First Gentleman ordered sale of 2 used choppers to PNP–witness

MANILA, Philippines — A new witness appeared and pointed to former First Gentleman Jose Miguel Arroyo as having allegedly ordered the sale of two second-hand helicopters as brand new to the Philippine National Police (PNP), a witness told a Senate hearing on Tuesday.

In his testimony before the blue ribbon committee, Hilario de Vera, president and general manager of Manila Aerospace Products Trading Corporation (MAPTRA), said that Arroyo’s name was mentioned in one of his meetings with Archibald Po, president of the Lionair Incorporated.

Lionair Inc is the exclusive distributor of Robinson Helicopter Corporation while MAPTRA is the authorized marketing arm of Lionair and also an accredited supplier of the PNP.

When MAPTRA joined the bidding for three units of Light Operational Helicopters, De Vera said Po informed him that the deal was already “negotiated.”

And when he requested for the price quotation for one fully brand new Raven II and two brand new Raven I standards, De Vera said Lionair gave him a proposal to sell three pre-owned units of Robinson R44 Raven I helicopters.

So on March 25, 2008, De Vera said he went to the office of Po to inquire why Lionair gave him a proposal for pre-owned helicopters.

“I have instructions from FG that those are what you’re going to sell to the PNP. FG told me that he wants the sale of his three helicopters,” said De Vera in Filipino, qouting Po.

De Vera said he requested to revise the proposal from three pre-owned units to one or either two brand new helicopters and only one pre-owned unit.

Arroyo, according to Po, did not approve it.

De Vera said the next proposal that he received from Lionair contained only one brand new unit and two pre-owned helicopters.

“FG said there should only be one brand new. If you don’t want to follow, you can’t sell anything to PNP because I can’t help you. You can’t get anywhere. That’s what FG wants,” De Vera said, again quoting Po.

On June 15, 2009, De Vera said MAPTRA submitted a proposal to sell one brand new R44 Police Helicopter and two pre-owned Standard Helicopters.

And on July 23, 2009, De Vera said they received a call from the bids and awards committee of the PNP, asking them to go to Camp Crame in Quezon City to sign the delivery  contract for three brand new units.

When he told Po that he signed the contract for the delivery of brand new units, De Vera said Po told him, “I told you not to worry because anything that you deliver, nobody will ask because there is an order from FG on what to do.”

“And I know that you will profit from the sale of the two pre-owned Raven I that’s why you should give me 50 percent of your net forrr my extra effort in the transaction,” Po allegedly added.

After the transaction was completed, De Vera said he gave Po his 50 percent share amounting to P3.5 million on April 15, 2010.