PGMA plans to buy own "Air Force 1"

**jjmd3_787** · August 14th, 2009 02:06 PM

There are rumors about an ongoing bidding for the purchase of an airplane for the president's use . . . much like the US Air Force One. The price tag is over 1B pesos!

WTF?! Akala ko ba naghihirap tayo? Hindi ba sabi niya na her term will expire on 2010? Ambait naman nya if that project is for the next elected president? May eleksyon ba talaga on 2010? Sanga-sanga na tuloy ang katanungan sa isip ko...

**tidus1203** · August 14th, 2009 02:08 PM

Sinusulit na lang lahat ng kapritso ng pagiging pangulo. She has 9 months left.

**CVT** · August 14th, 2009 02:17 PM

Dito na lang siya sa Paranaque mag-"Airforce1".... :hysterical:

8404:duel:

**LadyRider** · August 14th, 2009 02:24 PM

Originally Posted by CVT

Dito na lang siya sa Paranaque mag-"Airforce1".... :hysterical:

8404:duel:

Nyahahaah Sir CVT baka pagkamalan syan doon na Mama San! NYahahha

**jpdm** · August 14th, 2009 03:03 PM

Originally Posted by CVT

Dito na lang siya sa Paranaque mag-"Airforce1".... :hysterical:

8404:duel:

haha

**coiter** · August 14th, 2009 03:08 PM

hehe baka naman mabait talaga si GMA. diba nauna nang lumabas yung balita na balak niyang palitan yung mga presidential helicopters? if i'm not mistaken kasi, may law na hindi pwede ang incumbent president na magbudget or bumili ng gamit na self-serving. correct me if i'm wrong though. wrong timing din talaga. pero sino nga naman matinong presidente ang gagastos para sa next president kung di siya makikinabang? hehehe

anyway, i think it's still cheaper to charter rather than spend for maintenance, storage and salaries na ibabawas sa meager budget ng air force.

**ghosthunter** · August 14th, 2009 04:18 PM

Originally Posted by jjmd3_787

There are rumors about an ongoing bidding for the purchase of an airplane for the president's use . . . much like the US Air Force One. The price tag is over 1B pesos!

WTF?! Akala ko ba naghihirap tayo? Hindi ba sabi niya na her term will expire on 2010? Ambait naman nya if that project is for the next elected president? May eleksyon ba talaga on 2010? Sanga-sanga na tuloy ang katanungan sa isip ko...

One last bodyslam of a kickback before she steps down just to make sure the Arroyos have enough money to last a long time while living like kings after GMA steps down.

**ghosthunter** · August 14th, 2009 05:18 PM

Here's the news report:

http://www.gmanews.tv/story/169795/P...sidents-safety

[SIZE="4"]
Palace: Jet purchase to ensure President's safety[/SIZE]
MARK D. MERUEÑAS, GMANews.TV
08/14/2009 | 03:14 PM

Malacañang justified its planned purchase of a used jet, saying future Philippine Presidents should be “thankful" to the Arroyo administration “for ensuring a safe, reliable, and efficient air transport."

The planned purchase is also expected to spare the future President from undergoing “the same fate [of] President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo who risks her life and limb by using chartered civilian aircraft in performing her duties," the Office of the President said in a statement.

The statement was released after GMANews.TV reported and quoted a newspaper advertisement indicating that the Office of the President (OP) was looking to buy a used jet worth P1.2 billion.

Placed in the Philippine Star, the ad came out on Thursday, just as the President and her entourage remain under fire for having expensive dinners in New York City and Washington, DC.

The ad invited suppliers to bid for a used executive jet since one of two presidential aircraft – the 50-year old F-27 – is undergoing a maintenance check, the Office of the President (OP) said in a statement.

With only one aircraft available – a 29-year-old F-28 – the OP is still forced to charter civilian aircraft to address airlift requirements of the Philippines’ chief executive.

Besides being considered very costly, renting aircraft for presidential transport also poses “high security risks."

In turn, these risks may compromise “the life and limb of the President, members of her official and immediate family, the PAW [Presidential Airlift Wing] pilots, and the Presidential Security Guards accompanying her," the statement said.

“The PAW is not fully cognizant of the maintenance and operational procedures and practices being followed by the operators of the chartered civilian aircraft," the statement added.

Using a civilian aircraft also renders PAW pilots as mere co-pilots. "[And] in the past, there had been lapses on the part of civilian pilots."

The Palace assured that the new aircraft would be able to provide better security for the President and the people going along her, since the jet is equipped with an avionics system able to detect weather, terrain, and traffic factors among others.

"It is but fitting and proper that whosoever is the sitting President should be afforded proper amenities befitting his/her position as Head of the State," the Palace said.

The jet will benefit “will benefit more the next President and the Presidents after him/her" since Mrs. Arroyo is expected to leave her post in mid-2009 anyway.

The aircraft must be “factory new, twin-engine (turbo-fan engines), pressurized, fitted with auxiliary power unit, and with VIP cabin configuration," said an advertisement.

“The type of aircraft to be offered should have been used as a VIP/Executive aircraft by the country of origin and by at least two countries," the ad continued.

The ad was signed by a certain attorney Lynn Danao-Moreno, an assistant executive secretary and chairperson of the bids and awards committee of the Office of the President. -

**james00112233** · August 14th, 2009 05:41 PM

Originally Posted by CVT

Dito na lang siya sa Paranaque mag-"Airforce1".... :hysterical:

8404:duel:

baka naman gumastos sila dyan ng more than P500,000 tapos si Gloria naman ang bugaw nila.. hahaha...

**coiter** · August 14th, 2009 05:48 PM

wow. around US$25M. 2nd hand na naman. can't that buy a brand new learjet? dapat nga turboprop lang kasi most of our small airports can't handle jets yet. charter na lang pag international, or wag na talaga mag ibang bansa.

pano sila magbobora nyan? hahahaha or baka kaya nila minadali yung rehab ng caticlan airport para pwede na magland dun yung presidential jet. hehe