PNP exec accused of passing off choppers as brand new

An official of the Philippine National Police (PNP) on Tuesday was accused of deliberately passing off as brand new the two controversial second-hand helicopters sold to the PNP in 2009. At the Senate blue ribbon committee hearing on the PNP choppers anomaly, PNP inspecting team members Superintendent Larry Balamaceda and Superintendent Claudio Gaspar said Senior Superintendent Lurimer Detran went to the Lion Air hangar a week before the schedulesd inspection to make sure that the two controversial choppers would pass off as brand new. The PNP Criminal Investigation and Detection Group had earlier filed plunder charges against 17 people, including Detran and former First Gentleman Jose Miguel "Mike" Arroyo. The complaint, filed with the Office of the Ombudsman, said the PNP's procurement of two Robinson R44 Raven 1 helicopters from the Manila Aerospace Trading Corporation (MAPTRA) in 2009 was anomalous. The choppers were supplied to MAPTRA by Lionair, supposedly on Mr. Arroyo's orders. On Tuesday, Balmaceda and Gaspar said Detran checked the two choppers before they were officially inspected and wanted several parts of it to be repaired or replaced so that it would look brand new. "May mga comment po siya, yung fire extinguisher palitan para magmukhang bago," said Gaspar. "Sabi ko sir, sana bago na lang ang pinili ng PNP. Sabi niya yan lang ang napagkasyahan ng pera," he added. Balmaceda then confirmed that Gaspar had the conversation with Detran. "Habang iniispect niya yung chopper, marami siyang sinasabi, dumating sa punto na narinig ko sinabi ni (Gaspar) sir bakit di pa bago ang binili ng PNP... (sabi niya) yan lang ang napagkasayahan ng pera," he said during the same hearing. Detran, however, denied the accusation. "Hindi po totoo ang sinasabi nila," he said, even daring his two accusers to name the date and time of his alleged trip to the Lion Air hangar. But Sen. Franklin Drilon, who was also present during the hearing, said they don't have to go through every detail because their inquiry was not a criminal investigation. "I think we can leave it at that and go to another (point)," he said. Senate blue ribbon committee chairman Sen. Teofisto Guingona III granted the motion. The Senate hearing was ongoing as of posting time. — RSJ, GMA News