Businessman to testify in Senate probe
By Cathy Yamsuan
Philippine Daily Inquirer
Two five-year old helicopters sold as brand new to the Philippine National Police in 2009 were among the five choppers that then First Gentleman Jose Miguel “Mike” Arroyo acquired for the campaign of his wife, then President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, in the 2004 presidential election.
This was disclosed by a businessman, who was privy to the sale of the helicopters to Mike Arroyo in late 2003. The businessman is scheduled to appear as a witness at a hearing of the Senate blue ribbon committee on Tuesday.
The Inquirer tried to contact Sunday night Raul Lambino, lawyer and spokesperson of the Arroyos, to get his side but did not get any response.
Senate President Pro Tempore Jinggoy Estrada said the witness got in touch with him last week and presented documents, including copies of the record of payments made by Arroyo from December 2003 to March 2004.
Estrada said the witness, a well-known personality in the aviation industry, told him that the five helicopters—all Robinson R44 Raven Is with Series Nos. 1370 to 1374—were purchased for use in the 2004 election campaign of then President Arroyo.
Initially, the witness said Mike Arroyo only wanted to lease helicopters from Lionair, exclusive distributor of Robinson helicopters in the country.
However, Mike Arroyo was told that all Robinson units at the time were already out on loan to his wife’s political rival, Fernando Poe Jr.
Documents shown to the Inquirer indicated that Mike Arroyo paid a deposit of $95,000 each for the five units on Dec. 11, 2003, for a total of $475,000. The net balance of $948,025 was paid from March 2 to March 9, 2004. A total of $1,423,025 was paid to Lionair for the five helicopters.
Cash payments
Estrada said all helicopters were paid for in cash that a Lionair representative would collect from the LTA Building, which belongs to Arroyo’s family, on Perea Street in Makati City.
Estrada said the witness claimed that in early 2004, the helicopters were sent via air cargo to Asian Spirit, an airline company in the Clark Freeport Zone in Pampanga.
“He (the witness) said this was done because Asian Spirit was a locator in Clark, meaning it can receive goods without paying taxes and the new owner of the choppers at that time wanted to avoid paying them,” Estrada said in an interview.
“At that time, Asian Spirit and Lionair were owned by one person. But Asian Spirit has since been sold to Zest Air,” the senator said.
Investment banker Noel Oñate sold Asian Spirit for P1 billion in 2008 to AMY Holdings of Alfredo Yao, owner of juice maker Zest-O. A year later, Oñate led a group that acquired the preneed unit Pacific Plans Inc. from the Yuchengcos for P250 million.
Speedy delivery
Estrada added that the witness also pointed out the speed by which the helicopters were delivered. It usually takes six months to deliver a brand new helicopter, according to the witness.
“But he said that in the case of (Mike) Arroyo, this was expedited to three months only. From the time the deposit was made (in December) until full payment (in March),” the senator said.
Supt. Claudio Gaspar, a licensed pilot of the PNP, said under oath last week that he was familiar with two of the helicopters owned by Mike Arroyo. This is because Gaspar frequently ferried Mike Arroyo and his son, Juan Miguel “Mikey” Arroyo, from 2004 until the two units were sold to the PNP.
The two units were sold along with a brand new Robinson R44 Raven II to the PNP in 2009 for P105 million. Senators have raised a howl over the transaction since the PNP paid the full price for the old units passed off as brand new.
Gaspar said that while he was aware that the units were old, he did not notify anyone in the PNP about it. He explained that he was present during the inspection “to assist” and not to warn anyone of the real condition of the units.
Gaspar, in his testimony, recalled seeing “PNP markings” being painted on the 5-year old helicopters before the inspection by a PNP team.
2 others unsold
Sen. Panfilo Lacson, in an ambush interview, said he received reports that two of the helicopters owned by Arroyo were still languishing in the Lionair hangar.
A fifth chopper, Gaspar told the Senate, crashed in 2004. Its passenger at the time, Ilocos Sur Gov. Chavit Singson, survived.
“The two unsold helicopters are still in the hangar,” Lacson said. “It is now Mike Arroyo’s problem how to get them. Because the helicopters have already been identified through their serial numbers, who’s going to buy them now?”
Lacson added that he also got word that when the helicopters arrived in Clark, “you’ll be amazed at how powerful the person who owned them was. They arrived on a Friday, disassembled and quickly assembled. By Tuesday, there were already certificates from (Air Transportation Office).”
Lacson said insiders in the airline industry disclosed that registration of a new unit usually takes two weeks to a month.
Revenue flights
Estrada, in the interview, said Mike Arroyo supposedly made money on the helicopters during his ownership.
“There were revenue flights when the helicopters were chartered to other parties. However, the witness said these parties were known to FG (a popular reference to Arroyo),” he said.
The witness allegedly told Estrada that Mike Arroyo kept “blank deeds of sale” as proof of purchase of the helicopters.
Responding to a text message on Sunday, Sen. Teofisto Guingona III said Mike Arroyo could not invoke private citizenship should he be charged with violation of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act for selling secondhand helicopters at brand new prices to the government.
“Any person who causes undue injury to government through a manifestly gross and unjust situation will have accountability,” said Guingona, the chair of the Senate blue ribbon committee.
“Let’s not presume his guilt at the moment but he cannot invoke that he is a private citizen in this case,” the he added.
Yari na mga Pidal, your days are numbered!!!
Everyday, a new case is uncovered against these criminals-pandak,fatso and company. Kung hindi pa naman makukulong ang mga yan, ewan ko na lang.
Sobra naman kung kumita itong si fatso, kitang lugaw!
Akala siguro ng mga masisibang ito eh hindi na uusigin ng bayan ang kanilang mga kasalanan. WRONG. Magdusa kayo ngayon!
I’m sorry if this question is dumb, but anybody care to tell me how this is actually damaging to arrovo? at worst, baboy arroyo leaves this unscathed with through legal newspeak. at best, arroyo overpriced the helicopters, what then? gloria is even out of the picture.
which reminds me. im also excited about the recent developments on arrovo’s election theft. but even if we grant santiago’s statements true re the raid of batasan, what about the ERs given to the majority and minority leaders, to namfrel, etc. more details needed. but the noose is tightening indeed.
A total of $1,423,025 was paid to Lionair for the five helicopters.
$1,423,025 x 43 = Php61,190,075 for 5 brand new helicopters in 2004
Php61,190,075 / 5 = Php12,238,015 per unit
The two units were sold along with a brand new Robinson R44 Raven II to the PNP in 2009 for P105 million.
P105M / 3 = P35M per unit
P35M – P12.2M = 22.8M per unit x 2 units = P45.6M roughly, tinubo ni Mike Arroyo
#5, below explanation for me is enough. If you want the details, mahirap yan… abogado na makakasagot nyan na nakakakita ng ebidensya.. 🙂
Sen. Teofisto Guingona III said Mike Arroyo could not invoke private citizenship should he be charged with violation of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act for selling secondhand helicopters at brand new prices to the government.
“Any person who causes undue injury to government through a manifestly gross and unjust situation will have accountability,” said Guingona, the chair of the Senate blue ribbon committee.
ang importante sa ngayon ay ang nakikita nating nasasampahan sila ng mga kaso dahil nagkakaron ng malaking pagasang bumagsak sila sa kulungan… ang magasawang arroyo, kahit isa man lang sa sampung kaso…
naku, kapag nasampahan na ng kaso yan si Pig Arroyo, malamang magkasakit na naman yan at mag pasugod sa St. Lukes…
Sinabi mo pa Perl. Silang dalawang magasawa eh sa St Luke’s hospital makukulong dahil yung isa may heart disease at yung isa naman eh may liver at ngayon spine ailment. Mahihirapan si Juan sa pagkulong ng dalawang yan dahil marami ng sakit kuno!
Just the same, I want justice, however it is dispensed. Kailangang maparusahan sila sa mga kasalanan nila.
May mga tanong pa na pwedeng kunin mula sa artikulo na ito.
1. Paano siya nagkaroon ng ganong pera in dollars? $1.4M
2. Bakit ganun kabilis yung processing ng registration?
3. Bakit walang “TAX” na binayaran si FG?
4. Referring to #4-Paano nakalusot ito sa BIR?
5. Nung bumagsak yung isang helicopter, bakit nabuhay pa si Chavit Singson? (Actually madali ng sagutin ito. 🙂
6. Bakit hanggang ngayon si FG e baboy pa rin? Minana nya ba ito o siya lang ang may pakana nito?
#9-Ok lang na makulong sila sa St. Luke’s Hospital. Basta ilagay sila dun sa morgue katabi ng mga yumao na.
Kaya pala lumabas minsan yung isang joke.
Kung si St. Jude ang patron saint ng mga hopeless cases, sino naman ang patron saint ng mga magnanakaw sa gobyerno na makakasuhan?
E madalas sa St. Luke’s ang punta nila. 🙂
Bakit puro balita, hindi pa sulain ang masibang baboy?!
Salamat perl #7.
Sa akin lang, kailangan na ng kakaibang vigilance at determination both from the government and civil society to seek the truth to its deepest darkest ends. Hindi na pupuwedeng isang dramathon na naman ito na papanoorin natin at kakalimutan kung may bago na namang “hot issue”. Huwag natin kalimutan, arrovo was able to get away with these before (ZTE, fertilizer scam, “noted”, etc, etc). it’s not exactly that she/they are helpless now.
tldr: vigilance.
Pardon me for my foul language but all I can say is all of the Arroyos in power are “SWAPANG!” Wala silang pinapalusot kung pwedeng pagkakitaan!
So all these winding roads may led to the “first Gentleman” after all. My gut feelings he was the power behind the Woman and they in the process became partners in the bedroom and everything else.
I think the “Woman” did not need to have an equally EVIL partner behind her. She’s evil enough on her own.
Why are they so evil some would ask. My answer is simple, it started with greed… for power and wealth. It got worst when they got their selves into power. They felt invincible and thought it would be forever. Somebody mentioned “swapang”, a word so tame in describing them. “Ganid” is more appropriate to describe them.
Saan kinuha ng mga Arroyo ng pinambili nila ng 5 helicopter? Kung si Pnoy Porche car lang at alam natin na yakang yaka niya itong bilhin … eto pa kayang 5 helicopter at saan naman kaya kinuha yong pinambili nila …. ganun ba sila kayaman?
Mga hayok talaga itong mga Arroyo na ito …. dapat magbigti na lang sila … wala na silang mukhang iharap pa sa taongbayan.
Hanggang ngayon pa ba ay pinag-aaralan pa ng administrasyon ni Pnoy lahat ng mga akusasyon dito sa mga Arroyo? Kailan nila kakasuhan … palagay ko 2016 na siguro. Bagaaaaallllll!!!!
Agree, Lurker #18… the bitch can very well stand on her own greediness!
So now the fatso is suing Po, the businessman who blew his cover. Magaling si fatso, NO PAPER TRAIL. Even the monies were brought to fatso in DOLLARS and no receipts whatsoever. Sounds familiar? This is how the fatso conducted his business, using other non-suspecting people to siphon the cash so they can live in style and put the money elsewhere. I hope these businessmen had at least witnesses to collaborate the transactions otherwise they are SCRWED big time by the fat guy!
_http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/34917/senate-to-summon-former-first-gentleman-arroyo
Senate to summon former First Gentleman Arroyo
MANILA, Philippines — The Senate blue ribbon committee will summon former First Gentleman Jose Miguel Arroyo in its next hearing in the allegedly anomalous purchase of second-hand helicopters to the Philippine National Police.
It was Senator Panfilo Lacson, who moved to have Arroyo invited in the next hearing of the committee.
Archibald Legaspi Po, president of Lionair Incorporated, and Hilario De Vera, president of the Manila Aerospace Trading (Maptra) implicated Arroyo in the transaction
naku FG, wag KJ ha… baka bigla kang atakihin sa puso…
Kayo naman kumita lang ng milyones si FAT eh. Galit na kayo he,he, suwapang at mandurugaas lang naman sila eh.
Ang “DAHILAN” kaya nila binenta ang helicopter ay di sila kayang ilipad at over weights silang mag asawa lalo na kasama si Jr. Tignan nyo ang picture helicopter kung kaya silang ilipad.
Masiba lang kaya tumataba eh. Kaya nga bale ang leeg ni Pandak dahil sa asawa nadaganan sa pag tulog at di kaya ni pandak itulak patagilid.
Nag dadasal na ang mag asawa kay Saint Luke’s.
Mga mandurugas ay kay St. Luke nag pupunta eh.
SA picture ni FG makikitang nagkakamot ng ulo. Pag yan sumipot at isinalang sa senado malamang sa hindi magkakamot ng………….. tenga yan! 😛
bawiin ang pera,segurado pera ng bayan yan!!!
Wala namang problema kung makukulong si BIG MIKE. Sanay naman iyang makulong eh. Kadalasan nga wala pang bubong ang kulungan niyan at ang nilalakaran niya ay putikan pa.
For a worthless piece of crap like big Mike is, he even had the nerves to flaunt money he and his family stole from Juan de la Cruz.
perl,
noong 2003-2004 hindi P43 to the Dollar. P50-P55 and rate noon alam ko yan dahil nagte-trade pa ako ng currencies that time. The amount could be higher by 20%.
Kilos na agad DOJ, De Lima. Aba e hindi porke si Lacson ang nagsabi, a duda kayo agad. Hanapin yung dalawa pang chopper ni FG at i-embargo agad yan.
Ang daming merong Raven 2 sa mga hangar diyan sa NAIA, imbitahin yung mga may-ari para malaman ang tunay na presyo niyan.
tt,
parang inabot ko pa yung P52 to the dollar sometime in 2006
Problem is the Arroyos have the best lawyers money can buy, chief among them is Corona. 🙂
That’s right, jug. Mga P52-P54 vs. $1 noong 2006. Bumaba ng konti matapos makalusot si Gloria sa Garci scandal.
Bago ko makalimutan, pati nga pala yung mga smuggled na 4×4 vans kalakasan noong bago mag-2004 elections. Alam sa Subic na grupo ni Mikey ang may hawak nung mga yun, itinatago lang kasama nung mga auction ng secondhand imported trucks and cars. Tsismis dati, si JV Ejercito daw ang may hawak nung panahon ni Erap.
Di kaya maraming SUV sa gobyerno ang binili rin ng brand new samantalang used and converted right-hand drive lang ang mga yun? Meron din sigurong mga brand new vans na ginamit sa kampanya ni Putot. Nitong 2010, si Erap nga bumili ng 14 na SUVs at ilang eroplano para sa kampanya niya, si Gloria pa?
I heard about that Subic technical smuggling issue also during Erap’s time, kaya nga nagalit ang MBC nun, wala rin, nung si Gloria pinalit, ganun din.
Walang kasing garapal ang mga Arroyo, magmula sa mag-asawa hanggang sa mga anak lalo na si Mike and Mikey the horsey!
Sa aking pagkakaalam si Mikey may pakana ng technical smuggling sa Subic.
Pasakayin si Pidal for the last time at pasabugin sa himpapawid!
Meron talagang technical smuggling sa Subic, but the Pidal- Arroyos made smuggling there ‘luxurious’ to the max!
Tumakbo na naman si fatso sa Hongkong to evade the Aug 11 senate hearing kahit na nakaratay si bansot sa St Luke’s. Papatay patay kasi si de Lima ng pag-hold departure order sa mga kriminal na ito.
I can see the game plan. In and out ng ospital ang mag-asawang tuso to stall the probe on their crimes hanggang magkaroon ng “friendly” president sa kanila. Tapos mag-aala Marcos yan, WALANG makukulong ni isa sa kanila dahil marunong silang umiwas!
Putragis, nakatakas na si IpDyi!
I wonder when the government will start freezing their assets? Where are the interpol connections?