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Firm in PNP chopper mess asked to be excused from Senate probe


The firm that allegedly made misrepresentations in the multi-million sale of light operational helicopters to the Philippine National Police (PNP) in 2009 has asked the Senate blue ribbon committee that they be excused from Thursday's hearing. During Thursday's Senate inquiry, Senate blue ribbon committee chairman Sen. Teofisto Guingona III said they received a letter from the Manila Aerospace Trading Corporation (MAPTRA) asking that they be excused from the hearing so that they can "prepare" and submit their affidavit and other supporting documents in the next hearing. "They have given their asurance that they will be present next hearing," Guingona said. In 2009, the PNP Negotiation Committee started talks with MAPTRA for the procurement of one equipped LPOH and two standard LPOHs for P105 million, even though the PNP-SAF’s was in need of three equipped LPOHs. Then-PNP chief Director General Jesus Verzosa approved the supply contract to pay MAPTRA P104.985 million for the one Robinson R44 Raven II and two Robinson R44 Raven I helicopters. However, Guingona and Senator Panfilo Lacson said MAPTRA reportedly "intentionally misrepresented" the helicopters they were selling as brand new and the PNP accepted the same as true. They explained that flight logs indicate that the two R44 Raven I choppers sold to the PNP were already "pre-owned" as far back as March 2004. Lacson later on claimed that the helicopters were previously owned by the family of former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo. The Senate hearing was ongoing as of posting time. — RSJ, GMA News

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