Handwriting expert: Evidence that Iggy is Jose Pidal inconclusive

A handwriting expert labeled as inconclusive the supposed evidence showing that Negros Occidental Rep. Ignacio “Iggy" Arroyo and Jose Pidal were one and the same person. "Ang ibinigay ko pong conclusion ay inconclusive. Indication lang po, nagsa-suggest lamang na yun ay sulat ng isang tao," Dr. Mely Sorra, chief of the Philippine National Police (PNP) Questioned Documents Division, said during the Senate blue ribbon committee hearing on the PNP choppers mess. Sorra likewise admitted she was only given by Iggy Arroyo's lawyer a piece of bond paper with only Jose Pidal's signature on it, to compare with his client's signature. "Ang dapat po ay na-submit po yung... original copy kasi ang ibinigay ko po indications lamang, hindi conclusive," she said. But Sen. Francis Escudero asked why Sorra had indicated in her report that there was "strong indication" that Iggy and Jose Pidal were the same person based on the signatures. "You could have said magkaiba pero ibinigay ninyo yung pinkamataas na grado na magkapareho ang (pirma)," he said. But Sorra said she was pressured by the presence of retired Chief Superintendent Restituto Mosqueda, who used to head the PNP crime laboratory. She noted, however, that Mosqueda's presence did not compromise their examination of the signatures. Mosqueda Last Monday, Mosqueda testified before the Senate blue ribbon committee that he was asked by former Interior Sec. Ronaldo Puno to "make it appear" that Iggy was the owner of the Jose Pidal account. He said Iggy even went to the PNP crime laboratory to copy the signature on the Jose Pidal account. Sen. Sergio Osmeña III, who was also present during Thursday's hearing, said it's possible that Sorra was given the same signature specimens to dupe them [senators] into proving that Iggy and Jose Pidal were one and the same person. Senate blue ribbon committee chairman Sen. Teofisto Guingona III said members of the panel were discussing the issue about Iggy's spinning lies to save his brother, former First Gentleman Mike Arroyo. Several witnesses had testified that Mike Arroyo was the owner of two of the three choppers bought by the PNP as brand new in 2009. The former First Gentleman has denied the allegation. Iggy defended his brother, saying he had evidence – a supposed lease agreement between their firm LTA and Lionair – that would clear his brother's name. Several witnesses, however, have testified against the veracity of the document. Jose Pidal of 2003 In 2003, Sen. Panfilo Lacson accused Mike Arroyo of keeping a secret bank account under the fictitious name of “Jose Pidal" to allegedly launder money during the incumbency of his wife, former President and incumbent Pampanga Rep. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo. When the issue was investigated by the Senate, Iggy claimed he was the owner of the controversial account. The investigation never reached its conclusion after Iggy Arroyo repeatedly invoked his right to privacy back then. In 2004, Iggy Arroyo won a congressional seat. — RSJ/LBG, GMA News