Lacson wants Mike Arroyo brother to face Senate over chopper ‘lease’

MANILA, Philippines – Senator Panfilo “Ping” Lacson wants Negros Occidental Representative Ignacio “Iggy” Arroyo to face the Senate and answer questions about his claim that the five helicopters allegedly owned by his brother were merely leased by the LTA Inc, owned by the Arroyo family, from Lionair Inc.

“Iggy asked for it, we have to give it to him,” said Lacson when sought for reaction on Tuesday.

It was Lacson, who initiated the investigation in the Senate after learning that the Philippine National Police bought helicopters in 2009, two of which were allegedly pre-owned by the congressman’s brother, former First Gentleman Jose Miguel Arroyo.

Lacson said the congressman should explain before the Senate blue ribbon committee why the lease agreement was notarized on March 16, 2004 but the residence certificate of Lionair corporate secretary Renato Sia was dated April 2, 2004.

The congressman, he said, should also explain why the agreement did not have the signatures of both parties on every page and that only the last page was signed by the Lionair official.

“Bakit March 17 at March 24 dumating ang second and third batches ng helicopters so wala pang mga helicopters, ni-lease na kuno [How come the second and third batches of helicopters were recorded as having arrived on March 17 and March 24, and yet there were no helicopters at the time they were supposed to have been leased]?” Lacson asked.

Lacson did not also buy the congressman’s claim that he was sick and seeking treatment in London, saying the country “is not very well-known as a place for seeing medication.”

“Obviously he is not sick as claimed,” said the senator.

“Mike [Jose Miguel Arroyo’s nickname] flew to Hong Kong allegedly for check-up. As far as I know, St. Luke’s is a better hospital than ay Hong Kong hospital. Again, obviously Mike Arroyo is not that sick,” Lacson said, referring to the former First Gentleman.

“Of the three, Mrs. Arroyo is the only one who’s truly sick,” said the senator, referring to former President and now Pampang Representative Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, who is still in St. Luke’s in Global City in Taguig after a major surgery.

Originally posted at 09:36 am | Tuesday, August 16, 2011