MANILA, Philippines (The Adobo Chronicles, Manila Bureau) – Boxing champion and senatorial candidate Manny Pacquiao today asked President NoyNoy Aquino to lend him the presidential helicopter to use during his campaign sorties.

Pacquiao made the request as Aquino defended his sister, Kris, after photos of her alighting from the presidential chopper went viral on the Internet. Critics questioned Kris’ use of the chopper in one of the campaign events for Liberal Party standard bearer Mar Roxas.

In defending his sister, the president said that Kris is one of the biggest taxpayers and occasionally, he wants to show the biggest “investors” the progress of the government’s tax-funded projects.

Pacquiao, who is running under a rival party headed by Vice President Jejomar Binay, says that he, like Kris, is entitled to the use of the presidential chopper because is also among the biggest taxpayers.

As a matter of fact, Pacquiao is No. 1 on the list of the top 500 taxpayers, according to records of the Bureau of Internal Revenue.  Kris  is No. 16 on the list.

Sources close to Aquino have confirmed that the president is regretting opening his big mouth.  There is now no reason for him to deny Pacquiao’s request.