Aquino all set to leave office on June 30, Palace official says

With exactly a week left in his six-year term, President Benigno Aquino III is all set to leave Malacañang, a Palace official said Thursday.

Communications Secretary Herminio Coloma, Jr. said Aquino has started packing up, and is more than ready to step down from his post on noon of June 30.

“Ang batid ko ay matagal ng naumpisahan ito at handang-handa na siyang lumisan sa araw ng Huwebes, ika-30 ng Hunyo sa susunod na linggo,” Coloma said.

Outgoing President Aquino will be succeeded by President-elect Rodrigo Duterte, who won the elections with more than 16 million votes.

“Mayroong established practice kasi ano na kapag nagpapalitan ng administrasyon, nagkikita ang outgoing at ang incoming President,” Coloma said. 

“Sa aking nabatid, mao-obserbahan naman itong tradisyon na ito at magkakaroon ng pagkakataon na magkita si Pangulong Aquino at si President-elect Duterte bago manumpa sa tungkulin 'yung bagong Pangulo,” he said.

In his last week as President, Aquino’s schedule included gracing the separate anniversary celebrations of the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) and the Department of Health Thursday.

Speaking at the DFA anniversary, Aquino said: “Nangiti po ako dahil pitong araw na lang po bababa na ako sa pwesto.”

On Saturday, he will speak at the commencement exercises at the Ateneo de Manila University in Quezon City.

In a speech last month, Aquino said he was confident of leaving his office with his head held high, saying he remained true to his mandate.

“Ang masasabi ko po, sa darating na ika-30 ng Hunyo, pagpalo ng alas-dose ng tanghali, matiwasay tayong makakababa sa puwesto, makakalingon nang taas-noo sa sambayanang Pilipino, at mata sa matang masasabi: Tumotoo ako sa inyo. Tumupad ako sa mandatong kaloob ng aking mga Boss,” Aquino earlier said. —NB, GMA News