Benigno Aquino III sworn in as new Philippine president, promises to battle graft and poverty

Benigno Aquino III sworn in as Philippine leader

MANILA, Philippines — Benigno Aquino III has taken his oath as the Philippines’ president.

He now leads the Southeast Asian nation his late parents helped liberate from dictatorship and which he promises to deliver from poverty and pervasive corruption.

Aquino was sworn in Wednesday at Manila’s seaside Rizal Park as hundreds of thousands of people chanted his nickname.

Vice President Jejomar Binay took his oath before Aquino was sworn before a Supreme Court justice. Outgoing President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo accompanied Aquino to the venue then left to separately take her oath as a legislator in her northern Pampanga province.

Aquino and Arroyo are political nemesis.