CHOPPERS PROBE: ARROYOS COME OUT CLEAN / GMA'S SURGERY SUCCESSFUL
[PHOTO - CHOPPER PROBE Former Philippine National Police (PNP) Chief retired General Jesus Versoza contemplates during the investigation conducted by the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee at the Senate Session Hall in Pasay City Thursday, July 28, 2011, regarding the PNP's acquisition of helicopters in 2009. (Photo by CHARI VILLEGAS)]
MANILA, JULY 30, 2011 (BULLETIN) By By HANNAH L. TORREGOZA - Senators fail to link them to P105-M PNP chopper deal.
Senators Thursday failed to link the family of former President and now Pampanga Rep. Gloria Macapagal Arroyo to the helicopter deal of the Philippine National Police (PNP).
However, they were able to confirm that the PNP bought "refurbished" or second-hand helicopters that were passed off as brand new in 2009.
At the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee's initial hearing into the alleged anomalous acquisition by the PNP of light operational helicopters from the Manila Aerospace Products Trading Corp. (Maptra), Superintendent Claudio Gaspar Jr. testified that he had flown the helicopters that were bought for P105 million.
Gaspar said these aircraft had been used extensively by members of the First Family during the Arroyo administration. Most of the time, he said, his passengers in the aircraft were Rep. Juan Miguel "Mikey" Arroyo and former First Gentleman Jose Miguel Arroyo.
The police official claimed he flew the helicopters upon the instructions of the Presidential Security Group (PSG) and the Office of the President since 2004. He was also one of those who assisted the PNP's inspection team that inspected the helicopters before these were purchased.
Gaspar, however, said until now he doesn't know if the choppers were previously owned by the Arroyos. After four hours of intense grilling, senators failed to establish whether the Arroyos owned the choppers before they allegedly forcibly sold it to the PNP.
"So far there is no linkage to the former First Family. We will know that in the next hearing," Sen. Teofisto "TG" Guingona III, head of the Blue Ribbon Committee, told reporters after the hearing.
But early on Sen. Panfilo Lacson said it was very clear "very powerful people" are behind the transactions. The choppers are already five years old and roughly valued P4 million.
Chief Superintendent Herold Ubalde who was part of the negotiation committee of the Bids and Awards Committee (BAC) was scolded for saying they observed "due diligence" to ensure that they would be purchasing unused helicopters.
"You mentioned that due diligence was observed in this case. So how come this thing happened if there was due diligence? Bakit naging second hand yung brand new kung nagkaroon ng due diligence on your part?" Lacson asked Ubalde.
But Ubalde said Maptra president and Managing director Hilario de Vera issued a sworn certification that the delivered choppers were brand new. He only realized that the choppers were second-hand just two months ago although the questionable helicopters were delivered to them sometime in November, 2009.
He also said he did not change any required specification of the National Police Commission (Napolcom) when they bought the aircraft.
Gaspar and Superintendent Larry Balmaceda, who is also part of the inspection team, both pointed out that they were not aware of the conditions of the supply contract when they assisted the negotiating committee.
According to Ubalde, it appears they were deceived by Maptra for reneging on the supply contract and delivering to them instead choppers that are already pre-used when the contract specifically states that choppers should all be brand new.
But this irked Sen. Franklin Drilon and said Maptra could then be charged with estafa for deceiving the PNP.
"The supply contract specifically states that these should all be brand new," Ubalde told senators.
"Then, why did you sign the supply contract when you supposedly said you did not accept their proposal that said its service center condition (used)," Drilon queried.
"Why did you award the contract to Maptra when the bid proposal for negotiations does not conform to your proposal for brand new. You shouldn't have awarded that to Maptra," Lacson said.
"Are you saying that Maptra deceived you because you specified in the supply contract for brand new helicopters yet the ones delivered were not brand new? By the way, we have document that shows the sales between Lion Air and Maptra is clearly specified that these are pre-owned," Drilon said.
"It would appear that way, sir, because there seems to be no meeting of the minds. Based on the documents, we were insisting it should be brand new. In fact, the certification issued by the supplier was that he will be delivering two brand-new choppers and what was delivered was second hand… apparently there is a deception here it would appear that estafa was committed here," Ubalde answered.
But senators remained unconvinced, especially when Maptra's lawyer Luis Rivera, appeared during the committee and said that "his clients has no capacity to deceive the PNP."
Sen. Sergio Osmena III also expressed disbelief that it took two years before the PNP discovered they were deceived by Maptra.
Guingona said it is evident that the police officials were trying to cover up the irregularity. In the event this is proved, he said the police officials could be charged with plunder before the Office of the Ombudsman since the second-hand chopper was priced at around P31 million each.
FROM PHILSTAR
GMA recovering from successful surgery By Aie Balagtas-See (The Philippine Star) Updated July 30, 2011 12:00 AM
[Photo - Photo shows former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo before surgery yesterday at St. Luke's Medical City in Taguig.]
MANILA, Philippines - Former President and now Pampanga Rep. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo underwent delicate spine surgery yesterday and is now under observation.
The "risky" operation took place yesterday morning at St. Luke's Medical Center in Taguig City. Dr. Juliet Gopez-Cervantes earlier said the surgery was needed or else paralysis could set in.
The medical procedure, expected to last four to five hours, would relieve the pressure on the nerves pinched by Arroyo's backbone, Gopez-Cervantes said.
Gopez-Cervantes further said the surgery will also realign the spinal bones pressing on Arroyo's nerves.
The hospital, however, has yet to release a medical bulletin as of 4:30 p.m.
The former president's family members also remained mum on her condition.
Her husband, former first gentleman Jose Miguel Arroyo, and son Juan Miguel "Mikey" Arroyo were seen at the hospital coffee shop on the ground floor around 1 p.m.
In a text message around 2 p.m. yesterday, Arroyo's spokesperson Maite Defensor said the surgery was already over.
Arroyo, she said, is being observed at the hospital's intensive care unit.
Former environment secretary Lito Atienza was among the well-wishers who visited Arroyo. Atienza said he wanted to see the condition of his former boss, but he declined to speak to the media after the visit.
Arroyo was visiting her constituents in Pampanga when she was rushed to the hospital on Monday.
She did not attend President Aquino's State of the Nation Address where a litany of her supposed wrongdoings was presented.
Gopez-Cervantes told reporters the next day that her patient was suffering from a "damaged cervical spine with multilevel cervical spondylosis."
She said it was the same reason why Arroyo was rushed to the hospital last June.
Meantime, Malacañang distanced itself yesterday from the various plunder and other charges being filed against Mrs. Arroyo, saying the groups behind the cases must see them through in courts on their own.
Deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte said in a press briefing at the Palace that the government would file its cases based on evidence culled from the different departments and agencies.
Valte also said the government was not worried about the finest lawyers to be hired by the former president and her family as she denied the administration had paid millions for a public relations firm to destroy the Arroyos.
"Well, every person is entitled to the best defense that they can have or they can afford," Valte said.
Valte added government funds were too limited to be spent on PR against a family.
"We would rather spend the money where it is needed. We just have to remind the people that the government is not the one filing the plunder cases she (Arroyo) is facing. They are private citizens while the others are also in public service but belong to a separate and independent branch of government," Valte said.
"So we cannot say that the Aquino government is releasing money (for media attacks against Arroyo) because given the limited resources that we have, we want to focus spending on people and not on those things," Valte said. – With Aurea Calica
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