‘Air Pichay’ carrying admin bets to sorties

Administration candidates have been moving around the country in their sorties mostly through “Air Pichay." “Air Pichay" refers to the chopper and two planes – a five-seater, a 14-seater, and a 16-seater – owned by Prospero Pichay Jr., the presidential political adviser who is helping Lakas-Kampi-CMD candidates in their campaign for the May 10 elections. Pichay said he is not charging the party for the use of his aircraft. “It’s my donation. I am part of the party so nakakahiya naman (it’d be wrong) if I use the campaign as negosyo (to earn money)," he said. He said he does not even ask for reimbursements for fuel despite the fact that the helicopter consumes P6,000 per hour, while the 16-seater plane consumes P16,000 per hour. Pichay said the fuel consumption “is not a big deal" because the trips usually take only one to two hours. He said the candidates sometimes take commercial flights. “Tumutulong tayo (I help) if needed. They also helped me when I ran. It’s about time na tumanaw ako ng utang na loob (that I reciprocate the gesture in kind). It’s my turn to help them," he said. Pichay, a former congressman representing Surigao del Sur province, ran for senator in the 2007 elections but was unsuccessful. President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo appointed him chairman of the Local Water Utilities Administration after the one-year appointment ban was over. Lakas-Kampi-CMD senatorial bet Rey Langit said the national ticket has split into two groups in the campaign, with one composed of presidential bet Gilberto Teodoro Jr. and his running-mate Edu Manzano, and the other composed of the senatorial candidates. On Tuesday, the Lakas-Kampi motorcade passed through the narrow streets of Malabon City and distributed calendars to the residents. The administration candidates also toured the Concepcion Public Market where they spoke before a crowd of more or less 300 people. They also visited the Malabon Public Market, after which they held a boodle fight with residents of depressed areas at Bgy. Tonsuya. - KBK, GMANews.TV