Personalities in helicopter controversy evade questioning

MANILA, Philippines - Some personalities allegedly involved in the anomalous procurement of two overpriced secondhand helicopters declared as brand new were using the Senate inquiry as an excuse to evade questioning by police investigators.

Senior Superintendent Christopher Laxa, head of a unit of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) probing the chopper procurement scam, admitted that the summoned personalities have valid reason not to immediately go to the police pending the Senate investigation.

“The best thing we can do is to monitor the Senate hearing to get vital information about the procurement of the choppers. We might just ask the Senate for the copy of the outcome of their investigation,” said Laxa.

He said the CIDG teams were working to complete all the documents necessary for the investigation on the P104.9-million purchase of three brand new choppers, two of which turned out to have been previously owned.

Senators Panfilo Lacson and Teofisto Guingona III pushed for a Senate inquiry into the procurement of the helicopters by the Philippine National Police (PNP), believing it was disadvantageous to the government.

Interior Secretary Jesse Robredo and PNP chief Director General Raul Bacalzo ordered a fact-finding team to identify those responsible for the procurement of the choppers.

Director Arturo Cacdac Jr., PNP Directorate of the Investigation and Detective Management (DIDM), forwarded to the CIDG the names of the 27 retired and active police officials linked to the alleged anomalous procurement.