Senate panel strongly condemns Rep. Arroyo for ‘cover-up’ in chopper deal

Negros Occidental Representative Ignacio “Iggy” Arroyo. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines – Negros Occidental Representative Ignacio “Iggy” Arroyo only received strong condemnation from the Senate blue ribbon committee for allegedly attempting to cover up for his brother, former First Gentleman Jose Miguel Arroyo.

The congressman claimed that the used helicopters allegedly sold as brand new to the Philippine National Police did not belong to his brother but was only rented by the Arroyo-owned LTA Inc from Lionair Inc.

“The blue ribbon strongly condemns Iggy Arroyo for attempting to present a document to muddle the issue on the helicopter’s true ownership,” Senator Teofisto Guingona III, chairman of the committee, announced during a regular forum in the Senate on Thursday.

“And because of this, this committee further recommends through the Ombudsman to investigate Iggy Arroyo’s criminal liability in his relation to his admission in a press statement in his attempt to cover up for Mike Arroyo that there was supposedly a lease agreement between the LTA and Lionair Corp,” Guingona added.

The former First Gentleman was among those found liable by the committee for the alleged anomalous purchase of the used helicopters by the Philippine National Police in 2009.

The committee recommended the filing of a case against Arroyo, former Police Chief Jesus Versoza, former Local Government Secretary Ronaldo Puno and 16 police officers for violations of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act.