Iggy Arroyo defends brother in PNP choppers controversy

Negros Occidental Rep. Ignacio “Iggy" Arroyo on Monday defended his brother, former First Gentleman Jose Miguel “Mike" Arroyo, from accusations that he played a big role in the allegedly anomalous sale of helicopters to the Philippine National Police (PNP) in 2009. Iggy said his brother did not own the Robinson helicopters sold as new to the PNP since they were only leased from Lionair, Inc.— the company owned by Archibald Po, who linked the former First Gentleman to the scandal. The lawmaker said Po “concealed" the fact that Lionair executed a contract of lease with the Arroyo-owned company, LTA Inc., in March 2004. “Since Lionair is the lessor in a lease agreement with LTA Inc., then obviously Lionair is the owner of the helicopters in question... Given these circumstances, Mr. Po’s testimony before the Senate should be disregarded and thrown out as a pack of lies," Iggy said. Two weeks ago, Po confirmed in a Senate blue ribbon inquiry that Mr. Arroyo was the previous owner of the choppers that were sold as brand new to the PNP. Iggy accused Po of “dragging [his] brother into a scam... to provide a cover and distraction for Mr. Po’s own fraudulent acts." “Mr. Po has defrauded the government to further his own business and personal interests and now seeks refuge behind persons who are waging a campaign of retribution against my brother and his family," he said. He likewise appealed to Po to “desist from spreading more lies" against his brother. Mr. Arroyo last Wednesday filed perjury raps against Po for allegedly lying under oath during the Senate probe. In 2003, Iggy had also defended his brother in the controversy involving the multi-million peso Jose Pidal accounts. Iggy claimed his brother did not own the accounts, saying he opened the accounts in two local banks for security purposes. — Andreo C. Calonzo/KBK, GMA News