MANILA, Philippines - Presidential aspirant Senator Benigno "Noynoy" Aquino III is scheduled to go to President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo's home province of Pampanga Friday morning for the wake and funeral of a campaign volunteer.

"He will be in Mexico, Pampanga at 10 a.m. to visit the funeral-wake of the slain NAPM (Ninoy Aquino for President Movement) volunteer," according to Aquino's spokesman lawyer Edwin Lacierda.

Mexico belongs to the third district of Pampanga. President Arroyo is running for a congressional seat in the second district.

On Thursday, Aquino opposed proposals by administration allies for President Arroyo to appoint the next chief justice of the Supreme Court due to the constitutional ban on midnight appointments.

“If elected President, I will not recognize a Chief Justice appointed by the outgoing President, contrary to the constitutional ban on appointments during the wee hours of her presidency, and contrary to propriety and delicadeza and long standing precedence of prohibition against appointments two month before the outgoing president's term expires," Aquino said in a statement sent Thursday night.

"Let me forewarn any member of the Supreme Court who shall accept to be Chief Justice by appointment of the outgoing President, that not only shall he not be recognized, but he risks even his presence in the Court as an associate member," he added.

Chief Justice Reynato Puno retires in May 17, which is within the 3-month ban on appointments by outgoing presidents.

However, administration allies have argued that the SC cannot afford not to have a chief justice during a crucial period such as elections. They are also not keen on the SC associate justices electing an acting chief justice.