The new president of the Philippines was 40 minutes late for his first address to the military Friday as he kept his promise to suffer in the capital's heavy traffic like ordinary people.
In one of the most loudly applauded portions of his inaugural speech Wednesday, Benigno Aquino III said he had experienced the frustration of being stuck in traffic while powerful people in siren-blaring cars breezed by.
He promised "no more wang-wang," the local term for sirens.
So, on Friday, the president told his security escorts not to use sirens to clear the road for his convoy heading to the military headquarters less than four miles (6.5 kilometers) from his home.
As a result, he was about 40 minutes late for the address after some painful crawling through Manila's gridlocked streets.
Filipinos generally deride sirens, regarding them as a symbol of abuse of power and privilege and a display of arrogance by officials as well as the rich and powerful.
Under a loosely enforced law, the president, vice president, Senate president, House speaker and Supreme Court chief justice are the only civilians allowed to use sirens for their vehicles or convoys.
Presidential spokesman Edwin Lacierda said Aquino would continue to be subject to the same rules of the road as everyone else.
"I should set an example to the Filipino people," Lacierda quoted Aquino as saying.
Aquino appeared to have endeared himself to ordinary Filipinos for suffering Manila's notorious traffic alongside them.
A reporter for GMA Television who followed his convoy said commuters who noticed the president stalled on the congested EDSA highway were pleased that it did not use sirens to clear the traffic.
Whenever the convoy stopped, presidential security officers opened the doors of their vehicles, ready to jump out in case of a threat to the president.
"I apologize for being late," Aquino later told reporters.
He said his security detail will soon "perfect" his convoy's movements so he won't be late again.
Aquino succeeded unpopular Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, whose 9-year rule was rocked by four coup attempts and allegations of corruption, vote-rigging, and human rights abuses. Arroyo has denied the accusations.
Aquino has promised to prosecute the corrupt and banish poverty, saying he was "ending a leadership that has long been insensitive to the suffering of the people."
Aquino's mother and Philippine democracy icon, the late former President Corazon Aquino, also ordered her convoy not to use sirens and to stop at traffic lights for about three months after taking power after a "people power" revolt that ousted dictator Ferdinand Marcos, Lacierda said.
The practice stopped because of threats and seven coup attempts during her administration.
The new president's example will encourage police to enforce the siren law more strictly, national police spokesman Leonardo Espina said.
He said some officers had been threatened with dismissal by officials and wealthy businessmen for stopping convoys that were illegally using "wang-wangs" and flashing lights.
In his first speech as commander in chief, Aquino promised to modernize the 120,000-strong armed forces, one of the most poorly equipped militaries in Southeast Asia.
"I expect of you professionalism, integrity, discipline, valor and hard work. You can expect the same of me," he said. "If all of us follow the rules, and insist on professionalism, integrity is enhanced." - AP
Source: gmanews.tv
