MIKE ARROYO SCHED FOR OVERDUE HEART CHECK-UP IN HK, MAY MISS PROBE
MANILA, AUGUST 4, 2011 (STAR) By Paolo Romero - Former first gentleman Jose Miguel Arroyo is seeking hospital treatment in Hong Kong and may skip a Senate hearing on the alleged anomalous purchase of the P105-million secondhand helicopters by the Philippine National Police (PNP).
Arroyo left for Hong Kong earlier this week for an overdue medical checkup but promised to return in time to answer the allegations against him, his lawyer said yesterday.
Lawyer Inocencio Ferrer said Arroyo was supposed to have his medical checkup in Hong Kong last week but due to the emergency surgery on former President and now Pampanga Rep. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, last Friday at St. Luke's Medical Center, he "opted to remain with his wife until he is assured that she will be out of harm's way."
Arroyo was accused of pressuring the PNP into buying helicopters he purportedly owned and passed them off as new.
Ferrer said Arroyo "suffers from a life-threatening medical condition known as dissecting aortic aneurysm, a very serious heart ailment."
He recalled that the former first gentleman had to undergo a 10-hour open-heart surgery in 2007. His doctors informed him that only five percent of patients survive such a major operation, and 50 percent of survivors die within five years after the operation unless they take extra care of their health.
He said Arroyo's checkup in Hong Kong would be completed today.
On the other hand, the camp of Mrs. Arroyo is blaming the Aquino administration for her continued stay in the hospital.
In a phone interview, lawyer Raul Lambino said Arroyo is being monitored by her doctors because her blood pressure "is still fluctuating."
He said Arroyo's "stressful surgery" and the government's "massive persecution" of his client and her family have been affecting her health.
On BI watchlist
This developed as the Department of Justice (DOJ) is placing Mr. Arroyo on the watchlist of the Bureau of Immigration (BI).
"I am inclined to issue a watchlist order (against Mr. Arroyo)," Justice Secretary Leila de Lima told reporters in an ambush interview.
De Lima said she has directed her legal staff to draft the watchlist order, reportedly sought by Senate President Pro-Tempore Jinggoy Estrada after Lion Air president Archibald Po confirmed during a Senate Blue Ribbon committee hearing that Mr. Arroyo was the previous owner of two R44 Raven helicopters sold as brand new to the PNP.
She said the order would be issued upon official receipt of the request.
Senate Blue Ribbon chair Teofisto Guingona III said there is "very strong probable cause" to prosecute Arroyo on this anomaly.
Ombudsman probing Arroyo
Acting on its own, the Office of the Ombudsman is conducting an investigation into the alleged anomalous purchase of secondhand helicopters by the PNP.
The anti-graft agency's Field Investigation Office (FIO) has been tasked to handle the probe despite the absence of a formal complaint.
Lawyer Rawnsle Lopez, spokesperson for Overall Deputy Ombudsman Orlando Casimiro, said graft probers are working with the resident ombudsman of the PNP.
She said the FIO of the Office of the Deputy Ombudsman for Military and Other Law Enforcement Offices (MOLEO) has been given instructions to look into the issue as early as two weeks ago.
Newly appointed Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales, who only assumed office last Monday, has yet to issue a statement on the matter.
Interior Secretary Jesse Robredo said the PNP Bids and Awards Committee (BAC) is now undergoing revamp because of numerous irregularities in the procurement process.
"There will be new individuals and groups in the BAC. Before, it's only the group of policemen, now there will be new representations from other groups," Robredo said while attending an event at the Oasis Country Resort Hotel in La Union yesterday.
Aside from the BAC, Robredo said the Inspection and Acceptance Unit of the PNP will also be overhauled to ensure that equipment and facilities to be bought are of good quality and standards.
He said those involved in the anomalous transaction of secondhand helicopters and faulty rubber boats would be charged after the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group has found prima facie evidence against them.
The PNP-CIDG earlier said the Senate probe would be helpful in their investigation to determine the criminal and administrative culpability of its men in the helicopter mess.
PNP chief Director General Raul Bacalzo had personally asked the Senate for copies of documents in the procurement of the helicopters.
Lacson refutes Arroyo's claim
Meanwhile, Sen. Panfilo Lacson refuted claims of Mr. Arroyo's counsel that his client is innocent in the controversial sale of two helicopters.
He also accused party-list Rep. Mikey Arroyo of using the choppers as "taxi" to ferry him almost anywhere during the 2004 elections.
He encouraged two incumbent senators, who he did not name, to come forward and shed light on the controversy as they were included among the choppers' passengers.
In an interview with dzRH radio, Lacson said Arroyo's name might not appear on the transaction documents, but his name along with members of his family and close friends were included in the flight logs.
Lacson's statement came after lawyer Inocencio Ferrer, Arroyo's counsel, said the former first gentlemen is innocent in the controversy and that there is no document linking his client to the alleged anomaly.
But Lacson explained a flight log is a document that shows date of flight, purpose and destination, passengers of the aircraft, and gas consumption.
A specific flight he mentioned was on March 12, 2004 which originated from Clark Freeport Zone in Pampanga, the home province of Arroyo's wife, former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo now serving as representative of the second congressional district of Pampanga.
He also asked who paid for the charter of the helicopter when the Arroyos and their friends used it during the 2004 election campaign.– With Aie Balagtas See, Edu Punay, Christina Mendez, Cecilie Suerte Felipe, Michael Punongbayan, Evelyn Macairan, Dino Balabo, Jun Elias, Delon Porcalla
FROM ABS-CBN NEWS
Lacson: There is proof to pin down Mike Arroyo abs-cbnNEWS.com Posted at 08/03/2011 1:22 PM | Updated as of 08/03/2011 5:43 PM
MANILA, Philippines - There is strong proof that would show former First Gentleman Jose Miguel Arroyo's real ownership over the second-hand choppers sold to the Philippine National Police (PNP), Senator Panfilo Lacson said.
In an interview with ABS-CBN's Umagang Kay Ganda, Lacson also downplayed Arroyo's denials, saying he will be subpoenaed if he fails to appear on August 11, during the next Senate hearing.
He said the Blue Ribbon Committee is now trying to get a manifestation from 2 senators who were once guests of the controversial choppers.
A flight log earlier obtained by the Department of Interior and Local Government revealed that senators Francisco Pangilinan and Juan Miguel Zubiri also used the choppers.
He also stressed there are billings in the name of Arroyo himself on the maintenance check-ups for the choppers.
No name
In the same program, Arroyo's lawyer, Inocencio Ferrer Jr., said his client's name could not be seen in any document in connection to the controversial choppers. He flatly denied Arroyo was the owner of the choppers.
Lion Air Inc. President Archibald Po and Manila Aerospace Products Trading Corp. (MAPTRA) President Hilario de Vera on Tuesday tagged Arroyo as the owner. Po said the 2 choppers were sold at $350,000 each, higher than the factory price of $312,000.
Arroyo's camp said they would be filing perjury charges, specifically against Po.
Lacson, however, said there is no reason for both businessmen to lie before the Senate. "Their businesses would suffer if they will lie," he said.
Surgery
Asked if Arroyo would be able to appear next week, Ferrer said it would all depend on the doctors. Arroyo was earlier advised by lawyers not to watch the hearing on Tuesday.
The former First Gentleman is recovering from an aortic surgery. He also supposedly suffered from stress because his wife, the former President, underwent last week a cervical spinal surgery.
Lacson said "we have a written rule in the military, that no matter how much you hate your enemy, he [should be given the leeway], especially if he is really sick."
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