Senate frees Rep. Ignacio Arroyo’s bookkeeper

FREE. Rowena del Rosario, the former bookkeeper of Negros Occidental Representative Ignacio “Iggy” Arroyo, is freed by the Senate Thursday after she was detained Monday for refusing to answer questions linking the lawmaker and his brother, former First Gentleman Jose Miguel “Mike” Arroyo, to the allegedly anomalous sale of second-hand helicopters to the Philippine National Police. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines – Rowena del Rosario, the former bookkeeper of Negros Occidental Representative Ignacio Arroyo, was freed by the Senate on Thursday.

“Ms. Del Rosario you are free to go on the condition that whenever we call you for future hearings you will attend,” Senator Teofisto Guinona III, chairman of the Senate blue ribbon committee, said before suspending the hearing on Thursday.

“Maraming salamat po mga kagalang-galang na mga senador [Thank you very much honourable senators],” said Del Rosario, who has been detained in the Senate since Monday when during the Senate inquiry she evaded questions concerning the lawmaker and his brother, former First Gentleman Jose Miguel “Mike” Arroyo, over the supposed sale of second-hand helicopters to the Philippine National Police.

It was Senator Francis “Chiz” Escudero who moved to lift the arrest and detention order against Del Rosario, before the Senate blue ribbon committee suspended its hearing on the allegedly anomalous sale of second hand helicopters to the Philippine National Police.

“May I ask Mr. Chairman, with the indulgence of my colleagues for the arrest order to be lifted and for her tobe released to be with her family,” Escudero said.

Senator Panfilo Lacson, who moved to have the witness detained in the Senate, seconded Escudero’s motion.