Aircraft technical problem delays Marcos’ trip to South Cotabato

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s visit to South Cotabato began hours later than planned on Wednesday due to a technical problem with the original aircraft that was supposed to take him there.

”The G280 command and control aircraft that flew this morning with the President onboard had to return to base a few minutes after takeoff due to a minor technical issue on the aircraft’s flaps operations,” Philippine Air Force spokesperson Col. Ma. Consuelo Castillo said in a statement.

”It is nothing serious, but since the PAF maintains the highest standards of flight safety, the pilots decided to do a precautionary return to base and have the aircraft thoroughly checked. There was a ready backup aircraft, which is a C295, and so the presidential movement was resumed immediately,” she added.

In a separate message, Presidential Communications Office Secretary Cheloy Garafil said the President was “okay.”

Marcos’ activities in South Cotabato started around 12 p.m. instead of 9 a.m.

He attended the launching of the South Cotabato Consolidated Rice Production and Mechanization Program in Banga town and a job fair, visited the Kadiwa ng Pangulo, and witnessed the distribution of government assistance.

The President was also scheduled to visit Albay later Wednesday for a situation briefing on Mayon Volcano’s unrest.