ShareThisSenators file complaint at Ombudsman
EX-FG ARROYO CHARGED. Senator Teofisto Guingona, chairman of the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee, together with Senators Panfilo Lacson and Aquilino Pimentel present the results of the Committee’s investigation into the alleged anomalous sale of second hand helicopters to the Philippine National Police. The three senators also showed copies of the Complaint that they later filed at the Office of the Ombudsman against former First Gentleman Jose Miguel Arroyo and 17 others.
PASAY CITY – The Senate Blue Ribbon Committee has recommended the filing of criminal charges against former first gentleman Jose Miguel Arroyo, his brother, Rep. Ignacio Arroyo, and 16 others for “robbing the Filipino people of P62 million” in connection with the Philippine National Police’s (PNP) controversial purchase of two second hand helicopters in 2009.
The committee chairman, Sen. Teofisto “TG” Guingona III, said that he and other senators led by Sens. Panfilo Lacson and Aquilino Pimentel, later filed a criminal complaint against the former gentleman for violation of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act and the Government Procurement Law at the Office of the Ombudsman “as citizens and individual senators.”
It was the first that senators themselves filed charges against those they investigated for alleged anomalous transactions.
Arroyo said he is ready to face the graft charges filed against him by senators despite the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee’s “biased” recommendations. “Clearly, this is a biased Senate where the law is trampled upon by their whim and prejudice. I am prepared to dispute the findings in the proper forum where the proper rules of evidence I am hoping will be upheld and observed,” Mr. Arroyo said.
Also charged were former Interior and Local Government secretary Ronaldo Puno and former PNP chief Jesus Verzosa.
Guingona said that there was a clear conspiracy between Arroyo and the PNP in the anomalous purchase of the choppers, which were sold as brand new and later discovered as second-hand.
“Nagkaisa, nagsama-sama sa panloloko, sabay-sabay ang galaw para lokohin ang taong bayan,” Guingona said as he presented the committee report during the Kapihan sa Senado on Thursday.
“This committee finds conspiracy among and between Mike Arroyo and the officers of the PNP,” Guingona said.
Though they will recommend the filing of charges for violations of the anti-graft and corruption law, Lacson said it would be up to the Ombudsman if a plunder case will be filed against Mike Arroyo and his alleged co-conspirators in the anomalous purchase of the PNP choppers. ”With Mike Arroyo’s influence, a scheming conspiracy ensured that the supply contract will be signed and that despite the clear fact that the delivered helicopters were clearly used helicopters, these will nevertheless be accepted by the PNP,” Guingona added.
Guingona said “it is clear” that Arroyo, as the alleged true owner of the helicopters, took advantage of the PNP and “robbed the Filipino people” of the P62 million used for the purchase of the second-hand helicopters sold to the PNP as brand new.
Other individuals recommended for filing of charges are National Police Commission oversight committee members Commissioner Miguel Coronel, Assistant Secretary Oscar Valenzuela and Director Conrado Sumanga; PNP negotiation committee members Luizo Cristobal Ticman, Ronald Dulay Roderos, Romeo Hilomen and Leocaldio Santiago Jr.; and Bids and Awards Committee members Ermilando Villafuerte, Roman Loreto, Jefferson Soriano, and Herold Ubalde.
Also recommended to be charged include Luis Luarca Saligumba, Nolan Antonio, Edgar Paatan, George Piano, who are all members of the PNP inspection and acceptance committee.
”Records show that the helicopters sold by Mike Arroyo to the PNP were already in the Philippines in 2004. No one, not a single person, questions the fact that these are used helicopters, old, second-hand and not brand new,” Guingona said.
Guingona said the former First Gentleman “conspired with private individuals and officers of the PNP,” violating the anti-graft and corrupt practices act and the government procurement reform law.
As a result of six investigations, the Blue Ribbon panel also recommended important legislative reforms in Republic Act No. 3019, like the increase of the penalties; increase the prescription period of offenses; and the right of the state to recover properties unlawfully acquired.
Under the Government Procurement Reform Act, the Blue Ribbon panel recommended to expand the list of offenses listed, and required entities to establish and make known the process and corresponding accountabilities in relation to stages other than bidding and/or negotiations.
”Lastly, this committee pushes for the passage of the Freedom of Information Bill to give definite, clear and implementable standards for concerned citizens and groups to have access to critical information,” Guingona said.
LionAir Inc. president Archibald Po and Manila Aerospace Products Trading Corporation (MAPTRA) president and general manager Hilario de Vera have been granted of their request to be covered by the Witness Protection Program for exposing that Mike Arroyo was the real owner of the two choppers sold as brand-new to the PNP.
Po said there are still two more helicopters allegedly owned by the former First Gentleman. The choppers are now at the Hangar 10 of the LionAir near the Manila Domestic Airport. Arroyo disowned the same two helicopters.
Lacson said it would be the court that will decide on what do to with the remaining two choppers that are actually part of the five helicopters bought by Arroyo before the 2004 presidential elections.
The committee report was signed by Senators Guingona, Lacson, Pimentel, Francis ‘Kiko’ Pangilinan, Antonio Trillanes IV, Franklin Drilon, Ralph Recto, Francis ‘Chiz’ Escudero and Pia Cayetano and Senate President Pro-Tempore Jinggoy Estrada.
Guingona said Senate Minority Leader Alan Peter Cayetano promised to also sign the report which is to be submitted for plenary approval at the resumption of the Senate session on November 15.