Graft raps filed vs Mike Arroyo for choppers mess

UPDATED 3:00 p.m. - Three senators on Thursday filed a complaint against former First Gentleman Jose Miguel "Mike" Arroyo and some Philippine National Police (PNP) officials before the Office of the Ombudsman for allegedly conspiring when second-hand helicopters were sold as brand new to the PNP in 2009. In a three-page letter to Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales, Senators Teofisto Guingona III, Koko Pimentel, and Panfilo Lacson referred for preliminary investigation the findings of the Senate blue ribbon committee. The senators said Mr. Arroyo and the following violated the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act and the Government Procurement Reform Act:

Ronaldo Puno (former secretary of the DILG and chairman of Napolcom)

Jesus Versoza (former police director general, Philippine Narional Police)

PDIR Luizo Cristobal Ticman (member, PNP negotiation committee)

PDIR Ronald Dulay Roderos (member, PNP negotiation committee)

PDIR Romeo Capacillio Hilomen (member, PNP negotiation committee)

PDIR Leocadio Salva Cruz Santiago Jr. (member, PNP negotiation committee)

PDG Jefferson Soriano (member, PNP bids and awards committee)

PCSUPT Herold Ubalde (member, PNP bids and awards committee)

PDIR George Piano (member, PNP inspection and acceptance committee)

PCSUPT Luis Saligumba (member, PNP inspection and acceptance committee)

PCSUPT Job Nolan Antonio (member, PNP inspection and acceptance committee)

PSSUPT Edgar Paatan (member, PNP inspection and acceptance committee)

PSUPT Ermilando Villafuerte (legal officer, PNP bids and awards committee)

PSUPT Roman Loreto (legal officer, PNP bids and awards committee)

Miguel Coronel (commissioner, Napolcom oversight committee)

Oscar Valenzuela (assistant secretary, Napolcom oversight committee)

Conrado Sumanga, Jr. (director, Napolcom oversight committee), and

Crisostomo Garcia. Guingona, who chairs the Senate blue ribbon commitee, also asked the Ombudsman to investigate Mike Arroyo's brother Negros Occidental Rep. Ignacio “Iggy" Arroyo for criminal liability for supposedly covering up for the former first gentleman. "Naniniwala kami dito sa findings ng blue ribbon committee. At kami'y naniniwala na talagang mayroong mananagot dito," he said after submitting the letter and their findings to the Office of the Ombudsman. However, the senator noted that they did not talk to Morales. "Walang pinag-usapan, hinand-over lang namin yung complaint," he said. Aside from the filing of charges, the senators also asked that Lionair president Archibald Po, Lionair marketing manage Editha Solano-Juguan, pilots Domingo Lazo, Claudio Gaspar, and former Arroyo-owned LTA bookkeeper Rowena de Rosario be considered as witnesses. Earlier in the day, Guingona released the Senate blue ribbon committee's findings which said that Arroyo had conspired the 18 other respondents in order to sell two of his choppers as brand new to the PNP in 2009. In 2009, the PNP bought two Robinson R44 Raven 1 helicopters from the Manila Aerospace Trading Corporation (MAPTRA) at a higher price. The choppers were supplied to MAPTRA by Lionair, which was supposedly acting on Mr. Arroyo's orders. During previous Senate hearings, several witnesses - including Po - had testified that Mike Arroyo was the real owner of two of the three choppers bought by the PNP as brand new in 2009. He has denied the allegation. The PNP Criminal Investigation and Detection Group had also earlier filed plunder charges against 17 people, including Mike Arroyo, in connection with the choppers mess. Mr. Arroyo's comments Earlier on Thursday, in a text message to GMA News Online, Mr. Arroyo said "here comes another round of Arroyo bashing." "This does not come as a shock, this has been their finding even before they started the 'probe,'" he said. He said the whole investigation "had not been in aid of legislation but a charade to indict us without any solid piece of evidence." Mr. Arroyo insisted that there was no evidence or testimony that he talked to the police or used undue advantage or influence for the PNP to purchase the helicopters. He said he is prepared to dispute the findings in the proper forum. - VVP, GMA News