Seized SUV in drug case loaned to Mikey Arroyo’s staff

Former presidential son Juan Miguel “Mikey” Arroyo. FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines—The vehicle found in the possession of an American national and with P50-million worth of suspected  “shabu” in Makati City Tuesday had been temporarily loaned to a staff of former presidential son Juan Miguel “Mikey” Arroyo, the National Power Corp. said.

In a statement, NPC said they have been attempting to recover the Mitsubishi Pajero (SEP 825) for the last two years after lawyer Antonio Mariano Almeda, who was then the chief of staff of Arroyo, allegedly failed to return the vehicle to them.

“Official documents show that Atty. Antonio Mariano C. Almeda . . . requested NPC in April 2008 to assign an SUV vehicle to him because he had been tasked by the House Committee on Energy, then chaired by Arroyo, to conduct an ocular inspection of all of NPC’s decommissioned power plants in Luzon and in some parts of Eastern Visayas,” the NPC said.

On Tuesday, Philippine National Police’s Anti-Illegal Drugs Special Operations Task Force reported that it has arrested American national Brian Hills, 33, after being found in possession of millions-worth of shabu (methamphetamine hydrochloride)  inside his condominium unit at The Columns in Ayala Avenue, and in the Pajero SUV.

Police said the Pajero was parked at Level 5 of the condominium.

NPC said it tried to recover the Pajero by writing Arroyo’s office two years later after it was assigned to Almeda—first in June and then second in August of 2010—“[but] both requests were never replied upon by the congressman’s office.”

NPC claimed to have written another letter in March 2011 in a bid to follow up on its earlier requests for the return of the vehicle. It also noted that should the congressman’s office fail to return the Pajero, the matter will be referred to the proper authorities.

“When the last letter was again ignored by Arroyo’s office, NPC filed a formal complaint before the Highway Patrol Group of the Philippine
National Police on May 6, 2011 in an attempt to secure a hold order or recall of the Pajero,” NPC said.

 Mikey Arroyo, son of former President and now Pampanga Representative Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, begged off INQUIRER.net’s questions on the matter.

In a text message, he asked that questions be directed to Almeda instead.