Iggy Arroyo paid for chopper lease, says bookkeeper

The former bookkeeper for the Arroyo-owned company LTA Inc. on Monday revealed that the money used to pay for the alleged lease agreement for the choppers that were later sold to the Philippine National Police (PNP) came from Negros Occidental Rep. Ignacio “Iggy" Arroyo. "Basta nanggagaling po sa kanya (Iggy) yung pera," Rowena del Rosario said during Monday's Senate blue ribbon committee hearing on the PNP choppers mess. She made the statement after senators prodded her to submit records of the alleged $500,000 rental fee payment to Robinson Helicopters and P18-million maintenance fee payment to Lionair Inc. She could not, however, present any documents. "Hindi po sa LTA nanggagaling yung pera. Paano ko po maililibro kung di galing sa LTA yung pera?," she said. Iggy had earlier came out about the alleged lease agreement to defend his brother, former First Gentleman Jose Miguel “Mike" Arroyo, who, according to several witnesses, was the real owner of the choppers that were sold as brand new to the PNP on 2009. Del Rosario supported Iggy's claims. Senators, however, asked Senate blue ribbon committee to cite in contempt Del Rosario for supposedly covering up for the Arroyo brothers. - Kimberly Jane Tan/KBK, GMA News