Police official denies ‘pressure’ in purchase of used choppers

MANILA, Philippines – A ranking police official denied that the Philippine National Police during the time of then President and now Pamanga Representative Gloria Macapagal-Aroyo was “forced” to buy used helicopters in 2009.

“Uulitin ko po, walang namwersa sa amin [Let me repeat. No one forced us],” Police Director Luizo Ticman told the Senate blue ribbon committee on Tuesday.

Ticman was responding to Senators Teofisto Guingona III and Panfilo Lacson’s questions on whether they were pressured or forced by powerful people into buying the used helicopters.

Ticman was a member of the negotiation committee as well as the bidding and awards committee of the PNP, which approved the purchase of supposedly three brand new helicopters.

But Lacson revealed that two of the three helicopters were pre-owned by the Arroyos.

Lacson, during the hearing, pointed out that as early as June 15, 2009, a proposal submitted by the Manila Aerospace Trading Corporation, indicated that only one helicopter was brand-new and two were in “service center condition.”

But Ticman said that during the negotiation, he was stating categorically that they were buying brand new helicopters.