Mike A: I'll face probe squarely

MANILA, Philippines - Former first gentleman Jose Miguel Arroyo said yesterday he would face any investigation of the Office of the Ombudsman in connection with the alleged anomalous sale of secondhand helicopters to the Philippine National Police (PNP) in 2009.

“I’ll face all these investigations squarely. I’m confident that I’ll be exonerated,” Arroyo told The STAR.

He maintained his innocence, saying he had divested in 2001 his entire holdings in LTA Inc., the reported lessee of the helicopters.

Arroyo, however, said his lawyers could not plot their next move since they have yet to receive a copy of the recommendation of a special panel of investigators from the Office of the Ombudsman.

“All I read in newspapers is that they want me be to charged for graft, but for what?” he said.

Meanwhile, sources told The STAR that the charges to be filed against Arroyo could be upgraded to plunder, depending on the findings of the Commission on Audit (COA).

COA’s findings will determine if a supplemental report will be submitted to Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales recommending changes in the 98-page report that found sufficient evidence to charge Arroyo with graft, sources said.

It has to be established that Arroyo conspired with government and PNP officials in amassing, accumulating or acquiring ill-gotten wealth “through a combination or series of overt or criminal acts,” before he could be charged with plunder, sources said.

“COA must show the money trail through audited documents,” a source said, noting that COA was asked to do a comprehensive study of the P62.6-million transaction in 2009.

A fact-finding panel said Arroyo was the real owner of the aircraft that were sold to the PNP.

“FG’s acts can be characterized as part of an orchestrated fraudulent act as required to prove a person’s participation in a felonious conspiracy,” the investigating team’s report said.

As this developed, Senate Blue Ribbon committee chairman Sen. Teofisto Guingona III called on Arroyo not to leave the country and face the charges against him.

“I urge Mr. Arroyo to stay in the country to face the allegations against him. He should be present in the preliminary investigation of this case if he wishes to avoid speculations that he intends to evade prosecution,” Guingona said in a statement.

Sen. Franklin Drilon for his part called on the Office of the Ombudsman to speed up the conduct of preliminary investigation into the chopper deal so that charges could be immediately filed.

Drilon said this is to ensure that hold departure orders (HDO) can be issued against Arroyo and his co-accused.

The Ombudsman panel also recommended the filing of graft charges against former interior secretary Ronaldo Puno; former PNP chief Jesus Verzosa; Manila Aerospace Products Trading Corp. president Hilario de Vera; National Police Commission members Avelino Razon, Miguel Coronel and Celia Sandad-Leones; and director Conrado Sumanga Jr.; and 28 other PNP officers and personnel.

Guingona and Drilon lauded the move of Morales to approve the investigation report, saying it is a “major gain in our people’s quest for justice.”

Meanwhile, the panel tasked to conduct a preliminary investigation into the chopper deal – composed of directors Manuel Soriano, Omar Sagadal and Dennis Garcia – were given two months to finish their job. With Michael Punongbayan, Christina Mendez