New Philippine Vice President to Be Sworn in FridayPhilippine new Vice President Teofisto Guingona will be sworn on February 9 by Supreme Court Chief Justice Hilario Davide, the presidential palace said Thursday.A presidential press statement issued here said the swearing-in ceremony will be held at 3:30 p.m. local time (1130 GMT) Friday at the presidential palace. Guingona, who was nominated by President Gloria Macapagal- Arroyo to the country's second highest post on Wednesday, was confirmed breezily by both houses of Congress on Thursday. The Senate voted 18-0 supporting the nomination while the House of Representatives also unanimously approved a resolution confirming Guingona's nomination. Arroyo said she has decided to choose Guingona, whom she described as "a son of Mindanao," because of her administration's firm commitment to bringing Mindanao to the forefront of development after decades of neglect. Guingona, a Mindanaoan and former Senate minority leader, is the only senator who has occupied almost all the major posts in the Senate, including that of Senate President Pro Tempore, Senate majority leader and as chairman of the powerful Senate blue ribbon committee. Leaders of both houses of Congress and other sectors of the society are expected to attend the swearing-in ceremonies. |
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