Presumptive president Rodrigo Duterte on Sunday said he will put presidential yacht, the BRP Ang Pangulo, up for sale to the highest bidder.
Duterte said this in an interview with reporters at Hotel Elena after meeting with prospective chiefs of the Philippine National Police and Armed Forces of the Philippines.
Moreover, Duterte said he wants all aircraft assigned to the Presidential Airlift Wing to be converted as "air ambulances".
Presumptive president Rodrigo Duterte on Sunday said he will put presidential yacht, the BRP Ang Pangulo, up for sale to the highest bidder.
Duterte said this in an interview with reporters at Hotel Elena after meeting with prospective chiefs of the Philippine National Police and Armed Forces of the Philippines.
Moreover, Duterte said he wants all aircraft assigned to the Presidential Airlift Wing to be converted as "air ambulances".
Historic ship
The Japan-built BRP Ang Pangulo was acquired by the Philippine government in 1959 as part of Japan's war reparations to the country. The yacht was first used by President Carlos P. Garcia.
The ship was initially christened RPS Lapu-Lapu and served as the flagship of the Philippine Navy until December 1961.
In 1962, President Diosdado Macapagal ordered the ship's conversion into a troop transport and renamed the ship after President Manuel Roxas. The re-christening ceremony was officiated by Trinidad Roxas, the late president's widow.
Roxas is the grandfather and namesake of Manuel "Mar" Roxas III who is trailing Duterte in the partial and unofficial count made by the elections' citizen arm, PPCRV.
The vessel was later renamed RPS The President. President Ferdinand Marcos renamed the vessel as BRP Ang Pangulo and restored its use as the presidential yacht.
On its 50th commissioning anniversary in 2009, President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo renamed the ship as BRP Pagasa.
The ship's name reverted to BRP Ang Pangulo in 2011.
A "home" video found in Malacañang immediately after the Marcoses fled in February 1986 showed the late dictator, his wife Imelda and children Bongbong and Irene hosting a New Year's eve party on board the yacht.
Bongbong was among those who ran for vice president in this year's elections and is trailing front runner Leni Robredo in the latest count.
Source: GMA NEWS TV
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