Sara shuns extravagance on Sunday’s oath-taking

INCOMING Vice President Sara Duterte will only wear a pair of earrings as accessories during her oath-taking ceremony today at the San Pedro Square.
In reply to questions from the media, Duterte said earrings will be the only pieces of jewelry she will wear during the event, although these carry no significance.
She will also wear a gown by Silverio Anglacer, her public image consultant who told MindaNews that Duterte “doesn’t ask but she just tells me I’m going to this place, or I will be a ninang (godmother), or stand as a first lady for PRRD (President Rodrigo R. Duterte). She doesn’t ask what color or what design. I love the idea that she gives me the freedom to do what I love to do for her.”
As indicated in the program distributed for the event, she added that Supreme Court Justice Ramon Paul L. Hernando will administer her oath as he is “a former professor.” “He and his wife are my good friends for over ten years,” she said.
Justice Hernando, who was named to the Highest Court in October 2018, was a professor at the San Sebastian College Recoletos- College of Law where Duterte took her law degree and finished in May 2005 and passed the bar examination the same year.
She added that the University of Mindanao Alumni Chorale will also lead the singing of the National Anthem as well as the city hymn “Tayo ay Dabawenyo” “because they symbolize Davao/ Mindanao.”
She added that she will use a new bible for the oath-taking ceremony which was a gift to her.
Earlier, law enforcement officials announced they have laid out an elaborate security plan for the inauguration of Duterte on Sunday with about 4,200 members of the police deployed in all strategic points.
Angel Sumagaysay, Public Safety and Security Command Center chief, said all kinks have been ironed out after the coordinated meetings held by the security cluster to ensure that every security loophole is addressed, including the borders.
“The security and safety clusters have been ready and we are ready to implement the security plan,” said Sumagaysay as he reminded those who plan to attend – organizers expect about 25,000 attendees – the event not to bring with them backpacks, pointed objects, non-transparent water bottles and must not wear jackets.
Unless allowed by the organizers, Sumagaysay said flying of drones is not allowed, while the city government has also passed a resolution that closes down all streets leading to the San Pedro Square where the inauguration will be held.
Vendors, who sell their products within the area are not also allowed to use the area temporarily until after the event, said Paul Bermejo, head of the Auxiliary Services Unit, although they will also be allowed to sell in areas where attendees can also buy food items.
“They are not prevented to sell their goods. But they cannot sell near the stage. We will close the area temporarily until the end of the oath-taking. But they can transfer to other areas (near the area),” said Bermejo as he made the statement after vendors complained, thinking that they will be permanently prevented from selling in the area. There are about 600 vendors who use the area for their livelihood activities.
Brig. Gen. Benjamin Silo Jr., Police Regional Office director, said the office has also coordinated with other nearby regions to ensure that the borders are controlled as a gun ban has been implemented in the region until June 21.
“We’ll be having very strict border checkpoints, four regions will be participating in this undertaking—Regions 10, 12, and 13. And all provincial police offices under PRO-11 will do the same thing. So during the checkpoints, one of the priorities there will be in (the banning) of guns. Even if they have licenses, it is still a violation because the permit to carry is suspended,” Silo said.
The city government will also be deploying about five buses per area to ferry passengers who want to attend the event, said Dionisio Abude, City Transport and Traffic Management Office.
Military units under the Eastern Mindanao Command have also committed to deploy their personnel and assets for the event said Major General Nolasco A. Mempin, commander of the Task Force Agila.