AQUINO WONDERS WHY LEXUS RATED BETTER THAN P29 BILLION DIVIDEND
MANILA, JANUARY 31, 2011 (MALAYA) BY regina bengco - MALACAÑANG yesterday defended President Aquino's new armored vehicle, a Toyota Lexus, saying it is necessary for his security.
When asked by reporters if there was an imminent threat on the President, deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte only said it was part of Aquino's "normal security."
Valte said the black bullet-proof Mercedes Benz limousine originally used by presidents is "no longer reliable."
"Mas delikado iyun kung mag-break down in the middle of somewhere. Kailangan lang, dapat sa normal security ng isang Pangulo na ang ginagamit niyang vehicle ay armored," she said.
The Toyota Lexus reportedly cost P6.8 million.
Aquino already created a stir when he bought a 2007 Porsche last year for P4.5 million.
The Lexus issue so irked Aquino that he went to the Malacañang Press Working Area unannounced Friday night.
"Pinapansin na naman, kotse na naman," he complained.
He also complained about the fixation with his luxury cars, and questioned reporters why they did not ask him about the P29.255 billion dividends that 19 government corporations turned over to him and the national government Friday morning, which he considered a bigger story.
"Alam ninyo kaya ako pumunta dito ngayon, today we had that 'di ba turnover to the National Treasury halos P29 billion. Bakit walang nagtanong sa akin tungkol doon? Last year P9 billion lang. Hindi kaya mas i-prioritize 'yung dumadagdag 'yung pondo ng National Treasury. Baka gusto niyong isama 'yung istorya na hindi ko pinabawasan 'yung pondo ng gobyerno," he told reporters.
"How many of you will recommend that I not ride in an armored vehicle? Especially at a time na nagkaroon tayo ng bombing incident? Merong IED explosive. I don't think any of you will advocate I don't leave the office anymore," he added.
Aquino said the Lexus belonged to a supporter and was leased for him by a brother-in-law. He insisted that no government funds were used.
He said the car had to be armored as required by the Presidential Security Group so that his security details would not have to wear additional body shields.
He said the (Mercedes Benz) limousine was no longer reliable because it got soaked during the massive floods caused by typhoon Ondoy (Ketsana) in 2009.
"Parang unang apat o limang beses na nagamit 'yan, tatlong beses na bumalik sa casa. Walang manual… So ayaw mo namang gamitin masyado 'yung na-Ondoy na nga, baka malaspag pa," he said.
He said the limousine will be used as primary vehicle for state visitors.
"If I had my choice, I would want to use my older Cruiser which is not armored kasi better 'yung ride and some other things na parang mas nag-e-enjoy ako doon sa sasakyan na 'yon. Pero 'pag 'yun naman ang ginamit ko, baka naman ang criticism: Why am I taking unnecessary risks?" he added.
When asked if he does not see any conflict of interest that it was a businessman-supporter who gave the car, Aquino said: "Pero bakit ka nag-iinsist? It's not mine. What is so hard to understand? I do want to return it after the need or kung pwedeng isoli na, naka-lease at this point in time."
He said he couldn't remember when he started using the Lexus. "Sorry, wala akong diary," he said
Aquino, whose one passion is cars, said aside from the Porsche and white Land Cruiser, he also has an Everest. "
"This is the last time I'll talk about cars," he said.
He belied reports that he has a Lamborghini and another BMW, which was a gift from a businessman. He said he has never seen a Lamborghini in the Philippines nor has he driven one.
He said he had a BMW before but he paid for it with his own funds, from a loan that took over three years to pay.
Aquino also lamented about the dilapidated state of some presidential vehicles.
He said he has been asked by some quarters not to use the old Fokker F-28 presidential plane which was bought by Ferdinand Marcos in 1983.
He said the presidential helicopter inherited from Fidel Ramos was also worn out. "I'll show you, dati may brass-colored, ngayon lead na. Nabura yung pagka-brass," he also said.
"Pero dahil ayoko ngang magdagdag ng gastos, so medyo take the risk na lang kung sinasabi nilang hindi na ganoon ka-updated sa safety 'yung mga ginagamit nating primary vehicles," he added.
FROM PHILIPPINES TODAY ONLINE
<http://www.philippinestoday.net/index.php?module=article&view=2754>
PNoy intends to keep his Porsche
PNS -- PRESIDENT Benigno Aquino III intends to keep the Porsche luxury sports car that he has bought despite the continuing controversy it has stirred, a Palace official said Tuesday.
The President sparked an uproar earlier this month when he acknowledged that he had bought a "third-hand" Porsche for P4.5 million, a move critics said was a sign of extravagance and an unnecessary flaunting of wealth amid the massive poverty in the country.
None of the critics accused the President of anything illegal, but they said his "expensive toy" was insensitive to the plight of the poor Filipinos who continued to struggle to survive.
Even the international news organizations and blogs have picked up the story of the Porsche owned by the President, an official who has always been known for his frugality.
Deputy Presidential Spokesman Abigail Valte said Mr. Aquino had not said anything about selling the car.
"As far as I am aware, the President has not mentioned anything about disposing of his purchase," Valte said.
She insisted that Mr. Aquino had done nothing wrong.
"We maintain that what the President does with his personal funds is his own [business]," Valte said.
She declined to say where Mr. Aquino parked his Porsche.
"I cannot tell you that," she said.
In a radio interview Tuesday night, Presidential spokesman Edwin Lacierda said that since President Aquino had just bought the car, it was likely that he would keep it—at least for now.
Earlier, Malacañang said President Aquino bought the Porsche 911 Turbo with P4.5 million of his own money, and then sold his old BMW X5.
Mr. Aquino said he was at least entitled to experience the rush of driving a sports car while he still could.
Valte sidestepped former Senator Ernesto Maceda's comment that Mr. Aquino had paid more than P4.5 million for the car.
In his column, Maceda said that, according to Porsche dealers, the going price for a second-hand Porsche Carrera 911 Turbo, with a low mileage such as the 10,000 kilometers on the President's car, was about P7.5 million.
"I don't have the figures on the transactions because we never asked him about that," Valte said.
Senator Miriam Defensor-Santiago defended the President, saying he could do what he wanted with his money. What was important is that the car was not a gift from someone doing business with the President. She then compared the purchase to "buying an expensive girlfriend."
"It's no business of the public if you want a trophy girlfriend for example or a trophy wife," Santiago said.
"So imagine, if you are a President and there is no girlfriend to share your life with, you can buy a sexy car."
But Kabataan Party-list Rep. Raymond Palatino and several columnists said Mr. Aquino had shown "sheer insentitivity" to the poor.
"He burdens the people with toll, fare and price hikes," Palatino said in a statement.
"He wants us to be calm about the increases as he delights himself with a luxury sports vehicle."
Last month, Mr. Aquino issued a memo prohibiting all agencies from acquiring or using luxury vehicles.
He ordered government officials "to be more prudent in spending government funds, especially in the acquisition of motor vehicles[,] to maximize the utilization of scarce government resources."
Posted by jessa on 01/27/2011 06:24 PM [131 views]
----------------------------------------------------------
Chief News Editor: Sol Jose Vanzi
© Copyright, 2011 by PHILIPPINE HEADLINE NEWS ONLINE
All rights reserved
----------------------------------------------------------
PHILIPPINE HEADLINE NEWS ONLINE [PHNO] WEBSITE
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Follow us on Twitter: http://twitter.com/phnotweet
This is the PHILIPPINE HEADLINE NEWS ONLINE (PHNO) Mailing List.
To stop receiving our news items, please send a blank e-mail addressed to: phno-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com
Please visit our homepage at: http://www.newsflash.org/
(c) Copyright 2009. All rights reserved.
-------------------------------------------------------------
