MANILA, Philippines - As far as President Aquino is concerned, his youngest sister Kris can always ride with him on presidential helicopters because the celebrity-talk show host is the country’s “top individual taxpayer.”
Aquino justified further that it has been his habit to invite even businessmen to hop in, if only to show them something from an aerial perspective.
“I do not know what reason the critics saw this. I only ask them: probably you know Kris is one of the top individual taxpayers,” Aquino remarked in Filipino.
Aquino’s comment was sought after pictures of the queen of multi-media went viral and was trending on social media, criticizing the Aquino government for allowing the younger Aquino to use government vehicles and join in partisan politics.
At the same time, Aquino pointed out to journalists that he also wanted his sister to reap and enjoy the benefits of what their parents had long fought for, Kris having been only a year old when the late strongman Marcos declared martial law in September 1972.
“I wanted to show her how democracy was restored by our parents in the country,” he said. “She was born when our family was really down and out.”
“Whether as an individual taxpayer or somebody who was very close to me, who shared all of the burdens, I think it’s but proper that I share the successes,” Aquino stressed in defending his sister.
Aquino said he could not understand why his critics could see nothing positive about him, and have in fact described him as “lame-duck by this time.”
“I really appreciate that critics still notice me. Thank you,” he said.
Aquino said the “same set of characters” is behind the criticisms against his administration.
“It only means the same set of characters do not see anything positive in me. They still continue, eh di thank you,” he remarked.
Presidential Communications Operation Office Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr. issued a statement Wednesday defending Kris, reminding reporters that “members of the President’s immediate family are allowed to ride with him in official government vehicles.”
Netizens have protested Kris’ use of the presidential aircraft, noting that government only utilized one in attempting to put the forest fire out in Mt. Apo in Davao but has actually used five helicopters for her use in what obviously was partisan politics.
Forty-five-year-old Kris, who took a break from her daily TV programs, has endorsed the candidacy of administration candidates Manuel Roxas II and Camarines Sur Rep. Leni Robredo.
Kris initially said she was only endorsing Robredo.
But Aquino told reporters that his sister volunteered to help the Liberal Party. Kris has so far joined the campaign sorties in Bulacan, Bacolod, Samar and Cebu in the hope of increasing the ratings of her brother’s anointed one.
Kris admitted she has been drawing flak from social networking sites because of the controversy, which has stirred debates on whether she violated the law and used government facilities for election campaign.
Section 261 of the Omnibus Election Code regards as an election offense the use of “any equipment, vehicle, facility, apparatus or paraphernalia owned by the government or by its political subdivisions, agencies including government-owned or controlled corporations, or by the Armed Forces of the Philippines for any election campaign or for any partisan political activity.” – With Alexis Romero