PAF: Gulfstream jet is for use of president
The military indirectly confirmed yesterday that the government’s Gulfstream G280 Command and Control aircraft was used to fly President Marcos to and from Singapore last weekend.
Philippine Air Force (PAF) spokesperson Col. Ma. Consuelo Castillo said the presidential jet is for use of the commander-in-chief as mandated by law.
While she did not directly answer in the affirmative when pressed by reporters if the aircraft was indeed utilized for the trip, she stressed that the Gulfstream jet is for the use of the President and First Family.
“The PAF, through the 250th Presidential Airlift Wing (PAW), is mandated to provide safe and secure air transport to the President for all his movements as directed by higher office,” Castillo said.
“It is the raison d’etre or reason for being of the 250th PAW, thus, all its air assets are dedicated for the use of the President and the First Family,” she explained.
Castillo said the G280 Gulfstream aircraft, being a command and control aircraft, “allows the President to perform his very critical function as Commander in Chief, AFP, while airborne, wherever he is around the globe; whether on state functions or otherwise.”
Flight tracker website Flightaware showed that the presidential jet took off from Manila at 1:03 p.m. on Oct. 1 and arrived in Singapore at 4:16 p.m. It left the city-state early on Oct. 3 and arrived in Manila at 3:26 a.m.
Aside from watching the Formula 1 Grand Prix race, Marcos has said his latest visit to Singapore was a productive business trip for the country’s benefit.
“They say that playing golf is the best way to drum up business, but I say it’s Formula 1,” Marcos himself said in a Twitter post as Malacañang also defended the trip.
“What a productive weekend! It was fulfilling to have been invited alongside several dignitaries and to have met new business friends who showed that they are ready and willing to invest in the Philippines,” he added.
Acquired in September 2020, the brand new Gulfstream G280 worth $36.999 million is a twin-engine jet procured by the PAF from the United States government through Foreign Military Sales. Its inaugural flight was on the same month carrying medical supplies from Manila to Davao City.
Then defense secretary Delfin Lorenzana, former health secretary Francisco Duque III, then interior secretary Eduardo Año, former COVID-19 national policy chief Carlito Galvez Jr. and other members of the Inter-Agency Task Force were its very first passengers.
Earlier criticized for being a luxury aircraft, the Gulfstream G280 “will primarily serve as platform to carry our senior leaders and commanders in the event of, example, crisis situation,” according to defense officials of the Duterte administration.
The Department of National Defense then said that the aircraft may be used by the AFP chief of staff, DND secretary, other major service commanders of the military and the President.
Defense officials had argued that it is unfair to brand the G280 as a luxury aircraft, however, noting that the jet is meant to be comfortable as it ferries high-ranking government and military officials.
Aside from Marcos, there were several other foreign leaders and dignitaries who watched the Formula 1 Grand Prix with Singaporean minister for manpower Tan See Leng, as they reportedly talked about bilateral ties, collaboration in energy cooperation and manpower policies on the sidelines.
Meanwhile at the Senate, Sen. Robin Padilla defended yesterday President Marcos for watching the Formula 1 race in Singapore, saying the leader needs to foster good relations with a global economic powerhouse like Singapore in order for the country to attract investments.