
==Kyodo
2010-06-30 20:16:23


Delete & Prev | Delete & Next