MikeLigalig.com

Malacanang clarified on Thursday that former First Lady and now Ilocos Norte Rep. Imelda Marcos is not joining President Benigno S. Aquino III’s official delegation during his visit to the United States this month.

Presidential Spokesperson Edwin Lacierda, Presidential Communications Development and Strategic Planning Office Secretary Ricky Carandang, and Deputy Spokesperson Abigail Valte said that Mrs. Marcos will not be part of President Aquino’s official entourage in his first out-of the-country trip.

President Aquino will attend the 65th United Nations General Assembly at New York on Sept. 20.

According to Lacierda and Carandang, President Aquino has decided to have a small delegation for his U.S. trip from Sept. 20 to 26.

Undersecretary Valte also said that House Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr. has mentioned that he will be representing the House of Representative in the presidential delegation.

Rep. Marcos, chair of the House committee on Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), said on Wednesday that it is up to the House leadership if she will be part of the President’s U.S. trip.

The MDGs will be the primary topic in the UN General Assembly in New York on Sept. 20-22.

According to Rep. Marcos, previous chairpersons of the committee on MDG attended the UN gatherings on the MDGs.

”If I am asked to, I have to, but I have to check first about what is the desire of the leadership and members of Congress. I am just a member of Congress, I’m just following orders. I am supposed to go because all previous chairpersons of the MDG committee have been going there,” Mrs. Marcos told reporters when she attended the presentation on Wednesday of the Fourth Progress Report on the Philippines’ Compliance to the UN MDGs held at Dusit Thani Hotel in Makati City.

Mrs. Marcos said the country will receive this year the Millennium Challenge Corporation’s US$ 4-million grant for various projects in the Philippines. - pna

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