OVP refutes allegations of VP Sara’s daily use of presd’l aircraft

The Office of the Vice President (OVP) disputed internet charges and statements concerning Vice President Sara Duterte’s purported daily usage of a presidential helicopter in Davao City on Wednesday.

Following Duterte’s tweeted birthday greeting to President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr., OVP Spokesperson Reynold Munsayac refuted the subject, characterizing it as false news, in a Viber message.

“Fake news po yang araw-araw na gumagamit ng chopper para ihatid sa Davao kagaya ng inilalabas sa media. Manila based na po sa ngayon si VP Sara Duterte at ang family niya. Dito na din po nag-aaral ang mga anak niya (That’s fake news, the claim saying she’s using a chopper bound to Davao City on a daily basis. VP Sara Duterte now lives in Manila, with her family, even her kids are studying here),” he said.

The allegations came after Duterte praised the president for letting her to fulfill both her professional and mother responsibilities by granting her the 250th Presidential Airlift Wing (PAW).

“Thank you, PBB, and your 250th PAW (presidential airlift wing) for ensuring that wherever I may be found in the country during the day, I am home in time to tuck my children to bed. Thank you for putting a premium on the desire of a working mother to be present in her children’s lives,” she said earlier in her birthday greetings.

Moreover, Munsayac clarified that the said aircraft is only being used for official travels.

“Land vehicles din po ang ginagamit nila araw-araw. Ginagamit lang po ang chopper kapag kailangan sa official work and functions, based sa lugar na pupuntahan at (They are using land vehicles daily. The chopper is only used when needed for official work and functions, depending on the place and) urgency of schedule,” he added.

Munsayac also insisted that Duterte is keen to work efficiently, as well as “protective of government resources” at all times.

The Philippine Air Force (PAF) on also dismissed claims that Duterte travels from Manila to Davao on a daily basis using helicopters from the 250th PAW.

“We can attest to that na hindi po araw-araw ang paggamit ng ating helicopters, tulad po ng sinabing pag-uwi sa Davao, I presume po ang ina-assume nila is travel from Manila to Davao, I myself is a presidential helicopter pilot previously (We can attest that the helicopters are not utilized or flown daily, like that those being claimed that it is being flown to Davao. I am presuming that they are assuming that the helicopters are being used from the travel to Manila to Davao, I used to be also a presidential helicopter pilot),” said PAF spokesperson, Col. Ma. Consuelo Castillo, in an interview with CNN Philippines Wednesday night.

She added that the use of helicopters for this particular route is not practical as doing so would take almost half a day and involves a lot of refueling stops.

“Hindi po talaga rational and practical kung gagamitin ang helicopter natin sa pag-uwi sa Davao araw-araw especially if coming from Metro Manila (It is not rational and practical to use helicopters in going home to Davao everyday especially if coming from Metro Manila),” Castillo said.

Castillo, meanwhile, said the 250th PAW’s mandate is to transport the President, members of the First Family, visiting heads of state, and other local and foreign VIPs.

“And considering that our VP (Vice President) is the second highest leader of the land nararapat lang po na bigyan natin ng suporta ang mga movements ng ating Vice President lalo na if she is acting or performing her mandate on behalf of the President (And considering that our VP is the second highest leader of the land, it is only proper that we support all her movements especially if she is acting or performing her mandate on behalf of the President),” Castillo said.

She added that all helicopters and fixed-wing aircraft of the 250th PAW could be used only for official functions and must be authorized by the President.

“For instance, if the Vice President is going to use a presidential chopper, her office will forward a request to the Office of the President through the Presidential Security Group (PSG). Upon approval, the Office of the President will issue a directive to the PSG which will then forward it to the PAW of the Philippine Air Force. That is the only time our aircraft can be used,” Castillo said.

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