President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s security team defended his decision to use a helicopter to attend the Coldplay concert, citing “unforeseen traffic complications” that posed security risks for the chief executive.
Jesus Nelson Morales, the commander of the Presidential Security Group (PSG), addressed criticisms after Marcos faced backlash for opting to travel by chopper to the nearby Philippine Arena on Friday. Morales explained that the venue experienced an unexpected surge of 40,000 attendees, leading to unanticipated traffic issues along the route. He emphasized that the PSG took decisive action to ensure the President’s security by choosing the presidential helicopter. Morales appealed for public understanding, stating that the traffic situation presented a potential threat to the President’s safety.
Marcos and First Lady Liza Araneta Marcos were among the fans who attended Coldplay’s concert on the first night. Photos and a viral post on social media showed the helicopter used by Marcos, with a clip revealing the presence of more than one chopper at the aircraft landing area. Piston, a progressive transport group, criticized the use of the presidential helicopter, pointing out that the concert venue is merely 32 kilometres away from Malacañang. In a tweet, Piston highlighted the irony of President Marcos advocating for the phasing out of jeepneys under the guise of environmentalism while he opts for a helicopter ride to a concert. The group also expressed concern about the potential loss of jobs for informal transport workers by February 1.
During the concert on Friday, Coldplay’s lead singer, Chris Martin, expressed gratitude to fans for making the effort to reach the Philippine Arena despite heavy traffic. Martin acknowledged the traffic issues, jokingly referring to it as “bull****,” and thanked the audience for overcoming the challenges to attend the event. A video posted by a netizen showed Marcos seemingly laughing and covering his face in response to Martin’s comments.
Earlier in the week, the transportation department announced plans to expedite road projects after Metro Manila received the dubious distinction of having the worst traffic among metro areas globally. A 2018 study by the Japan International Cooperation Agency projected that the Philippines could incur a daily loss of ₱5.4 billion due to traffic by 2035 if no interventions are implemented in the capital region.
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