Marcos slammed for using helicopter to attend concert

MANILA — Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr has drawn flak on social media for his use of a presidential helicopter to attend a concert by the British rock band Coldplay in a province north of the capital Manila.

At the Philippine Arena, the world's largest indoor arena, there was an influx of 40,000 concertgoers resulting in "unforeseen traffic complications along the route", the Presidential Security Group said.

The traffic situation posed a security threat to Marcos, who attended the Friday night concert with his wife, prompting the use of the presidential helicopter, it said.

However, social media users criticized the use of taxpayer money by Marcos, the son and namesake of the late president whose rule ended nearly 40 years ago in the so-called People Power Revolution.

"Using official resources, like the presidential chopper, for personal and nonofficial activities is generally considered an abuse of power or misuse of government resources," Facebook user James Patrick Aristorenas said in a post on Saturday.

"We paid for the use of the chopper, fuel and security, who knows even for the tickets for everyone," Facebook user Arvine Concepcion said.

Agencies Via Xinhua