Rody turns down Ramon Ang’s jet offer

MANILA, Philippines - San Miguel Corp. top honcho Ramon Ang had offered to buy President Duterte a business jet after the May 2016 elections. Duterte declined the gift.

Duterte said he asked Ang to instead help the people – something that the businessman agreed to.

Yesterday, Duterte was at the groundbreaking ceremony of the Biyaya ng Pagbabago, a housing project launched by Ang’s Pilipinong May Puso Foundation that would benefit at least 800 families when completed next year.

During his speech, the President revealed that Ang first offered to contribute to his campaign, an offer that he also declined.

After winning the May 9 election, Ang offered to purchase a Gulfstream jet for him, mindful of the fact that Duterte often goes home to Davao to be with his family and, on several occasions, taking commercial flights to do it.

He quoted Ang as saying, “I think what you’re doing is risky. It was OK (to take commercial flights) when you were a civilian, a mayor. But now that you’re a president, it’s dangerous.”

Duterte said that the offer of a business jet was a way to ensure his safety and security. He added that Ang, former president of Philippine Airlines, did not want to see him taking commercial flights.

On several occasions, Malacañang released photos of the President taking commercial flights of Cebu Pacific and Philippine Airlines. Duterte, who had earlier ordered the conversion of a presidential plane into an air ambulance, also asked his secretaries to do the same.

Ang, who received praises from the President for his charitable works and for working hard to achieve success, was also present at the groundbreaking of a housing project in Tugbok district in Davao. He vowed to pursue the Biyaya ng Pagbabago housing project to benefit more Filipinos.

Duterte earlier revealed that Ang was among his campaign contributors.