Congressman Arroyo’s bookkeeper testifies anew in chopper deal probe

MANILA, Philippines — Congressman Ignacio “Iggy” Arroyo’s bookkeeper was grilled anew at the Senate about her work at the LTA Inc. and her ties to the former First Gentleman Jose Miguel “Mike” Arroyo.

Senator Panfilo “Ping” Lacson lost his cool on Thursday after Rowena del Rosario continued to give him and the other senators the runaround.

“Ang talino mo. Nagtatanga-tangahan ka lang pero matalino ka [You’re intelligent. You pretend to be dumb but you’re intelligent],” Lacson told Del Rosario who has been detained at the Senate since Monday when she first appeared before the blue ribbon committee investigating the allegedly anomalous purchase of second-hand helicopters sold as brand new to the Philippine National Police.

The former first gentleman was tagged as the owner of two of the five helicopters but his brother has claimed that these were merely leased to the LTA Inc., a family-owned firm.

“Ang galing mo magtanga-tangahan[You’re good at playing dumb],” Lacson added.

Lacson’s remarks stemmed from Del Rosario’s claim that she has no recollection of the taxes paid by the LTA Inc. supposedly for the $500,000 advance rental of five helicopters from Lionair Inc.

The money was remitted to the Robinsons USA though the lease agreement between the LTA Inc and the Lionair Inc.

Congressman Arroyo was the president of the family-owned LTA Inc. when the company supposedly rented the helicopters.

But Lionair Inc. claimed the helicopters belonged to the former first gentleman.

Aside from being bookkeeper to Congressman Arroyo, Del Rosario was also a volunteer for the First Gentleman’s foundation. As an internal auditor, Del Rosario said she did not receive a single centavo from the foundation.

Earlier on Thursday, Del Rosario admitted that she did not know the job as member of the board of trustees of the Home Development Mutual Fund or (PAG-IBIG fund) for six months during the time of then President and now Pampanga Representative Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.

“I do not know the job of a board of trustee . . . I don’t know anything,” Del Rosario said. In Filipino, responding to Senator Jose “Jinggoy” Estrada’s queries.

Asked then why she accepted the appointment, “It is a privilege to accept and I respect the appointment that was given to me,” she said.

First posted 10:54 am | Thursday, August 25th, 2011