President Ferdinand 'Bongbong' Marcos Jr. on Tuesday, January 23, said rock band Coldplay's concert in Bulacan was an event that he would not miss as a music lover.
"Siguro by now, alam niyo na music lover talaga ako, I have been for a long time. I studied music for many years. And to have somebody like Coldplay, unmissable dapat 'yun, you cannot miss," he told reporters during an ambush interview.
Marcos said his concert experience was "fantastic".
"Ask anybody who attended the concert. Ibang klase, hindi na yung concert yung pinupuntahan namin dati. Ibang-iba na. It's a whole... Not only that, they showed spectacular, 'di pa ako nakakita ng ganon. Wala pang gano'n," he added.
Over the weekend, Marcos was slammed by netizens for using a presidential chopper to travel to the Philippine Arena and attend the concert on Friday, January 19.
The President went to the concert with First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos and their youngest child, Vinny, as seen in the photo released by the First Lady.
Some eagle-eyed Codplay concertgoers took videos of the chopper's arrival and departure from the venue.
Bayan President Renato Reyes was among those who aired criticism against Marcos' use of chopper.
"A president who takes a chopper to watch a concert amid terrible traffic and a mass transport crisis, will not sympathize with jeepney drivers and operators who are set to lose their livelihood after January 31. This is the state of transportation in the Philippines today," he pointed out in an X (formerly Twitter) post.
Gabriela Partylist Rep. Arlene Brosas, meanwhile, called the President's chopper use "insensitive and out-of-touch" amidst the mass transportation crisis in the country.
"It was very insensitive and out-of-touch. Kaya naman pala hindi nag-atubili ang presidente na tanggalan ng kabuhayan ang mga jeepney drivers -- hindi kasi danas ang hirap na nararanasan ng ordinaryong Pilipino sa kawalan ng maayos na pang-masang transportasyon," she said in a statement posted on the partylist's Facebook page.
Presidential Security Group Commander Nelson Morales had justified the chopper ride, saying that they wanted to ensure the President's safety as the "unforeseen traffic" posed a "potential threat."
