Businessman in sale of alleged ‘Arroyo-owned’ choppers to PNP appears in Senate

MANILA, Philippines — A businessman who will allegedly prove that former First Gentleman Jose Miguel Arroyo previously owned the used helicopters that were sold to the Philippine National Police appeared before the Senate on Tuesday.

Archibald Legaspi Po is president of Lion Air, Inc., which allegedly sold two second-hand helicopters to the PNP using Manila Aerospace Trading (Maptra) as its agent.

Senator Teofisto Guingona III, chairman of the blue ribbon committee investigating the case, described Po as the “man of the hour” when he acknowledged the attendance of the businessman.

Senator Panfilo Lacson, who initiated the investigation in the Senate, alleged that the used helicopters sold as brand new to the PNP belonged to Arroyo.

Lacson said Arroyo owned a total of five helicopters, of which two were sold to the PNP, two still with Lion Air while the other crashed with then Ilocos Sur Governor Luis Singson on board. Singson survived the accident.

Aside from Po, also invited to the hearing by the blue ribbbon committee investigating the case were the officials of Maptra and officials and personnel of the PNP involved in the purchase of the second-hand choppers in 2009.