Aquino gives go-signal for purchase of 2 presidential cars

MANILA, Philippines - Saying security could not be compromised, President Aquino has given the go-signal for the purchase of his official car and those that will be used by state visitors.

“We’re checking now what vehicles are available and what are suitable,” Aquino, who was heavily criticized for buying a luxury car when he was still new in office, said in Baguio City after attending the Philippine Military Academy graduation rites over the weekend. He said there would be state and government leaders visiting the country and it would be humiliating if the cars provided them would malfunction.

In the case of the leaders of Kuwait and Qatar, the President said “it’s well and good if they are roughly my age or younger.”

“If they’re a little older than me, it may not be that easy if we ask them to ride the Cruiser. It will be difficult to explain if they trip and fall. But you saw the vehicle that was left to me, as you know, it has suffered in flooding. The distributor of the vehicle stated that they have repaired it and it is running well. But there is no guarantee that there will be no future issues,” Aquino said.

He said the emphasis is for the safety of the visitors who will be bringing substantial investments, “which would reflect on the government’s capacity to ensure that investments are worthwhile here.” 

The President said providing security was his primary responsibility and that he was grateful that many leaders would want to visit the country due to their interests in business prospects her.

“They are also interested to help us in the many different problems that we have. That is also part of the courtesy,” he said. Early this month, lawmakers filed House Resolution 2191 asking the government to acquire a new bulletproof and bombproof vehicle for the President.

An Waray party-list Rep. Florencio Bem Noel said Aquino could no longer use the black bulletproof Mercedes Benz presidential car that Aqunio’s predecessor used after it was submerged in flood during tropical storm “Ondoy” in September 2009.

“The President’s car is very old. Politicians, businessmen, mayors all use bulletproof cars. Our President does not. He has the number 1 license plate but his car is old. Even the PSG (Presidential Security Group) say they have to follow the President closely due to security reasons and the President does not like too many guards following him,” Noel said.

Aquino currently uses his own Land Cruiser and a bulletproof Lexus.

According to the House resolution, the three-vehicle official presidential fleet at Malacañang – consisting of two Mercedes Benz W221 S-Class limousines acquired in 1998 and a Mercedes-Benz S-Guard automobile bought in 2007 – is “in a sorry state, unfit for use by the Chief Executive.”