Police officials behind P104.9 M ‘second-hand’ chopper con to be charged: Sec Robredo

MANILA, Philippines -Charges will be filed against personnel of the Philippine National Police (PNP) who were responsible for buying two Robinson R44 helicopters, which turned out to be second-hand, said Interior and Local Government Secretary Jesse Robredo on Tuesday.

Robredo said he has directed PNP Director General Raul Bacalzo to spearhead the filing of the necessary charges against police officials who were liable in the said anomaly.

These include former PNP chief Jesus Verzosa, who approved the P104.9 million purchase, and the members of the PNP acceptance/inspection committee comprising Chief Superintendent George Piano, Senior Superintendent Luis Saligumba, Senior Superintendent Nolan Antonio, and Superintendent Edgar Paatan.

Also liable, according to the DILG secretary, were property inspector Police Officer 3 Avensuel Dy and chief of the Management Division of the Directorate for Comptrollership Senior Superintendent Mansue Lukban, who signed the inspection report form on behalf of the Director for Comptrollership.

The officers he named should be charged for the anomalous purchase, said Robredo. He said he had told Bacalzo to “file the case, and (have the officers) explain their side.”

The two PNP Light Police Operational Helicopters (LPOH) were bought for the PNP Special Action Force as part of the Capability Enhancement Program 2008. But the units were found to have had 500 hours worth of flying hours even before they were sold in 2009.

The helicopters were sold, and delivered to the PNP by the Manila Aerospace Products Trading Corporation (Maptra) as “brand new,” said Robredo.

The DILG secretary said that the PNP was already investigating the case even before it was exposed by Senator Panfilo Lacson.