Presidential special assistant Bong Go, one of the closest aide of Pres. Rody Duterte confirmed during an interview with the local media in Davao City that only 150 guests were allowed to enter at the room where Mayor Duterte will take his oath of office as President of the Republic of the Philippines.
Pres. Duterte already announced earlier that he preferred simple rites when he takes his oath of office as the Philippines 16th President in Malacañang on June 30, 2016.
According to Christopher “Bong” Go in an interview with Sun.Star, he noted that the space during the Duterte inauguration is limited, he also asked the understanding of all the supporters of Mayor Duterte so that the Duterte administration can prove that they are serious on their austerity measures.
Bong Go also noted that Pres. Duterte does not want to burden people with the heavy traffic on the day of his inauguration since it is on a Thursday, a regular working day for the majority. The usual inaugurations of former Presidents were held at the historic Quirino grandstand which often caused some heavy traffics in Metro Manila.
The close aid of Mayor Duterte has been meeting with his staff to finalize the preparations for the inauguration. Go also added that the guests will include retired generals and diplomats and even the wives and family members of the Duterte Cabinet were not allowed to enter the Rizal Hall of Malacanang.
In terms of food preparation, the President wants a simple and ordinary food because he wants his inauguration very simple. Bong Go was quoted as saying “Ordinaryong pagkain lang. The mayor wants his inauguration very simple. The food will be served before he takes his oath after that, wala na. Main reason was his campaign promise,” Go said.
The incoming President Rody Duterte will take his oath before the Supreme Court (SC) Associate Justice Bienvenido Reyes at Rizal Ceremonial Hall in Malacañang before delivering a speech on his plans and policies. Bong Go also revealed that Pres. Duterte will be wearing a Barong Tagalog made of cotton.