Pilot confirms choppers sold to PNP used by Arroyos

A pilot has confirmed that two of the three helicopters allegedly sold forcibly to the Philippine National Police (PNP) in 2009 were used by the family of then-President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo. During Thursday's Senate blue ribbon committee hearing on the alleged misrepresentations of on the PNP's multi-million purchase of helicopters, Superintendent Claudio Gaspar Jr. confirmed that the two R44 Raven I choppers sold to the PNP were previously used by the Arroyos. "Sila-sila lang ang gumagamit (The members of the Arroyo family were the ones who used those choppers)," Gaspar said. Committee chairman Sen. Teofisto Guingona III, who was the one who asked Gaspar whether he piloted helicopters for the Arroyos, said flight logs indicated that the chopper was used to transport former First Gentleman Jose Miguel "Mike" Arroyo and Rep. Juan Miguel 'Mikey' Arroyo from the Palace to certain areas, usually in Pampanga. "Kung lumilipad ang helicopter ng 2004 at binenta nung 2009 as brand new obviously second hand siya (If the helicopter was already being used in 2004 and was sold as brand new in 2009, obviously it should have been sold as second hand)," he added. Gaspar was also a member of the PNP inspection team that was involved in the procurement of the choppers for the PNP. Then PNP had approved the contract to pay the Manila Aerospace Trading Corporation (MAPTRA) P104.985 million for the purchase of one brand-new Robinson R44 Raven II and two brand-new Robinson R44 Raven I helicopters. Gaspar, however, said he thought that the PNP knew that the two R44 Raven I helicopters sold to them were actually pre-owned. "Sa level ko po second-hand talaga... sa pagkakaalam ko po alam nila (From my level I knew it was second hand. From what I knew they also knew about it)," he said. Senate President Pro Tempore Jose "Jinggoy" Estrada, for his part, asked why Gaspar was flying a chopper not owned by the government. Gaspar responded that he received orders from the PNP and the Presidential Security Group to pilot the helicopter. "Marami pong tumatawag sa akin," he said, adding that from his knowledge, the choppers were owned by Lion Air. The former First Gentleman had already denied accusation that his family sold a used helicopter to the PNP in 2009, during the incumbency of his wife, former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo. Mr. Arroyo said the Volco helicopter, which previously belonged to their family firm LTA Incorporated, was sold to another private company. The Senate hearing was ongoing as of posting time. — RSJ, GMA News