Aquino to miss ASEAN opening rites due to the Arroyo situation

President Benigno Aquino III. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

BALI, Indonesia — Bugged by a domestic issue in Manila involving his predecessor, President Benigno Aquino III would be skipping Thursday’s opening of the19th Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) summit in the resort island here, Communications Secretary Ricky Carandang said Wednesday.

“The President is not arriving today (Wednesday) as originally scheduled because of developing domestic situation. He’ll be here tomorrow (Thursday). He’s expected to arrive a little after 12 noon to participate in the Asean summit and the bilateral that will be scheduled,” Carandang told reporters in a briefing at the Courtyard Marriott hotel.

“The President will miss the opening plenary but will be at the retreat and all the other sessions scheduled for him.”

Aquino has to deal with a tough issue at home after Justice Secretary Leila de Lima stopped former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo from flying to Singapore to seek medical treatment in defiance of a Supreme Court order, as he met with visiting US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.