MANILA - Malacañang on Thursday said Presidential Assistant for the Visayas Michael Dino should not be blamed for the apparently uncoordinated landing of the chopper carrying him at the Philsports Arena in Pasig.

Dino drew flak on social media after a video of the chopper landing while student athletes were participating in a sports meet made the rounds online.

He has since explained that his chopper landed at the Philsports Arena grounds to pick up other individuals and go the comfort room.

The chopper landing was apparently uncoordinated, according to Philsports Arena staff, in violation of protocols.

But if there is someone to blame for the incident, it should be the pilot, said Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo.

“I think the pilot did not know there was a game going on. So while they were waiting, he asked for a restroom and he went there… that’s the fault of the pilot, not of the passenger,” Panelo said in a Palace press briefing.

“The pilot should have known that. Kasi you are supposed to have clearance eh. Magpapaalam ka muna kung saan ka pupunta.”

The Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines will summon the pilot and crew of the chopper, according to the agency’s spokesperson Eric Apolonio.

Apolonio said the chopper’s pilot may be held liable if proven that their act compromised the safety of the public.