30 police officers to be probed on helicopter controversy

MANILA, Philippines - The Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) of the Philippine National Police (PNP) yesterday confirmed that at least 30 police officers were invited for questioning regarding the alleged anomalous procurement of three overpriced secondhand helicopters worth P104.9 million.

CIDG chief Director Samuel Pagdilao Jr. said the concerned policemen are expected to shed light on the investigation into the aircraft procurement.

“We have sent out official invitation to offices which have in their control all these necessary documents,” Pagdilao said.

He said Senior Superintendent Christopher Laxa said they are now gathering more authenticated documents on the choppers procurement, which would be part of evidence in case charges are filed against those found liable for the questionable purchase.

“At this stage, we are in the process of evaluating the documents, of course, we will have the documents authenticated. We are now communicating with the offices concerned,” Laxa said.

Pagdilao said the invited police officers were members of the Bids and Awards Committee, Negotiation Committee, and Inspection and Acceptance Committee.

He pointed out that it is still too early to tell whether former PNP chief Jesus Verzosa and the members of the family of former President and now Pampanga Rep. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo would also be invited.

“We’ll cross the bridge when we get there,” said Pagdilao.

Initial investigation showed that the frequent passengers of the secondhand helicopters before the aircraft were sold to the PNP were the Arroyos, particularly Ang Galing Pinoy party-list Rep. Mikey Arroyo.

Flight records of the two Robinson R44 Raven 1 helicopters (RP-4250 and RP-4375) indicated that both choppers were used by Mrs. Arroyo, former first gentleman Mike Arroyo, their sons Mikey Arroyo and his family, Camarines Sur Rep. Diosdado Arroyo and daughter Luli Arroyo.

Probers said that most of the time, Mikey, his wife Angela Montenegro and their two children used the two choppers, ferrying them from Lubao in Pampanga, to A3 Station inside the Presidential Security Group grounds in Malacañang in Manila.

They also used the helicopters when they went to a certain Burgundy station in Calatagan and Lipa City in Batangas.

Meanwhile, Pagdilao designated Chief Superintendent Benito Estipona, CIDG deputy director for administration, to head the investigation of another procurement anomaly involving rubber boats and outboard motors worth P131 million.

Estipona said the investigation on rubber boats would cover the suppliers of the boats that were purchased shortly after tropical storm “Ondoy” that caused massive floods in Metro Manila and nearby provinces.

Records showed the PNP Bids and Awards Committee issued a resolution awarding and splitting the contract to three suppliers – the Enviro-Aire Inc., Geneve SA Phils. Inc. and Bay Industrial Philippines.

Interior Secretary Jesse Robredo said Geneve delivered 41 rubber boats worth P47.7 million, 24 units from the joint venture between Stoneworks Specialist International Corp. and Enviro-Aire worth P27.9 million, and 10 units from Bay Industrial Phils. worth P11.6 million.

Enviro-Aire cornered the delivery of the 93 outboard motors worth P44.1 million.

Investigators said they have not yet identified the owners of the three firms.

PNP pilot in hot water

Robredo said a helicopter pilot of the PNP is being investigated for certifying as brand new the secondhand helicopters purchased by the police.

He said Superintendent Claudio Gaspar Jr., a pilot of the PNP-Special Action Force (PNP-SAF), was one of the 16 members of the PNP Inspection Team that reviewed the procurement of two Robinson R44 Raven 1 model choppers with body numbers RP-4375 and RP-4250.

There were reports that Gaspar had gone on leave and is now working for his early retirement.

Robredo ordered the National Police Commission (Napolcom) to defer Gaspar’s clearance to retire pending the investigation.

He said that he received information that Gaspar was one of the pilots who flew one of the helicopters for members of the Arroyo family, particularly Mikey Arroyo, while Malacañang officials were still using the two aircraft before the choppers were purchased by the PNP.

Robredo pointed out that Gaspar signed and even vouched that the two refurbished police choppers were brand new aircraft, despite his personal knowledge that the helicopters were secondhand units.

Investigators have yet to establish the link between Lion Air Inc. and the Manila Aerospace Products Trading (MAPTRA), which is owned by Hilario de Vera, that sold the helicopters to the PNP.

Soriano and retired Chief Superintendent Luizo Ticman, who were among the 27 policemen involved in the procurement, maintained that proper procedures were observed in the purchase of the choppers.

“We specified that we are buying brand new helicopters and MAPTRA even had an undertaking under oath that the choppers are all brand new,” Ticman said.