One of the biggest issues that Philippine President Noynoy Aquino has faced in his first year in office is his purchase of a third-hand 2007 Porsche 911 Carrera GTS at the price of P4.5M. He has earned so many criticisms for that and political analysts put the blame on that Porsche purchase for the eventual drop in his satisfaction rating.
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| Porsche 911 Carrera GTS |
In fairness, if he has bought it with his own money, there seems nothing wrong. The important thing is that he does not steal from the people’s money. However, law prohibits ostentatious living for public officials and bids them to live within their means and lead simple lives. The intention of the law, I believe, is to keep officials from temptations to commit graft and corruption while in office. Maybe, if he already has a Porsche before he has become a president, there would have no issue at all.
Just yesterday, President Aquino has announced that he has sold his Porsche car. Many think that he has done a laudable act by selling his car. It shows that he gives value to people’s perception about his leadership.
Now, according to Arnold Clavio, famous GMA-7 News personality, he has found out from undisclosed sources that the president has allegedly received a BMW worth around P8M from a certain businessman connected in mining. I hope that this report is not accurate because for a public official, receiving a gift for any reason violates the law. I am just not sure if it is a BMW M6 or an X6.
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| 2012 BMW M6 |
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| BMW X6 |
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| A Learjet-60 |
Clavio also reports that people in Malacanang Palace are planning to upgrade the president’s official aircraft. In all fairness, the Presidential Air fleet consists of a Fokker F-27, F-28 and a Bombardier Learjet-60, which are old. Maybe it is time to have a new one for the safety of the president. However, the amount of the undisclosed model of aircraft is around $700M. It seems too far above the ground. The amount is enough to purchase 23 F-15 fighter jets ($30M each) for the capability upgrade of the Philippine Air Force.
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| An F-15 Fighter Jet |
If this ostentatious and audacious plan pushes through, I think the president will get into deeper trouble from detractors and the political oppositions who are just waiting for the next issue they can exploit against him. We can only wait and see.
Is it much ado about nothing? I don’t think so.
Images above courtesy of:
i don't see anything wrong with the porsche either. he can buy it with his own money. but a new private plane should be reviewed well because this will come from the nation's money.
ReplyDeletehi carina,
ReplyDeleteyes, i hope they would exercise discretion