AS MIKE A. SLAMS PING: PNP FILES PLUNDER RAPS VS BIG MIKE
MANILA, SEPTEMBER 5, 2011 (TRIBUNE) By Gina Peralta-Elorde - Plunder charges have been filed at the Office of the Ombudsman against former First Gentleman Jose Miguel "Mike" Arroyo, together with 16 others, by the Philippine National Police's Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (PNP-CIDG) over the PNP's purchase of two used helicopters passed off as brand new.
The complaint which was filed yesterday, stated that the PNP's procurement of two Robinson R44 Raven 1 helicopters from the Manila Aerospace Trading Corporation (Maptra) in 2009 was anomalous.
According to CIDG director Chief Supt. Samuel Pagdilao, the purchase of the Robinson R44Raven I helicopters was anomalous.
The fact-finding committee was said to have found that the two choppers were sold as brand-new but that they were confirmed to be second-hand and pre-owned by the former First Gentleman.
Pagdilao told a press briefing that the result of their probe showed that they (respondents) took part in the conspiracy to defraud the PNP and the national government by passing off as brand-new the two second-hand helicopters.
He admitted that they did not inform the active officers
involved that they were going to be charged with plunder. He likewise said it is up to PNP Director General Raul Bacalzo and the Ombudsman whether to suspend them or relieve them.
But apparently, the same PNP-CIDG did not inform Mr. Arroyo that he was being investigated and did not call him to air his side during the claimed probe.
Inocencio Ferrer, counsel of Mr. Arrroyo, in a brief telephone interview yesterday with the Tribune, said he and his client were surprised to hear about the plunder complaint filed by the CIDG, saying that "we were never invited to any CIDG hearing to even give our side. We were never notified that Mr. Arroyo was being investigated by the PNP-CIDG. We were not even given a copy of the complaint," which Ferrer said was highly unusual.
It will be recalled that Mr. Arroyo denied ownership of the controversial choppers which were purchased by the PNP in the amount of more than P105 million.
It also will be recalled that Sen. Panfilo "Ping" Lacson, the former chief of the PNP and today a staunch ally of President Aquino, just the other day, threatened Justice Secretary Leila de Lima with a rejection of her appointment as Justice Secretary in the Commission on Appointments if she fails to charge Mike Arroyo and his wife with plunder and issue warrants of arrest, saying there is already a preponderance of evidence on the chopper sale issue against Arroyo.
Mr. Arroyo yesterday issued a statement to the media saying that "in his (Lacson) most recent statements to the members of media, outside the halls of the Senate blue ribbon committee, Sen. Ping Lacson has been accusing me and my family of being involved in all supposed cases of corruption that have allegedly taken place during the past administration.
"He openly declared, without any hesitation, that in any case of corruption, one could be certain that "there is the Arroyo brand of corruption". He further proclaimed as a 'statement of fact' that if one would scratch the surface of corruption in the Philippines, he would find an Arroyo underneath.
"These accusations of Senator Lacson are totally false and a product of his fantasies. He, himself, admitted that he did not have the evidence to directly link my wife and I to these allegedly irregular transactions. Then why is he making these false and malicious accusations without evidence to back them up? Senator Lacson boasts that his accusations are alleged 'statements of fact'. How can his statements be factual when they remain unsupported by evidence?
"Senator Lacson has even attacked his other colleagues in the Senate who disagreed with his biased opinions, instead of showing the respect due to another senator. Additionally, he made a statement to the effect that he would block the confirmation of Secretary De Lima if a warrant is not issued against us. This public threat and coercion on Secretary De Lima is the height of arrogance and pure blackmail.
"Moreover, he should not expect the people to believe him, when his own credibility is doubtful. "The major newspapers have reported that Senator Lacson was charged in the Courts of law, way back in 2010, with double murder in the Dacer-Corbito case, and that he went in hiding. He refused to face the music and instead, chose to evade the law, per the reports of the major newspapers. It is for this reason that I find it strange for Senator Lacson to make unfounded accusations against me and my family.
"Senator Lacson seems to be losing it. He is way over his head. He is obsessed in going after me and my family, linking every supposed anomaly to us. He is showing a very dangerous tendency which his allies should be concerned about. He might just take the whole government in insatiable pursuit against my family.
Senator Lacson should be more careful in making statements to the public. Instead of gaining from it, his reckless attitude might get him in more trouble"
On the chopper issue, these helicopters were supplied to Maprea by Lionair Inc., which alleged tit was acting on Mr. Arroyo's orders.
Among those mentioned in the charge sheet are Lionair president Archibald Po,
Lionair general manager Renato Sia,
Maptra president Hilario de Vera,
former Interior Secretary Ronaldo Puno,
former PNP chief Jesus Verzosa,
former PNP deputy chief for operations Jefferson Soriano,
former PNP comptroller Romeo Hilomen,
former PNP logistics director Luizo Ticman, and
former research division head Ronald Roderos.
The active PNP officials named respondents in the same charge sheet are Director Leocadio Santiago Jr., Director George Piano, Chief Superintendent Herold Ubalde, Chief Supt. Ermilando Villafuerte, Supt.Roman Loreto, Senior Supt. Lurimer Detran, and Conrado Sumanga Jr.
Those whom the CIDG charged for predicate crimes of violations of Articles 171 and 172 of the Revised Penal Code, The Government Procurement Act and The Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act are Chief Supt. Luis Saligumba, Sr. Supt. Job Nolan Antonio, Sr. Supt. Edgar Pataan, and PNP inspection team members Sr. Superintendents Crisostomo Garcia,Claudo Gaspar, Chief Inspector Maria Josefina Vidal, retired Supt. Larry Balamaceda, and procurement head division head Superintendent Henry Duque.
Meanwhile, the Department of interior and Local Government (DILG) yesterday confirmed that at least 30 police officials and suppliers would be liable and charged in the overpriced repair and refurbishing of V-150 light armored vehicles of the Philippine National Police (PNP).
DILG Secretary Jesse Robredo said that the DILG is now preparing charges against the involved individuals as they are heading toward the case.
"There are lot of irregularities", Robredo confirmed.
Robredo noted that those involved individuals were former top ranking police officials and others are still active in the police service.
"Others involved were suppliers", the DILG chief added.
Among those involved was former PNP chief Avelino Razon Jr. who admitted that he had signed the documents for the repair and refurbishing of the LAVs but this did not mean that he was involved in the irregularities noting that a process was followed.
It can be recalled that Robredo claimed that there were 36 police officers and personnel facing criminal liability and would be investigated for allegedly participating in the anomalous repair and refurbishing of 28 V-150 LAVs worth P409.74 million in 2007.
Aside from Razon, facing criminal charges under Republic Act (RA) 9184 and RA 3019 were former Bids and Awards Committee(BAC) chairman, Police Deputy Director General Reynaldo Varilla;
Police Director Charlemagne Alejandrino,
Police Chief Supt. Ray Roderos and
Police Chief Superintendent Mario San Diego – all from National Head Quarters-BAC;
Supt. Emmanuel Ojeda,
Police Senior Supt. Reuel Leverne Labrado,
Police Chief Inspector Annalee Forro,
Police Supt. Edgar Pataan,
Police Supt. Henry Duque and Senior Police Officer 4 Victor Puddao – all from Logistics Support Service (LSS)-BAC;
Police Supt. Warlito Tubon and Fernando Caparas,
Police Senior Inspector Paul Richard Benson,
Police Senior Inspector Juanito Estrebor and Police Inspector Domingo Aldave – from the LSS-Inspection and Acceptance Committee; Police Director Eliseo dela Paz,
Police Senior Supt. Dennis Cannoy,
Antonio Retrato,
Police Supt. Rainer Espina, Antonio Mallorco, Alex Barrameda, Patricia Enaje, and Maria Teresa Narcise – from the Directorate for Comptrollership department;
Police Chief Supt. Teodorico Lapuz IV,
Police Senior Supt. Victor Agarcio,
Police Supt.Josefina Demanew,
Police Supt.Edgar Pataan, Senior Police Officer 4 Alfredo Laviña and Mr. Eulito Fuentes – from Logistics Support Service.
The suppliers are Harold Ong of Environ-Aire Inc.,
Evangeline Bais of Evans Spare Parts and Motor Works, Repairs and Trading;
Pamela Pensotes of RJP International Trading Construction and General Services,
Oscar Madamba of Serpenair Group Inc.,
Rasha Zaballero of Dex-Lan Enterprises, and Marianne Jimenez of RKGK Enterprises.
PNP director Chief Supt. Raul Bacalzo meanwhile said that the mentioned people involved would be investigated but it doesn't mean that they were already guilty of the charges.
Robredo gave the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) at least 15 days to determine the criminal liability and the filing of criminal charges before the Office of the Ombudsman against the 30 individuals.
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Chief News Editor: Sol Jose Vanzi
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