The G280 Gulfstream jet worth $37 million or P2 billion which will be used by President Rodrigo Duterte, Cabinet officials and top-ranking military officers has arrived in the Philippines.
Last September 17, it was turned over by the Gulfstream Aerospace Corporation to the Philippine Air Force (PAF).
On Monday, G280 took its first-ever inaugural flight bound to Davao City, the hometown of Duterte and it is carrying personal protective equipment or PPEs.
Among the passengers on board the newly-bought jet were Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana, Interior Secretary Eduardo Año, Health Secretary Francisco Duque, coronavirus policy chief implementer Carlito Galvez Jr, and other officials of the Inter-Agency Task Force against COVID-19.
But according to Rappler.com, the jet will most likely be used by the president himself as well as his Cabinet officials and military personnel from traveling to Davao and Manil (vice-versa).
Recently, Duterte returned to Davao to see his family.
In 2019, the purchase of the G280 Gulfstream jet made headlines because it is said to be too expensive.
However, the Armed Forces of the Philippines stressed that the jet could be used especially during crisis.
The Defense secretary noted that it was “necessary for a 24/7 real-time command and control, especially during crisis situation.”
The G280 was bought in connection with the modernization program of the AFP.
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