Choppers were leased, says Mike Arroyo’s bookkeeper

MANILA, Philippines — Rowena del Rosario, who worked as bookkeeper for the Arroyo-owned LTA Inc., appeared at a Senate hearing on Monday on the anomalous purchase of used helicopters by the Philippine National Police.

Del Rosario, reading her affidavit before the Senate blue ribbon committee, said that as far as she knows, the used choppers had been only leased by the LTA Inc. from Lionair.

“Ako po ay nautusan lang ni Congressman Iggy Arroyo na magbayad sa Lionair tuwing may billing,” she said.

This was contrary to the testimony of another witness, Lionair marketing officer Edith Solano-Juguan that the money that she was collecting from Del Rosario was the payment for maintenance fees of the helicopters.

Lionair president Archibald Po claimed the helicopters belonged to former First Gentleman Jose Miguel Arroyo, who repeatedly denied this.

Del Rosario said she worked for LTA since 2000 and only left last July 22, 2011. She was also appointed as member of the board of trustee of the Home Development Mutual Fund or PAG-IBIG fund) during the time of former President and now Pampanga Representative Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.

Asked by Senator Jose “Jinggoy” Estrada about her qualifications to get the appointment, Del Rosario said, “Hindi ko po alam.. Hindi ko po alam kung ano ang qualifications ko.”

As member of the board of trustees, Del Rosario said she was told that she could have her own phone, car, driver and even a secretary.