MANILA, Philippines — A former Sharia Court judge has been called to testify at Tuesday’s resumption of the Senate investigation into the alleged anomalous purchase of second-hand helicopters to the Philippine National Police.
“I was told that ex-Judge Moner is here in the gallery. And I’d like to manifest that he be called,” said Senator Panfilo Lacson, referring to Nagamura Moner who is expected to link the controversial PNP helicopters to the alleged massive cheating in the 2004 presidential elections.
Lacson said he met with Moner last Friday to discuss his possible appearance this Tuesday when the Senate blue ribbon committee looks into the used helicopters sold as brand new to the PNP in 2009.
The used choppers allegedly belonged to First Gentleman Jose Miguel Arroyo, who vehemently denied the allegation.
Lacson said Moner faced the Senate inquiry in 2005 at the height of the so-called “Hello Garci scandal”, the alleged phone conversation between then President and now Pampanga Representative Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and resigned elections commissioner Virgillio Garcillano.
But Lacson said Moner lied during the 2005 investigation and the senator said he expected that this time, the former judge would tell the whole truth before the Senate.