This article was updated to reflect a more accurate headline.
In a birthday greeting to President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. posted on social media, Vice President Sara Duterte-Carpio thanked him and the 250th Presidential Airlift Wing (PAW) “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.”
She added, “Thank you for putting a premium on the desire of a working mother to be present in her children’s lives.”
After drawing the ire of online users who said Duterte-Carpio should be thanking taxpayers instead, her spokesperson Reynold Munsayac told reporters that the vice president does not use the chopper for personal matters:
“Ginagamit lang po ang chopper kapag kailangan sa official work and functions, based sa lugar na pupuntahan at urgency of schedule.”
(The chopper is only used when needed for official work and functions, based on the destination and urgency of schedule.)
Sources: CNN Philippines, OVP defends Duterte’s use of presidential chopper, Sept. 14, 2022; NewsTV5, ‘FAKE NEWS’ | Amid criticisms, OVP says Sara only uses PAF chopper for official functions, Sept. 14, 2022; ABS-CBN News, Only when needed: OVP defends VP Duterte’s use of presidential chopper, Sept. 14, 2022
The 250th PAW is one of the premier flying units of the Philippine Air Force. It provides air transport for the president and his immediate family, visiting heads of state, and other prominent local and foreign guests.
Editor’s note: This article was updated to reflect a more accurate headline.
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Sources
Inday Sara Duterte official Facebook page, I told PBB, we need a selfie because the Social Media Team needs an obligatory birthday selfie, hence the smileys…, Sept. 13, 2022
CNN Philippines, OVP defends Duterte’s use of presidential chopper, Sept. 14, 2022
NewsTV5, ‘FAKE NEWS’ | Amid criticisms, OVP says Sara only uses PAF chopper for official functions, Sept. 14, 2022
ABS-CBN News, Only when needed: OVP defends VP Duterte’s use of presidential chopper, Sept. 14, 2022
Philippine News Agency, OVP debunks fake news on VP Sara’s ‘daily use’ of pres’l chopper, Sept. 14, 2022
Manila Bulletin, OVP spox says Inday Sara uses gov’t chopper for ‘official work’, Sept. 14, 2022
RTVMalacañang, 250th Presidential Airlift Wing (PAW) Bluebirds Night, Sept. 14, 2017
(Guided by the code of principles of the International Fact-Checking Network at Poynter, VERA Files tracks the false claims, flip-flops, misleading statements of public officials and figures, and debunks them with factual evidence. Find out more about this initiative and our methodology.)
