Presidency of Benigno Aquino III

The Presidency of Benigno Aquino III, also known as the Benigno Aquino III administration and the Noynoy Aquino administration, began at noon on June 30, 2010, when he became the fifteenth President of the Philippines, succeeding Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo. Aquino is the third-youngest person to be elected president, and the fourth-youngest president after Emilio Aguinaldo, Ramon Magsaysay and Ferdinand Marcos.[1]

Presidency of Benigno Aquino III June 30, 2010 – June 30, 2016
President	Benigno Aquino III
Party	Liberal

2010 Philippine presidential election

Benigno "Noynoy" Aquino III, the third child and only son of slain senator Benigno Aquino Jr. and former Philippine president Corazon Aquino, first emerged as a potential candidate for the Philippine presidency in 2007 after placing sixth in the 2007 Philippine Senate election where he received 14,309,349 votes.[2] Initially, he wasn't the designated standard bearer for the presidential elections by his political party, Liberal Party, which originally designated his ally, Sen. Manuel "Mar" Roxas, as its standard bearer on 26 November 2008.[3]

Following the death of his mother due to colorectal cancer on 1 August 2009, there was an outpouring of nostalgia among the public for the former democracy icon's brand of clean, honest, and selfless public service.[4] Supporters of the Aquino family called on Noynoy to run for presidency, in what has been called "The Noynoy Phenomenon", to continue his mother's legacy.[5]

On 27 August 2009, Edgardo "Eddie" Roces, son of the late Chino Roces, former publisher and owner of the Manila Times, and a group of lawyers and activists formed the Noynoy Aquino for President Movement (NAPM), a nationwide campaign to collect a million signatures in order to persuade Aquino to run for president.[6]

Pivotal to Aquino's presidential candidacy was Roxas' announcement of his withdrawal from the presidential race and nomination of Aquino to be his party's presidential standard bearer during a press conference at Club Filipino in San Juan City on 1 September 2009.[7] While Aquino initially refused to neither accept nor decline the nomination, he eventually accepted the nomination on 9 September 2009 during a press conference at the same venue.[8]

On 21 September 2009, Roxas, alongside Aquino, officially announced his candidacy for the vice presidency, as the standard-bearer of the Liberal Party for vice president, launching the Aquino-Roxas tandem. On 28 November 2009, Aquino and Roxas filed their certificates of candidacy for president and vice president respectively.[9][10]

In the 10 May 2010 presidential elections, Aquino received 15,208,678 votes or 42.08% of the total votes cast, defeating rivals former Philippine president Joseph Estrada, Sen. Manuel Villar, Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro, TV evangelist Eddie Villanueva and Sen. Richard Gordon. However, Roxas lost the vice presidential race to his rival and Estrada's running mate, Makati City mayor Jejomar Binay of the PDP-Laban party.[11][12]

Transition and inauguration

Aquino being proclaimed as the President-elect of the Philippines by Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile and House Speaker Prospero Nograles at the Batasang Pambansa in Quezon City on 9 June 2010.

Aquino taking his oath of office as the 15th President of the Philippines on 30 June 2010 at the Quirino Grandstand in Manila.

The presidential transition began on 9 June 2010, when the Congress of the Philippines proclaimed Aquino the winner of the 2010 Philippine presidential elections held on 10 May 2010, proclaiming Aquino as the President-elect of the Philippines.[13][14] The transition was in charge of the new presidential residence, cabinet appointments and cordial meetings between them and the outgoing administration.

Aquino took the oath of office on 30 June 2010, at the Quirino Grandstand in Rizal Park, Manila.[15][16] Traditionally, it is the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of the Philippines who administers the oath of office to the incoming President and Vice President.[17] However, Aquino refused to allow Chief Justice Renato Corona to swear him into office, due to Aquino's opposition to the midnight appointment of Corona by outgoing President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo on 12 May 2010, two days after the 2010 elections and a month before Arroyo's term expires.[18][19]

Instead, Aquino formally requested Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the Philippines Conchita Carpio-Morales, who opposed the midnight appointment of Corona, to administer his oath of office.[15][19][20]

His request is reminiscent of the decision of his mother, who in 1986, was sworn into the presidency by Associate Justice Claudio Teehankee.[1] After being sworn in as the fifteenth President of the Philippines, succeeding Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, Aquino delivered his inaugural address.[15][21]

Official residence

During his inauguration, Aquino stated that he didn't want to live in Malacañan Palace, the official residence of the President of the Philippines, or in Arlegui Mansion, the residence of former presidents Corazon Aquino and Fidel V. Ramos, stating that the two residences are too big. He also stated that his small family residence at Times Street in Quezon City would be impractical, since it would be a security concern for his neighbors.[22] Instead, Aquino decided to use the Bahay Pangarap (English: House of Aspiration),[23] located inside of Malacañang Park,[24] at the headquarters of the Presidential Security Group across the Pasig River from Malacañan Palace.[22] Aquino is the first president to make Bahay Pangarap his official residence.[25][26]

Malacañang Park was intended as a recreational retreat by former President Manuel L. Quezon.[25] The house was built and designed by architect Juan M. Arellano in the 1930s and was originally intended as a rest house, the venue for informal activities and social functions for the First Family by former President Manuel L. Quezon.[25][23] It has since underwent several renovations under different administrations. In the early 1960s, Malacañang Park was refurbished through the efforts of First Lady Eva Macapagal, wife of former President Diosdado Macapagal. First Lady Macapagal renamed the rest house as Bahay Pangarap.[25][26] During the presidency of Fidel V. Ramos, the house was restored and became the club house of the Malacañang Golf Club. The house was used by former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo to welcome special guests.[25][26] In 2008, the house was demolished and rebuilt in contemporary style by architect Conrad Onglao, which included a new swimming pool that replaced the Commonwealth-era swimming pool.[23][25]

The house, which originally had one bedroom, was renovated for Aquino to have four bedrooms, a guest room, a room for Aquino's household staff, and a room for Aquino's close-in security.[24][26]

Administration and cabinet

On 29 June 2010, Aquino officially named the members of his Cabinet, with Aquino himself as Secretary of the Interior and Local Government,[27] a position that Vice President-elect Jejomar Binay initially wanted, however, Aquino stated that the post is not being considered for him,[28] but has offered Binay various positions, such as, to head a commission that will investigate the outgoing Arroyo administration, the posts of Secretary of Agrarian Reform, chairman of the Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council (HUDCC), and the chairman of Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA), but Binay refused.[29] However, on 15 July 2010, Binay has accepted the offer of Aquino to take charge of the housing sector as chairman of HUDCC.[30]

From 30 June to 9 July 2010, Aquino was Secretary of the Interior and Local Government,[27] until Aquino named Jesse Robredo, a former Naga mayor, as acting Interior Secretary.[31]

OFFICE	NAME	TERM
President	Benigno S. Aquino III	June 30, 2010 – June 30, 2016
Vice President	Jejomar C. Binay	June 30, 2010 – June 30, 2016
Cabinet Secretary	Jose Rene Almendras	November 5, 2012 – March 8, 2016
Executive Secretary	Paquito Ochoa, Jr.	June 30, 2010 – June 30, 2016
Secretary of Agrarian Reform	Virgilio de los Reyes	June 30, 2010 – June 30, 2016
Secretary of Agriculture	Proceso Alcala	June 30, 2010 – June 30, 2016
Secretary of Budget and Management	Florencio Abad	June 30, 2010 – June 30, 2016
Secretary of Education	Br. Armin Luistro FSC	June 30, 2010 – June 30, 2016
Secretary of Energy	Jose Rene Almendras	June 30, 2010 – November 4, 2012
	Carlos Jericho Petilla	November 5, 2012 – April 30, 2015
	Zenaida Monsada*	July 2, 2015 – June 30, 2016
Secretary of Environment and Natural Resources	Ramon Paje	June 30, 2010 – June 30, 2016
Secretary of Finance	Cesar Purisima* ‡	June 30, 2010 – June 30, 2016
Secretary of Foreign Affairs	Alberto Romulo	June 30, 2010 – February 23, 2011
	Albert del Rosario	February 24, 2011 – March 7, 2016
	Jose Rene Almendras (in acting capacity)	March 8, 2016 – June 30, 2016
Secretary of Health	Dr. Enrique Ona* ‡	June 30, 2010 – December 19, 2014
	Dr. Janette Garin	February 17, 2015 – June 30, 2016
Secretary of the Interior and Local Government	Benigno Aquino III (in concurrent capacity as President)	June 30, 2010 – July 9, 2010
	Jesse M. Robredo	July 9, 2010 – August 18, 2012
	Paquito Ochoa, Jr. (in acting capacity)	August 21, 2012 – September 19, 2012
	Mar Roxas	September 20, 2012 – September 10, 2015
	Mel Senen Sarmiento	September 11, 2015 – June 30, 2016
Secretary of Justice	Leila de Lima* ‡	June 30, 2010 – October 12, 2015
	Alfredo Benjamin Caguioa	October 12, 2015 – January 21, 2016
	Emmanuel Caparas (in acting capacity)	January 22, 2016 – June 30, 2016
Secretary of Labor and Employment	Rosalinda Baldoz* ‡	June 30, 2010 – June 30, 2016
Secretary of National Defense	Ret. Lt. Gen. Voltaire Gazmin, PA	June 30, 2010 – June 30, 2016
Secretary of Public Works and Highways	Rogelio Singson	June 30, 2010 – June 30, 2016
Secretary of Science and Technology	Engr. Mario Montejo	June 30, 2010 – June 30, 2016
Secretary of Social Welfare and Development	Corazon Soliman	June 30, 2010 – June 30, 2016
Secretary of Socioeconomic Planning and Director General of the National Economic Development Authority	Cayetano Paderanga, Jr.	August 3, 2010 – May 10, 2012
	Arsenio Balisacan	May 10, 2012 – January 24, 2016
	Emmanuel Esguerra (in acting capacity)	February 1, 2016 – June 30, 2016
Secretary of Tourism	Alberto Lim	June 30, 2010 – August 12, 2011
	Ramon Jimenez, Jr.	September 1, 2011 – June 30, 2016
Secretary of Trade and Industry	Gregory Domingo	June 30, 2010 – December 31, 2015
	Adrian S. Cristobal Jr.	January 1, 2016 – June 30, 2016
Secretary of Transportation and Communications	Jose de Jesus	June 30, 2010 – June 30, 2011
	Mar Roxas	July 4, 2011 – October 18, 2012
	Joseph Emilio Abaya	October 18, 2012 – June 30, 2016
Secretary of Presidential Communications Development and Strategic Planning	Ricky Carandang	July 30, 2010 – December 31, 2013
	Manuel Quezon III	January 1, 2014 – June 30, 2016
Secretary of the Presidential Communications Operations Office	Dr. Herminio Coloma, Jr.	June 30, 2010 – June 30, 2016
Presidential Spokesperson	Edwin Lacierda	June 30, 2010 – June 30, 2016
Deputy Presidential Spokesperson	Abigail Valte	June 30, 2010 – June 30, 2016
Chief of the Presidential Management Staff	Julia Abad	June 30, 2010 – June 30, 2016
Chief Presidential Legal Counsel	Eduardo de Mesa	June 30, 2010 – December 18, 2012
	Alfredo Benjamin Caguioa	January 10, 2013 – October 12, 2015
Solicitor General	Jose Anselmo Cadiz	July 30, 2010 – February 3, 2012
	Francis Jardeleza	February 6, 2012 – August 19, 2014
	Florin Hilbay (in acting capacity)	August 20, 2014 – June 18, 2015
	Florin Hilbay	June 19, 2015 – June 30, 2016
Secretary of the Presidential Legislative Liaison Office	Antonino Roman	September 28, 2010 – February 20, 2012
	Manuel Mamba	February 20, 2012 – October 16, 2015
Commissioner of Bureau of Internal Revenue	Kim Henares	June 30, 2010 – June 30, 2016
Commissioner of the Bureau of Customs	Angelito Alvarez	July 7, 2010 – September 16, 2011
	Ruffy Biazon	September 16, 2011 – December 6, 2013
	John Philip Sevilla	December 6, 2013 – April 23, 2015
	Alberto Lina	April 23, 2015 – June 30, 2016
Commissioner of the Bureau of Immigration	Rolando Ledesma*	June 30, 2010 – March 9, 2011
	Ricardo David	March 9, 2011 – July 16, 2013
	Siegfred Mison (in acting capacity)	July 16, 2013 – December 21, 2013
	Siegfred Mison	December 21, 2013 – January 6, 2016
	Ronaldo Geron	January 6, 2016 – June 30, 2016
Executive Director of the Land Transportation Office	Virginia Torres	July 2, 2010 – November 1, 2013
	Alfonso Tan Jr. (in acting capacity)	November 1, 2013 – January 3, 2016
	Roberto Cabrera	January 3, 2016 – June 30, 2016
Chairperson of the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board	Nelson Laluces	September 13, 2010 – August 23, 2011
	Jaime Jacob	September 2, 2011 – March 31, 2013
	Winston Ginez	April 30, 2013 – June 30, 2016
Commissioner of the National Telecommunications Commission	Gamaliel Cordoba*	August 28, 2009 – June 30, 2016
Chairperson of the Commission on Higher Education	Dr. Patricia Licuanan	June 30, 2010 –June 30, 2016
Director-General of the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority	Joel Villanueva	July 28, 2010 – October 13, 2015
	Irene Isaac (in acting capacity)	October 13, 2015 – June 30, 2016
Chairperson of the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority	Francis Tolentino	July 27, 2010 – October 7, 2015
	Emerson Carlos (in acting capacity)	October 1, 2015 – October 30, 2015
	Emerson Carlos	October 30, 2015 – June 30, 2016
Chairperson of the Mindanao Development Authority	Luwalhati Antonino	September 12, 2010 – September 9, 2016
Lead Convenor of the National Anti-Poverty Commission	Jose Eliseo Rocamora	September 27, 2010 – June 30, 2016
Presidential Adviser for Environmental Protection	Nereus Acosta	August 24, 2011 – June 30, 2016
Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process	Teresita Deles	June 30, 2010 – June 30, 2016
Chief Peace Negotiator	Marvic Leonen	July 15, 2010 – November 21, 2012
	Miriam Coronel-Ferrer	December 7, 2012 – June 30, 2016
Presidential Adviser on Political Affairs	Ronald Llamas	January 19, 2011 – June 30, 2016
Presidential Assistant for Rehabilitation and Recovery	Panfilo Lacson	December 10, 2013 – February 10, 2015
Presidential Assistant for Food Security and Agriculture Modernization	Francis Pangilinan	May 6, 2014 – September 15, 2015
	Fredelita Guiza	September 16, 2015 – June 30, 2016
AFP Chief of Staff	Gen. Ricardo David	June 30, 2010 – March 8, 2011
	Gen. Eduardo Oban Jr.	March 8, 2011 – December 12, 2011
	Gen. Jessie Dellosa	December 12, 2011 – January 17, 2013
	Gen. Emmanuel T. Bautista	January 17, 2013 – July 18, 2014
	Gen. Gregorio Pio Catapang	July 18, 2014 – July 10, 2015
	Gen. Hernando Iriberri	July 10, 2015 – April 22, 2016
	Lt. Gen. Glorioso Miranda (in acting capacity)	April 22, 2016 – June 30, 2016
National Security Adviser	Cesar Garcia	July 9, 2010 – June 30, 2016
Director General of the National Intelligence Coordinating Agency	Triunfo Salazar	July 9, 2010 – November 26, 2013
	Ager Ontog Jr.	November 26, 2013 – June 30, 2016
Executive Director of the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council and Administrator of the Office of Civil Defense	Benito Ramos	June 30, 2010 – February 1, 2013
	Eduardo del Rosario	February 1, 2013 – May 12, 2014
	Alexander Pama	May 12, 2014 – June 30, 2016
PNP Director General	Dir. Gen. Raul Bacalzo	September 14, 2010 – September 9, 2011
	Dir. Gen. Nicanor Bartolome	September 9, 2011 – December 17, 2012
	Dir. Gen. Alan Purisima	December 17, 2012 – February 5, 2015
	Dep. Dir. Gen. Leonardo Espina (in acting capacity)	February 5, 2015 – July 16, 2015
	Dir. Gen. Ricardo Marquez	July 16, 2015 – June 30, 2016
Director of the National Bureau of Investigation	Magtanggol Gatdula	July 15, 2010 – January 20, 2012
	Nonatus Caesar Rojas (in acting capacity)	January 20, 2012 – July 25, 2012
	Nonatus Caesar Rojas	July 25, 2012 – September 2, 2013
	Menardo Lemos	September 27, 2013 – January 16, 2014
	Virgilio Mendez	January 16, 2014 – June 30, 2016
Chairperson of the Dangerous Drugs Board	Antonio Villar Jr.*	January 5, 2010 – March 7, 2016
	Felipe Rojas Jr.	March 7, 2016 – August 26, 2016
Director General of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency	Dionisio Santiago*	June 30, 2010 – January 10, 2011
	Jose Gutierrez Jr.	January 10, 2011 – October 11, 2012
	Arturo Cacdac, Jr.	October 11, 2012 – June 30, 2016
Director of the Bureau of Corrections	Oscar Calderon*	December 29, 2007 – September 22, 2010
	Ernesto Diokno	September 22, 2010 – May 30, 2011
	Gaudencio Pangilinan Jr.	July 28, 2011 – August 16, 2012
	Manuel Co (in acting capacity)	August 22, 2012 – November 20, 2012
	Rafael Ragos (in acting capacity)	November 20, 2012 – March 12, 2013
	Franklin Jesus Bucayu	March 12, 2013 – June 1, 2015
	Ricardo Rainier Cruz III	June 18, 2015 – June 30, 2016

• *Retained from previous administration

• ‡Promoted from lower office(s)

Source: malacanang.gov.ph[32]

Supreme Court

When Aquino assumed office on 30 June 2010, the Supreme Court of the Philippines was dominated by a Chief Justice and associate justices that were appointed by his predecessor Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo. The only vacancy was for the associate justice seat that Renato Corona left behind after Arroyo appointed him Chief Justice on 17 May 2010 — a move that Aquino considered as a midnight appointment.[18][19] To fill the vacancy, Aquino appointed Maria Lourdes Sereno, a former government counsel in the Fraport case in Singapore involving the construction and turnover of the NAIA Terminal 3, as the 169th associate justice on 13 August 2010.[33][34]

Aquino made no secret of his opposition to Chief Justice Corona's appointment. He openly criticized the latter, such as on 6 December 2011, at the National Criminal Justice Summit held in Manila Hotel, when Aquino said in a speech that Corona, who was seated meters away from him, is beholden to Arroyo.[35] Aside from Arroyo's midnight appointment of Corona, Aquino also questioned the court's granting of a temporary restraining order lifting the watch list order of the Department of Justice against Arroyo[35] and the ruling of Camarines Sur's two new legislative districts as constitutional despite falling short of the required population set by the Constitution, which Aquino earlier questioned in the Supreme Court in 2009.[36][37]

On 12 December 2011, six days after Aquino's speech, his allies in the House of Representatives, where he has a sizable majority, voted to impeach Corona from his position.[38] Among the violations he was accused of committing that were included in the Articles of Impeachment are betrayal of public trust, culpable violation of the Constitution, and graft and corruption stemming from his alleged failure to disclose to the public his Statement of Assets, Liabilities and Net worth as required under the Constitution.[39] In an impeachment trial in the Senate that lasted from 14 December 2011 to 29 May 2012, senators voted to impeach Corona in a 20–3 vote based on Article 2 of the impeachment articles,[40][41][42] after it was revealed that Corona failed to disclose four dollar accounts and three peso accounts in his SALN.[41][42][43] Following Corona's impeachment, Aquino appointed Sereno as the 24th Chief Justice of the Supreme Court on 24 August 2012.[44][45][46]

Aside from Sereno, Aquino also appointed five other associate justices to the Supreme Court:

1. Bienvenido L. Reyes - 20 August 2011
2. Estela Perlas-Bernabe - 16 September 2011
3. Marvic Leonen - 21 November 2012
4. Francis Jardeleza - 19 August 2014
5. Alfredo Benjamin Caguioa - 22 January 2016

Major issues of presidency

Aquino's speeches

• Inaugural Address, (30 June 2010)
• First State of the Nation Address, (26 July 2010)
• Second State of the Nation Address, (25 July 2011)
• Third State of the Nation Address, (23 July 2012)
• Fourth State of the Nation Address, (22 July 2013)
• Fifth State of the Nation Address, (28 July 2014)
• Sixth State of the Nation Address, (27 July 2015)

Major acts as president

• Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (28 April 2014)

Domestic policies

US Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs William Joseph Burns (middle) shakes hands with President Benigno S. Aquino III (right) as United States Ambassador to the Philippines Harry K. Thomas, Jr. (left) looks on.

Infrastructure development

Throughout his presidency, Aquino promoted a larger private sector role in infrastructure development in the Philippines in order to hasten the financing, construction and operation of key infrastructure projects such as expressways, airports, and railways that would spur economic activity and growth. On 9 September 2010, Aquino signed Executive Order No. 8, which reorganized the Build, Operate and Transfer (BOT) Center into the Public-Private Partnership Center, which was tasked to facilitate, coordinate and monitor all public-private partnership projects, build-operate-transfer scheme projects, and private sector participation projects.[47][48]

The Muntinlupa-Cavite Expressway was the first PPP project approved by the Aquino administration, with Ayala Corporation winning the concession to build and operate the P2.2 billion four-kilometer toll road on 16 December 2011.[49] After delays in the acquisition of right-of-way, construction began in May 2013 and the expressway opened on 24 July 2015, with Aquino being the first person to drive through the toll road.[50]

Several other PPP projects were also either approved, constructed or completed during the Aquino administration:

• The P9.89 billion PPP for School Infrastructure Project Phase 1, which the Aquino administration approved on 19 December 2011, aims address the backlog in the number of classrooms in public elementary and high schools in the Philippines by building 9,303 one-storey and two-storey classrooms, including furniture and fixtures, in various sites in Regions I, III and IV-A. The project was completed and inaugurated on 6 January 2016.
• The P3.86 billion PPP for School Infrastructure Project Phase 2, which the Aquino administration approved on 29 November 2012. The project aims to construct 4,370 one-storey, two-storey, three-storey and four-storey classrooms, including furniture, fixtures, and toilets in 1,895 public schools in six regions (Regions I, II, III, X, CAR, and CARAGA). By 31 October 2015, 1,690 classrooms were already completed and delivered to the government, with the rest expected to be completed by the end of 2020.
• The P1.72 billion Automated Fare Collection System for the MRT 3 and LRT Lines 1 and 2. The project, which the Aquino administration approved in 2012, aims to decommission the old magnetic-based ticketing system and replace it with contactless-based smart card technology called the Beep card, with the introduction of a centralized back office that will perform apportionment of revenues. AF Payments Inc., a joint venture of Ayala Corporation and Metro Pacific Investments Corporation won the contract to develop, operate and maintain the fare collection system. The company launched the Beep card in the MRT 3 and LRT Lines 1 and 2 on 20 July 2015. It has since been introduced in other forms of public transportation such as the EDSA Busway, BGC Bus and Cebu's Topline Express Ferries, as well as in convenience stores such as 7-Eleven and Ministop.
• The P26.5 billion Metro Manila Skyway Stage 3, a 14.8-kilometer, elevated expressway envisioned to decongest traffic in Metro Manila. The project is an extension of the original Skyway project from Buendia to Magallanes (Stage 1) and Magallanes to Alabang (Stage 2), which would connect it with the North Luzon Expressway in Caloocan.

No ‘wang-wang’ policy

During the inaugural address, Aquino created the no ‘wang-wang’ policy, strengthening the implementation of Presidential Decree No. 96.[51][52] The term ‘wang-wang’ is a street lingo for blaring sirens.[53] Presidential Decree No. 96 was issued on January 13, 1973 by former President Ferdinand Marcos, regulating the use of sirens, bells, whistles, horns and other similar devices only to motor vehicles designated for the use of the President, Vice President, Senate President, House Speaker, Chief Justice, Philippine National Police, Armed Forces of the Philippines, National Bureau of Investigation, Land Transportation Office, Bureau of Fire Protection and ambulances.[51][52] However, despite having the privilege of using ‘wang-wang’, Aquino maintained he would set the example for his no ‘wang-wang’ policy, not to use ‘wang-wang’, even if it means being stuck in traffic and being late every now and then.[54][55] Aquino also traded the official black presidential Mercedes Benz S-Guard limousine for a white Toyota Land Cruiser 200.[54] After the inaugural address, the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority began to enforce Aquino's no ‘wang-wang’ policy, confiscating ‘wang-wang’ from public officials and private motorists who illegally used them.[52]

Formation of a truth commission

On June 29, 2010, Aquino announced the formation of a truth commission that will investigate various issues including corruption allegations against outgoing President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo. Aquino named former Chief Justice Hilario Davide, Jr. to head the truth commission.[56] However, the Supreme Court struck down the said commission because it "violates the equal protection clause of the constitution".

Executive orders

On July 30, 2010, Aquino signed Executive Order No. 1, creating the Truth Commission.[57] The commission is tasked to investigate various anomalies and issues including graft and corruption allegations against the past administration, government officials and their accomplices in the private sector during the last nine years.[57] The commission has until December 31, 2012 to complete its mission.[57] Chief Justice Hilario Davide, Jr. will head the commission.[57]

On August 4, 2010, Aquino implemented Executive Order No. 2, signed on July 30, 2010, ordering the immediate removal of all midnight appointments made by the previous administration for violating the 60-day constitutional ban on presidential appointments before a national election.[58]

On August 6, 2010, Aquino implemented Executive Order No. 3, signed on July 30, 2010, an executive order revoking Executive Order No. 883, signed by former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo on May 28, 2010, that automatically promoted lawyers in government executive service to the rank of Career Executive Service Officer III (CESO III).[59]

On August 9, 2010, Aquino implemented Executive Order No. 4, signed on July 30, 2010, reorganizing and renaming the Office of the Press Secretary as the Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO),[60][61] and creating the Presidential Communications Development and Strategic Planning Office (PCDSPO).[60][61] Aquino appointed former ABS-CBN News Channel (ANC) anchor Ricky Carandang and Herminio Coloma as secretaries of the new media communications group.[61][62]

On September 1, 2010, Aquino implemented Executive Order No. 5, signed on August 25, 2010, an executive order amending Executive Order No. 594, signed by former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo on December 20, 2006, stating the rules governing the appointment or designation and conduct of special envoys.[63] Executive Order No. 5 prevents special envoys from using the title "ambassador".[63]

On September 2, 2010, Aquino signed Executive Order No. 6, extending the duration of the operations of the Presidential Middle East Preparedness Committee (PMEPC) to December 30, 2010.[64]

On September 8, 2010, Aquino signed Executive Order No. 7, ordering the suspension of all allowances, bonuses and incentives of board members of government-owned and-controlled corporations (GOCCs) and government financial institutions (GFIs) until December 31, 2010.[65]

On September 9, 2010, Aquino signed Executive Order No. 8, reorganizing and renaming the Build-Operate and Transfer Center (BOT) to the Public-Private Partnership Center (PPP) and transferring its attachment from the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) to the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA).[66]

Hourly broadcast of original Filipino musical compositions on radio

On August 14, 2010, Aquino directed the Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) and the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) to fully implement Executive Order No. 255, issued on July 25, 1987 by former President Corazon Aquino, requiring all radio stations to broadcast a minimum of four original Filipino musical compositions every hour.[67]

Launch of official presidential website

On August 16, 2010, Aquino launches his official presidential website. The presidential website's aim is to create communication between Aquino and the people, getting feedback from the people, telling Aquino their woes and grievances.[68]

PAGASA ‘Reorientation’

On July 14, 2010, the National Disaster Coordinating Council (NDCC) called an emergency meeting in Camp Aguinaldo to assess the damage caused by Typhoon Basyang.[69] Aquino attended the meeting to obtain information on the damage caused by Typhoon Basyang and to personally monitor the repair and recovery work in the aftermath of the typhoon.[69] In the meeting, Aquino criticized the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) for failing to predict and to warn the residents of Metro Manila that Typhoon Basyang would ravage Metropolitan Manila.[69][70]

On August 6, 2010, Aquino announced the removal of Prisco Nilo as administrator of PAGASA.[71] PAGASA was directly under Department of Science and Technology (DOST) Undersecretary for Research and Development (R&D) Graciano Yumul.[71] A special order from DOST Secretary Mario Montejo, dated August 5, 2010, designated Yumul as PAGASA administrator, replacing Nilo.[71] On August 7, 2010, Malacañang announced that Yumul will be heading PAGASA temporarily, for only three months, as PAGASA will undergo a "reorientation" to improve its services.[72] Aquino has yet to name the new administrator who will permanently head PAGASA.[72]

Education reform

During Aquino's first State of the Nation Address (SONA), Aquino announced his intention to reform the education system in the Philippines by shifting to K–12 education, a 12-year basic education cycle.[73] K–12 education is used in the United States, Canada, and Australia.

Reproductive health

On September 30, 2010, Bishop Nereo Odchimar of Tandag, head of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines (CBCP), said that Aquino might face excommunication from the Catholic Church for supporting the Reproductive Health Bill, the plan to distribute and give Filipino couples the choice to use contraceptives for artificial birth control.[74] However, despite the possibility of excommunication, Aquino said that he is not changing his position on contraceptive use.[74] In January 2013, Aquino signed legislation which funds contraceptives for poor individuals; the law has been challenged in the Philippine Supreme Court.[75]

Foreign policies

First official trip to the United States

United States President Barack Obama with President Benigno Aquino III at a working lunch with leaders of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations around the United Nations General Assembly Meeting in New York City.

United States Secretary of State Hillary Clinton delivers remarks at the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) compact agreement signing ceremony with President Benigno S. Aquino III at the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel in New York City, on September 23, 2010.

On September 20, 2010, Aquino delivered his departure statement at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA), before leaving for his first official trip to the United States.[76] Secretary of Foreign Affairs Alberto Romulo, Secretary of Finance Cesar Purisima, Secretary of Trade & Industry Gregory Domingo, and Secretary of Energy Jose Rene Almendras, including 34 businessmen and 12 officials and support staff of the Presidential Communications Operations Office joined Aquino in the trip.[76] On September 28, 2010, Aquino arrived at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA), after his week-long working visit to the United States.[77] Aquino delivered his arrival statement at NAIA.[77]

Citibank Economic Conference

On September 22, 2010, Aquino delivered his speech during the Citibank Economic Conference in New York City.

Meeting with the Filipino community in the United States

On September 23, 2010, Aquino delivered his extemporaneous remarks during a meeting with the Filipino community at Baruch College in New York City.

On September 26, 2010, during a visit to the Seasons Market Place in Milpitas, California, Aquino was greeted by cheering members of the Filipino community of San Jose, California.[78] Aquino also delivered his speech in front of the Filipino community at the Mission San Francisco de Asís in San Francisco, California.

Millennium Challenge Corporation

On September 23, 2010, Aquino delivered his remarks at the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) compact agreement signing ceremony at the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel in New York City. The US$434-million MCC compact agreement will fund the Aquino administration's various programs on poverty reduction, revenue generation, and infrastructure development.[76]

Statement before the 65th United Nations General Assembly

On September 24, 2010, Aquino delivered his statement before the 65th United Nations General Assembly in New York City.

Meeting with Obama

On September 24, 2010, Aquino had a seven-minute one-on-one talk with President of the United States Barack Obama during the 2nd Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)-US Leaders Meeting at the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel in New York City.[79][80] During the meeting, Aquino recognized the United States’ commitment to reinvigorating its relationship with the region and its individual nations at a time of ever-increasing complexity in global affairs.[79] Obama expressed his determination to elevate RP-US relations to a higher level, and welcomed the Aquino administration's anti-corruption efforts.[79] Aquino and Obama also discussed military matters, about the possible removal of thousands of tons of war materials that Allied forces had left behind on Corregidor Island during World War II.[80]

First official trip to Vietnam

President Benigno Aquino III (3rd to the right) and other ASEAN leaders during the 2nd ASEAN-Russia Summit, Hanoi, Vietnam, October 30, 2010.

On October 26, 2010, Aquino delivered his departure statement at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA), before leaving for his first official trip to Vietnam.[81] On October 31, 2010, Aquino arrived at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA), after his first official trip to Vietnam.[82] Aquino delivered his arrival statement at NAIA.[82]

Meeting with the President and Prime Minister of Vietnam

On October 26, 2010, Aquino met with President of Vietnam Nguyễn Minh Triết at the Presidential Palace in Hanoi, Vietnam.[81] Aquino and Triết signed four memorandum of agreement on four areas of cooperation, namely, higher education, defense, oil spill preparedness and response, and search and rescue at sea.[81] Aquino also met with Prime Minister of Vietnam Nguyễn Tấn Dũng.[81] Aquino delivered a toast at the State Banquet hosted by Triết at the Government Guest House.

Meeting with the Filipino community in Vietnam

On October 27, 2010, Aquino delivered his extemporaneous remarks during a meeting with the Filipino community in Vietnam.

Statements during the ASEAN Summits in Vietnam

On October 28, 2010, Aquino delivered his statement during the ASEAN Leaders’ Retreat in Hanoi, Vietnam. On October 29, 2010, Aquino delivered his statements during the 13th ASEAN-Japan Summit, 13th ASEAN-Republic of Korea Summit, 13th ASEAN-China Summit, 13th ASEAN Plus Three Summit, and 3rd ASEAN-UN Summit in Hanoi, Vietnam. On October 30, 2010, Aquino delivered his statements during the 8th ASEAN-India Summit, 5th East Asia Summit, 2nd ASEAN-Russia Summit, ASEAN-Australia Summit, and ASEAN-New Zealand Commemorative Summit in Hanoi, Vietnam.

First official trip to Japan

On November 11, 2010, Aquino delivered his departure statement at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA), before leaving for his first official trip to Japan for the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Summit in Yokohama, Japan.[83]

APEC CEO Summit

On November 12, 2010, Aquino delivered his speech during the APEC CEO Summit in Yokohama, Japan.

APEC Economic Leaders Meeting Retreat

On November 14, 2010, Aquino delivered his statement during the APEC Economic Leaders Meeting Retreat in Yokohama, Japan.

2013 Midterm Elections

Legislative and local elections were held in the Philippines on May 13, 2013. Positions contested included half the seats in the Senate of the Philippines, which are elected for six-year terms, and all the seats in the House of Representatives of the Philippines, who were elected for three-year terms. The duly elected legislators of the 2013 elections joined the elected senators of the 2010 elections to comprise the 16th Congress of the Philippines. Aquino's Team PNoy coalition won 9 senate seats and 112 seats in the house.

Manila hostage crisis

On August 23, 2010, in front of the Quirino Grandstand in Rizal Park, Manila, the site of Aquino's presidential inauguration, the Manila hostage crisis occurred. Aquino expressed concern over the matter and gave his condolences to the victims. Aquino defended the actions of the police at the scene, stating that the gunman had not shown any signs of wanting to kill the hostages.[84] Aquino ordered a "thorough investigation" into the incident, and would wait until it is completed before deciding whether anyone should lose his or her job.[84][85] Aquino declared that the media may have worsened the situation by giving the gunman "a bird's-eye view of the entire situation".[85] Aquino also made reference to the Moscow theater hostage crisis, which, according to Aquino, resulted in "more severe" casualties despite Russia's "resources and sophistication".[86] On August 24, 2010, Aquino signed Proclamation No. 23, declaring August 25, 2010, as a national day of mourning, instructing all public institutions nationwide and all Philippine embassies and consulates overseas to lower the Philippine flag at half-mast, in honor of the eight Hong Kong residents who died in the Manila hostage crisis.[87][88] On August 27, 2010, at a press conference in Malacañang, Aquino apologized to those offended when he was caught on television apparently smiling while being interviewed at the crime scene hours after the Manila hostage crisis.[89] Aquino said;

"My smile might have been misunderstood. I have several expressions. I smile when I'm happy, I smile when I'm faced with a very absurd situation... and if I offended certain people, I apologize to them. It's more of an expression maybe of exasperation rather than anything and again, I apologize if I offended certain people, who misunderstood (my) facial expression."[89]

On September 3, 2010, Aquino took responsibility for everything that happened during the Manila hostage crisis.[90] Aquino actually has direct supervision of the Philippine National Police, since Aquino had asked Secretary of the Interior and Local Government Jesse Robredo to address other concerns, such as coming up with a comprehensive plan on delivering social services to and relocating informal settlers in coordination with the local governments.[90]

Aquino's bungling of the hostage crisis is considered the first major blunder in an administration characterized by misrule, incompetence, and corruption.

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External links

• Media related to Presidency of Benigno Aquino III at Wikimedia Commons
• Quotations related to Presidency of Benigno Aquino III at Wikiquote
• Official website
• Official profile in the website of the Philippine Senate