Arroyo to be sworn in today amid tight security

On the eve of her inauguration, President Gloria Arroyo urged her foes to set aside post-election enmity and vowed to emulate former President Fidel Ramos, who reunited with the opposition and other detractors after the 1992 polls.

Arroyo, 57, is to be sworn in today for a six-year term amid tight security and planned protests by followers of movie star Fernando Poe Jr., her closest rival in the presidential race, as well as left-wing groups.

Thousands of riot police, snipers and troops have been deployed to secure her inaugural address at a historic Manila park and her oath-taking in central Cebu city, officials said. Authorities also are worried about possible terror attacks.

Arroyo said of her former detractors: "They gave their best shot. They were patriots in voicing their beliefs for the betterment of the country. They strengthened democracy and democracy won.

"I am thankful and I am reaching out my hand to all of them in the hope we can all work together," Arroyo said, adding that she will continue pushing for reconciliation until she gets a positive response from her critics and those who have vilified her in the past.

The cooperation of everyone could help her solve her country's underdevelopment, she said.
"What Ramos did was a good example, which I will also do now. Reach out. That is the most important (thing to do now)," Arroyo said.

"I am reaching out to those who opposed me in the last elections so that together we can build the nation. Ramos got even less (than the votes I recently received) but (he) succeeded in reaching out to the opposition," said Arroyo.

Arroyo pointed out that she has the biggest plurality ever as a presidential winner, with 40 per cent of the country's votes.

Foreign dignitaries, including an American delegation joined by the US Pacific commander and the foreign ministers of China and Japan, will also attend the ceremonies, officials said.

"This is a proud moment in Philippine democratic history as it is also a moment of stock taking," said Arroyo spokesman Ignacio Bunye.

"We hope that the line between allies and foes will finally be erased and the nation will now move forward as one."

"Now that the nation has hurdled the spectre of political uncertainty that has haunted confidence, the Arroyo administration is looking forward to permanent stability," Bunye said.

The inauguration of Arroyo is "both a watershed and a turning point," Bunye said, adding that Arroyo's oath taking would also be the means for her to unite a fractious country.

"This will drive national consolidation at an unprecedented pace," said Bunye. Her inauguration will also mark the end of the term of former President Estrada, which Arroyo had to finish, following her ascendance to the presidency in January 2001, after her predecessor was ousted by a military-backed street protests.