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Palace admits paying for 'lease' on Aquino's armored Lexus car


Malacañang on Monday admitted that the Office of the President (OP) will foot the bill for the lease of an armored Lexus sedan used by President Benigno Simeon Aquino III for his official engagements. However, Presidential Communications Operations Office head Herminio Coloma Jr. insisted that riding either in the Lexus or Porsche has not changed the President's "simple" lifestyle. "Ito ay isang sasakyan na leased vehicle, hindi binili. Ang tumulong sa pag-lease isa sa kanyang brothers-in-law. Ito ay ginagamit sa official function. Walang katotohanan ang paratang (na) ito ay laruan, yan ang paglilinaw," he said in an interview on dzXL radio. (This is a leased vehicle, not bought. One of the president's brothers-in-law helped him lease the vehicle, which is used for official functions. There is no truth that the Lexus is one of his toys. This is just to clarify things.) When asked if it was the OP that would be footing the bill for the "lease" or if Aquino would be paying for the lease from his own pocket, Coloma said, "maaari pong ganoon (It could be that way)." However, when asked, "So ang Office of the President dahil sa official na ginagamit ito (So it is the Office of the President that is footing the bill because the Lexus is used for official engagements)?", Coloma replied, "opo, opo (yes, yes)." Aquino was criticized last week after he was seen driving to an official function in an armored Lexus LX-570 luxury sedan (with plate number PIZ 808). However, Aquino maintained that leasing a vehicle was a better alternative to using government funds in buying a new one. Coloma reiterated the Lexus was chosen for its "security features," adding that the presidential vehicles of Aquino's predecessor Gloria Arroyo were damaged by floods caused by tropical cyclone "Ondoy" (Ketsana) in 2009. "Hindi ito 100 percent reliable kasi na-Ondoy ito ... Lahat yan ay merong security features na kasama sa fleet na ginagamit maaring sa convoy. Pero yung mismong sinasakyan ng pangulo may unit na may security features na kinakailangan," he said. (The former president's fleet of vehicles is not reliable because they were damaged by floods brought by Ondoy ... While other vehicles in the presidential convoy should have security features, there are some added features the actual presidential vehicles must have.) Last Friday, Aquino approached media representatives covering the Palace beat to "clarify" the issue. Before being seen in the Lexus, Aquino was criticized for buying a Porsche sports car last year. Aquino explained that it was a used vehicle and that he bought it using his own funds. Meanwhile, Coloma said riding in flashy cars did not change Aquino's "simple" lifestyle. "Walang pagbabago sa lifestyle ang ating pangulo (There has been no change in Aquino's lifestyle since he became president)," he said. He also belied speculations that reports about the expensive cars had affected Aquino, who had asked journalists over the weekend to "balance" their coverage with positive stories. "Hindi naman po. Nananawagan na nga siya kasama sa pakikipag-dialogue noong Biyernes sa ating mamamahayag nananawagan kaunting balanse sa paghayag ng balita, kung may ganyan tukuyin din sana ang maiinam na kaganapan sa ating bansa para magkaroon ng balanced perspective ang ating mamamayan," Coloma said. (No, they have not affected him. All he asked is that journalists be more balanced. If they report on the negative, they should also report on positive things happening in our country.) – VVP, GMANews.TV

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