The Filipinos attacked her fiercely

Philippine vice president uses presidential plane to go home

The Philippine vice president sparked controversy over her use of taxpayers' money.

archival

When Philippine Vice President Sarah Duterte-Carpio posted her photo next to a government helicopter, she simply wanted to express her gratitude to President Ferdinand "Bong Pong" Marcos Jr., for his generosity in helping her get home in time and congratulating him on his birthday, but she didn't. You wouldn't expect this photo to anger the Filipino people from social media users and others.

In a Facebook post posted on Tuesday, Duterte-Carpio thanked the Philippine president and the Presidential Airlift Wing for helping get her home in time to help her children go to sleep.

The text of the post came as follows: My many thanks and gratitude for helping me wherever I am in the country during the day, to get home in time to put my children to bed.” And she added, addressing the president: “I thank you for your attention to the requirements of a working mother in being present in the lives of her children, I wish you success. From God as you celebrate your birthday, I pray to God to give you strength and wisdom, as you go down this difficult path you just started, Happy Birthday!

I wish you health and happiness.”

It was such a poignant message that some began asking: "Is the government using taxpayer money to ensure Duterte-Carpio gets home (every night) by helicopter?"

Knowing that the Vice President resides in Davao City, which is a two-hour flight from the Philippine capital, Manila.

One social media user, Mercy Oliveros, said: "Every night?!!

How much can fuel cost per day?

And in general?

And at a time when the price of fuel is at its highest?

Another, Riley Reyes, added: "Can the cost of fuel be used for a noble cause?

"Why doesn't your family come to Manila and stop wasting their hard-earned taxpayers money?" he added, addressing the vice president.

Another, Ra Chilli, says: "We know we don't get to ride in a helicopter, but better traffic management and public transport means a lot to us."

How much does it cost to operate a helicopter?

The 250th Presidential Airlift Wing - which operates aircraft and helicopters - is the flight unit of the Philippine Air Force, tasked with transporting the president, his ministers, and his staff.

One government critic said that operating the helicopter could cost thousands of dollars in an hour.

One of the experts says that the helicopter that the president lent to his deputy to deliver it to the house, wherever it is, costs 2,193 US dollars per hour or 125,000 pesos per hour, adding that “the Philippines is rich in its resources, but the people do not benefit from these resources.”

In response to the attack by social media users on the vice president, Duterte's spokeswoman Carpio said yesterday that the vice president does not use the helicopter every night to go home, stressing that her family now lives in Manila, according to local media reports.

"She uses the car to go home every day, but uses the helicopter only for official business and jobs depending on the location and urgent requirements," presidential spokesman Reynolds Monsayak was quoted as saying.

Other netizens expressed their support for the vice president in her work.

"It's her privilege, whether she uses it or not," says Citizen John Reagan. "Let's support both of them, the president and the vice president, to ensure the progress of our country," said Art Gina Barajas.

Follow our latest local and sports news and the latest political and economic developments via Google news