Witness presents Mike Arroyo payment for purchase of 5 choppers

MANILA, Philippines – A wire transfer certificate of the alleged payment made by former First Gentleman Jose Miguel Arroyo’s Office in Makati City for the purchase of five helicopters was presented by a witness during Thursday’s hearing of the Senate blue ribbon committee.

Rene Sia, general manager of Lionair, told the committee that they were in possession of documents, showing that the LTA (Lourdes T. Arroyo) office in Makati paid a downpayment of $500,000 to the Robinson Helicopter Corporation for the five helicopters in Dec. 11, 2003.

Lionair Incorporated is the exclusive distributor for Robinson Helicopter Corp.

“Ang downpayment po ayun sa record na hawak namin ay wire transfer ng Banco de Oro in Dec. 11, 2003 na nagpapatunay na ang nagadala ng funds ay galing sa LTA Incorporated [The downpayment, according to our records, is a wire transfer of Banco de Oro in Dec. 11, 2003 that proves that the funds came from LTA Incorporated],” Sia said.

After the wire transfer, Sia said they received a verbal instruction from the LTA through Lionair president Archibald Po to open an account at Union bank in Alabang.

It was through that account, the witness said, that the LTA paid the balance for the five helicopters, two of which were allegedly sold as brand new to the Philippine National Police in 2009.

It was the first time that documentary evidence was presented in the hearing to prove that Arroyo was the previous owner of the used helicopters that were sold to the PNP.

Arroyo has repeatedly denied the allegation.