Senate orders arrest, detention of Iggy Arroyo’s bookkeeper

‘EVASIVE’. Rowena del Rosario testifies at the Senate hearing on PNP choppers on Monday. Later she was ordered arrested and detained for “answering evasively” to questions of Senators Panfilo Lacson and Jose “Jinggoy” Estrada. PHOTO BY LYN RILLON/PHILIPPINE DAILY INQUIRER

MANILA, Philippines— Rowena del Rosario, the bookkeeper of Negros Occidental Representatives Ignacio “Iggy” Arroyo, has been arrested and now detained at the Senate, after 12 senators on Monday noon signed an arrest and detention order during an all-senators’ caucus in the senate.

The 12 senators who signed the order Del Rosario’s arrest and detention were Senator Teofisto Guingona III, chairman of the Senate blue ribbon committee; Senate President Juan Ponce-Enrile; and Senators Panfilo Lacson, Jose “Jinggoy Estrada, Francis “Chiz” Escudero, Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan, Gregorio Honasan, Antonio Trillanes IV, Sergio Osmena, Franklin Drilon, Edgardo Angara and Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III.

Guingona said Del Rosario would be detained in the Senate “indefinitely.”

“Kasi ang charge sa kanya answering evasively so kailangang sumagot syang tapat at ma-satisfy ang mga tanong nina Senator Lacson at Senator Estrada,” Guingona said.

Earlier during the Senate blue ribbon committee hearing, Lacson moved to cite Del Rosario in contempt for being being evasive with her answers while being grilled over the alleged anomalous used vehicles sold to the Philippine National Police. Estrada seconded the motion.

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,” Lacson 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.

“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,” Guingona said.

Originally posted at 04:25 pm | Monday, August 22, 2011