MANILA, Philippines -- Malacañang bristled at insinuations that President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo compelled the pilots of the Bell 412 presidential chopper to fly despite erratic weather last April 7.

The chopper crashed shortly afterwards, killing all eight people aboard.

”Those are irresponsible, grandstanding, political statements,'' Press Secretary Cerge Remonde said in an interview over the government-run Radyo ng Bayan, pointing out that the weather was good at both the points of origin and destination.

Senator Rodolfo Biazon and his son, Representative Ruffy Biazon, asked who ordered the chopper to take off from the Loakan Airport in Baguio City for Banaue at past 4 p.m. that day when the weather generally turns bad.

The chopper crashed in Tinoc, Ifugao while en route to Banaue that day, killing five presidential aides, two pilots and a crew member.