Martinelli justifies use of government plane to attend political rally

DE PRENSA.COM/Daniel Gómez

Mena dijo que es totalmente censurable que se utilicen recursos públicos para beneficios personales o de un pequeño grupo.

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21/01/2013 - President Ricardo Martinelli today defended the use of the presidential plane to attend a  Cambio Democrático (CD) rally in Santiago Saturday.

"The presidential plane is for use of the president," he expressed to journalists. Martinelli said that earlier in the day he went to Chiriqui for the inauguration of the David airport.

He said that he has used his personal helicopter for more than 1,200 hours. This is the same case for his personal aircraft, which has been used for government business for more than 300 hours.

These have been provided for countless functions of the state, he said.

Martinelli's arrival aboard the presidential plane generated controversy. Partido Popular Vice President Teresita de Arias said that this fact may be a possible crime because Martinelli attended the event as president of the CD and not as the president of the country.