Indonesian no-show lets Filipinos switch hotels

By John Andrews

Apec and hotel staff are coy about why 46 members of the Philippines delegation switched their Auckland accommodation yesterday.

The Filipino officials, including their leader President Joseph Estrada, moved into the Heritage Auckland in preference to the Auckland Park Regency Hotel in Greys Ave.

The Weekend Herald was told that the Filipinos were unhappy with the size of the Park Regency's rooms But representatives of the Apec Taskforce and the Park Regency would not comment on the suggestion. An Apec spokesman said the Philippines delegation was allocated the Park Regency and had booked in.

Leaving more than half their delegation to stay put, the others moved into Heritage Auckland rooms made available by the non-appearance of Indonesia's President Jusuf Habibie and his party.

"The Filipinos have said that the Park Regency will not be out of pocket," said the Apec spokesman. "What we think may happen is that the surplus the Park Regency has will be used for overflow [guests] from other delegations."

He said it was up to the Filipinos to explain their reasons for moving out.

Miss Ethel Vinzon of the Philippines Foreign Affairs Department said senior delegation members had made the decision to change hotels but she was unsure of their reasons.

Kaye Martin, general manager of the 170-room Park Regency, referred the Herald to the Apec Taskforce for comment about the switch.