MANILA, Philippines — A witness testified Tuesday before the Senate committee investigating the alleged questionable sale of second-hand helicopters to the Philippine national Police that former First Gentleman Jose Miguel Arroyo owned five helicopters, of which two were sold as brand new to the PNP.
Testifying at the blue ribbon committee, Archibald Legaspi Po, president of Lionair Incorporated, said he facilitated the purchase of five Robinson R44 Raven 1 helicopters for Arroyo.
“ln 2003, I was asked to meet with then First Gentleman [Jose] Miguel Arroyo and I did at his LTA office . FG inquired about chartering helicopters from me and I told him there were no longer any helicopters available as they had all been loaned to Fernando Poe Jr., who was running for President against his wife, former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo,” Po said, reading from his affidavit.
“I suggested to FG that the best thing for him was to buy his own helicopters. I offered to him the Robinson R44 Raven 1 helicopters, five units of which would be the price for just one European helicopter. FG then told me to go ahead, buy him [5] Robinson helicopters,” he said.
While Robinson was manufacturing the importation of the helicopters, Po said Arroyo asked him if he could facilitate their importation.
“He [Arroyo] suggested that the importation, if possible, be coursed through my other company Asian Spirit because being a locator at the Clark Export Processing Zone, the importation by the Asian Spirit would be tax free and the only expense would be for the requisite bond,” said the witness.
“I agreed to FG’s proposal, and the helicopters were delivered to Asian Spirit at the Clark Export Processing Zone,” he added.
And as requested by Arroyo, Po said he signed for the 5 helicopters in the name of Asian Spirit.
But sometime in 2006, Po said Arroyo told him that he was selling the helicopters at $350,000 each.
“I commented that the price was on the high side for pre-owned helicopters. But FG said that was the price he was willing to sell the helicopters,” he said.
“To facilitate the sale, I advised FG that we needed Asian Spirit to sell the helicopters to Lionair so that custom duties and taxes could properly be paid befor ethe helicopters were sold to third parties. On FG’s assent, we effected Asian Spirit’s sale initially of two of his helicopters to Lionair,” he added.
The two helicopters were then sold as brand new to the PNP through the Manila Aerospace Products Trading in 2009.