Duterte under heavy fire for jet purchase

Manolo B. Jara

President Rodrigo “Rody” Duterte is under heavy fire from militant groups and Filipino commuters who are experiencing hardships due to what they called a worsening “transport crisis.” The objects of criticisms were the purchase by the Philippine government as confirmed by an official of the purchase from the US of two aircraft — a C295 and a G280 — for a total of $36.9 million.

Arsenio Andolong, the spokesman of the Department of National Defence, said the Gulfstream G280 jet, described by critics as “luxury aircraft,” could carry Duterte, the defence secretary and senior military officers who could use the aircraft for “command and control functions.” On the other hand, Andolong said the C295 plane would be used for transport and maritime missions and is expected to be delivered this year. On the other hand, he said, the G280 may be turned over to the Philippine military in 2020.

Danilo Ramos, the chairman of the militant Farmers Movement of the Philippines, commented: “Duterte will have a new ride while Filipinos are left stranded without any means of quality mass transport.” Ramos was referring to the displacement of thousands of commuters due to the burgeoning traffic situation in Metro Manila, coupled with the scaled down operation of the Light Rail Transit 2.

Operation of the LRT-2 have been suspended since Oct.3 after fire broke out at one of his major station, damaging equipment and parts of this tracks. The line ferries about 220,000 passengers daily, according to officials.

Salvador Panelo, the presidential spokesman, quickly came to Duterte’s defence, saying: “What do they mean by transportation crisis.? I just see traffic. There is transportation and we all manage to get a ride.” But Panelo, also the chief presidential legal counsel, admitted that commuters just have to wake up early to get to their offices or appointments.

In this light, administration Senator Joel Villanueva said labour regulators and employers should study seriously the use of alternative solutions such as telecommuting, meaning work from home schemes to maintain the productivity of workers for which he has filed a bill before the Senate.

Villanueva said his proposal would benefit employers and their workers so that they could fulfil their duties while minimising the need to go out of their homes and travel to their workplaces.

“It’s not right for our workers now,” Villanueva explained, “to consider travelling to and back from work for their loved ones as torture.”