National

Philippines' Marcos draws ire for helicopter use for Coldplay concert

Jan 21, 2024

Manila [Philippines], January 21: Philippines President Ferdinand Marcos Jr drew flak on social media for his use of a presidential helicopter to attend a concert by British rock band Coldplay in a province north of the capital, Manila.
The Philippine Arena, the world's largest indoor arena, saw an influx of 40,000 concert-goers resulting in "unforeseen traffic complications along the route," the Presidential Security Group said in a statement.
The traffic situation posed a security threat to Marcos who attended the Friday night concert with his wife, prompting the use of the presidential chopper, it added.
But social media users criticised the use of taxpayer money by Marcos, the son and namesake of the late strongman president whose rule ended nearly four decades ago in a historic "people power" revolution.
"Using official resources, like the presidential chopper, for personal and non-official activities is generally considered an abuse of power or misuse of government resources," Facebook user James Patrick Aristorenas said in a post on Saturday.
"We paid for the use of the chopper, fuel and security, who knows even for the tickets for everyone," Facebook user Arvine Concepcion said.
Source: Fijian Broadcasting Corporation

More news

Amit Mishra's Emotional Track 'Aansoo' Out Now : Lyrics by Ajay Waghela, Music by Shivram Parmar

New Delhi [India], May 3: Panorama Music's latest release, "Aansoo," is more than just a song; it's an emotional journey through the void of heartbreak and love. The emotive lyrics, penned by Ajay Waghela, and music by Shivram Parmar deliver "Aansoo" as a song that will resonate with the listener long after the song is heard. This official video not only captures entering the void, using Amit Mishra's voice as the guide, but also an intriguing narrative by actors Naitik Desai, Pooja Doshi, and Bunty Patel, who made the story come to life. The video has resonated with audiences deeply.

May 03, 2025