Philippine leader Marcos slammed for taking helicopter to Coldplay show amid Manila’s crazy traffic

Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr drew criticism for going to the concert of rock band Coldplay using the presidential helicopter. - PHOTO: PHILCONCERTS/X via The Straits Times/ANN

MANILA: The Philippines’ music-loving President is drawing flak online for using a government helicopter to bypass the capital’s horrendous traffic – ranked as the world’s worst – to see a concert of popular rock band Coldplay on Jan 19.

Most were venting their frustrations over how awful traffic is around metropolitan Manila – a sprawling metropolis of 16 cities densely packed with over 13 million people – and how President Ferdinand Marcos Jr and his government seem oblivious to it.