Arroyo son, celebrities in flight logs of controversial choppers—DILG

MANILA, Philippines – Congressman Juan Miguel “Mikey” Arroyo and “several members of the family” and celebrities were in the flight logs of the helicopters that were allegedly bought and made to appear brand new, Local Government Secretary Jesse Robredo said Tuesday.

At the same time, retired Philippine National Police Chief Director General Jesus Versoza is not in the list of persons being investigated for the alleged anomalous purchase in 2009, but government investigators are not letting him off the hook.

“It still points who signed the vouchers, which is the head of the office…[His] defense [could be] he presumed regularity [in the bidding],” said Robredo.

Robredo confirmed that “Congressman Mikey [Juan Miguel] Arroyo and several members of the family” were in the flight logs of the helicopters bought, and made to appear brand new. He added the names of Kristine Hermosa, and a number of celebrities of television network, GMA-7, were likewise in the logs.

At least twenty-three police personnel were said to be involved in the purchase of the helicopters, according to initial results of the investigation released by the PNP Directorate for Investigative and Detective Management on Monday.

Seven members of bids and awards body, four members of inspection and acceptance committee, one of which is a BAC member, 16 members of the technical inspection team, one of whom is also a BAC member, and two others who are members of the inspection and acceptance committee, have been reportedly implicated in the case.

But Cacdac did not name the personnel, saying the filing of the charges would be done by the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG).

Meanwhile, Police Director Arturo Cacdac confirmed that two of the three helicopters were not brand new when bought, and accepted on Nov. 11, 2009.
Cacdac said that the Robinson R44 Raven 1 RP-4357 had used up 536.3 hours of flight while the Robinson R44 Raven RP 4250 had 498.9 hours of flying time in its logs when they arrived.

Cacdac also said that flight records indicated that a certain “Cong Mikey and aide” appeared several times in the flight log. Cacdac said the helicopter was used on Oct. 5, 2007 in a flight from “Lubao province to A3-station.”

The other passengers were not named.

Asian Spirit, Inc, was the previously registered owner, according to Cacdac. The helicopter was later leased to Lion Air, Inc., before it was sold to Manila Aerospace Products Trading (MAPTRA).

The MAPTRA sold the refurbished helicopters to the PNP.