The presumptive president of the Republic of the Philippines, Pres. Rody Duterte changed his plans to sell the presidential yacht because of some complications as revealed to the media during an interview that he will just turn the historic presidential asset into a floating hospital. BRP Ang Pangulo is the official yacht of the Philippine President which will be used also by the chief executive as its floating office.
During the past few days, Mayor Duterte said that he will be selling the BRP Ang Pangulo and use the proceeds to compensate war veterans, improve hospital facilities, and raise salaries of doctors so they will no longer be interested in seeking higher-paying jobs abroad. According to Mayor Duterte his plans of selling the presidential yacht needs to undergo the procedure described by law.
In an earlier interview with Brig. Gen. Restituto Padilla said that Mayor Duterte’s plan has to follow procedures for the disposal of government and military assets. An evaluation committee would also be created to determine if such a sale is necessary, Padilla added.
As a response to Padilla, Mayor Duterte changed his mind of selling the presidential assets. He was quoted as saying “Sabi ni Padilla, hindi raw maipagbili iyung ‘Pangulo’ kasi may proseso pa raw daanan. Natural, ano ‘yan, maruya na sabihin mong ‘pabili nga,'” he quipped.
But since the process may take until 2015, Duterte said he will just order the BRP Ang Pangulo to be used as a floating hospital for conflict-torn areas. “Gagawin ko na lang ‘yang hospital so kung saan ‘yung conflict areas, whether it is a war or whatever, i-parking ko ‘yan doon,” he said.
President-elect Rody Duterte revealed to the media that the presidential yacht (BRP Ang Pangulo) has some 20 cabins that can be refurbished with medical equipment for magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and other procedures.