Malacañang on Thursday distanced itself from the filing of charges against former First Gentleman Jose Miguel “Mike" Arroyo in connection with the allegedly anomalous procurement of helicopters by the Philippine National Police (PNP) in 2009. At a press briefing, presidential spokesperson Edwin Lacierda said the case will now be up to the senators who filed the charges and the Office of the Ombudsman. “Desisyon po iyan ng Senate finance committee, recommendation po nila iyon and we trust that they had enough evidence to issue such recommendation. Bahala na po ang Ombudsman diyan," he said. Senators Teofisto Guingona III, Aquilino “Koko" Pimentel III and Panfilo Lacson filed a case against Mr Arroyo and some PNP officials for supposedly violating the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act and the Government Procurement Reform Act. Investigation conducted by the Senate blue ribbon committee, headed by Guingona, found out that the helicopters sold as brand new to the PNP were actually second-hand. The panel conducted six hearings on the issue.
Included in the complaint were:
Ronaldo Puno (former secretary of the DILG and chairman of Napolcom) Jesus Versoza (former police Director General, Philippine National Police) Police Director Luizo Cristobal Ticman (member, PNP negotiation committee) Police Director Ronald Dulay Roderos (member, PNP negotiation committee) Police Director Romeo Capacillio Hilomen (member, PNP negotiation committee) Police Director Leocadio Salva Cruz Santiago Jr. (member, PNP negotiation committee) Police Director General Jefferson Soriano (member, PNP bids and awards committee) Police Chief Superintendent Herold Ubalde (member, PNP bids and awards committee) Police Director George Piano (member, PNP inspection and acceptance committee) Police Chief Superintendent Luis Saligumba (member, PNP inspection and acceptance committee) Police Chief Superintendent Job Nolan Antonio (member, PNP inspection and acceptance committee) Police Senior Superintendent Edgar Paatan (member, PNP inspection and acceptance committee) Police Superintendent Ermilando Villafuerte (legal officer, PNP bids and awards committee) Police Superintendent 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. The Senate blue ribbon committee, meanwhile, recommended that the former First Gentleman’s brother, Negros Occidental Rep. Ignacio “Iggy" Arroyo, likewise be investigated by the Ombudsman. While the Senate panel was investigating the controversy, Rep. Arroyo claimed that it was him, and not his brother, who entered into a supposed agreement to lease the choppers. Several witnesses in the Senate probe, however, testified against the veracity of the document. ‘Prejudged’ Rep. Arroyo brushed aside the Senate panel’s recommendation concerning him, saying the controversy has been “prejudged" by the senators handling the investigation. The lawmaker also described the Senate committee probe as “a classic case of trial by publicity." “The Senate hearing was just for a show," Rep. Arroyo said. “Everyone knew who they were trying to link and pin down, just like every other case they are inventing against the Arroyos." He also criticized the senators for using the legislative branch to “take the role of a fiscal and judge at the same time" as he expressed hopes that the Office of the Ombudsman “will not be pressured nor influenced" by some of the senators’ actions. Lawyer BC de los Santos, Verzosa’s counsel, for his part, maintained his client’s innocence and expressed hopes for a fair judicial process. “We trust that the Ombudsman can judiciously rule on the issues minus any political motivations of the proponents," De los Santos said in a separate statement. - Amita O. Legaspi and Andreo C. Calonzo/KBK, GMA News 
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