Witness in probe on chopper deal faces arrest

MANILA, Philippines — A witness in the Senate faces arrest for allegedly being evasive with her answers while being grilled over the alleged anomalous used vehicles sold to the Philippine National Police.

“I move to cite this witness in contempt Mr. Chairman,” Senator Panfilo Lacson said during Monday’s hearing of the Senate blue ribbon committee.

“So ordered. The committee will take it up in the meeting and we will inform Ms. Rowena when you will have to report to be arrested,” committee chair, Senator Teofisto Guingona III said.

Lacson made the motion to cite the witness in contempt when she claimed to have no recollection whether or not she made the wire transfer of $500,000 to Lionair Inc., supposedly a down payment for the purchase of five helicopters.

“If you insist on fooling this committee and or become very evasive, we can at any time cite you in contempt and hold you indefinitely,” said Lacson.

“We just like to remind you because you’ve been fooling. Kala mo sira ulo namin lahat dito? Yung iba, pero hindi lahat,” he added.

The witness suddenly remembered getting an instruction from Iggy Arroyo in 2003 to remit the said amount to Robinson USA supposedly as advance payment for the rental of the helicopters. Iggy Arroyo claimed the helicopters were merely leased by the LTA Inc.

At that point, Lacson lost his cool as he pointed out that the alleged agreement was between the LTA Inc., and Lionair Inc., not Robinson USA.

That was when Lacson moved to cite witness in contempt.

Guingona, before suspending the hearing, directed Del Rosario to stay in the Senate until senators decide in a caucus on the finality of the contempt.