Witness vs Mike Arroyo in chopper deal nixes gov’t protection

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MANILA, Philippines — A witness against former First Gentleman Jose Miguel Arroyo said there was no need for him to be admitted to the witness protection program.

“I don’t see any need for me to be under the WPP [because] what I am saying is the truth,” Captain Dennis Silvestre told 990AM’s “Tapatan”.

Silvestre, along with fellow pilot Captain Margarito Labastilla, testified before the Senate blue ribbon committee that they recalled flying Arroyo twice but could not point to him as the owner of the helicopter that they used.

“It’s common knowledge in aviation that Mr. Arroyo was the one who used those helicopters,” he said but added that documents showed that the helicopters were registered under Lionair and Asian Spirit.

The former first gentleman has been tagged as the alleged owner of the second-hand helicopters that were sold to the PNP in 2009 as brand new.

For more, listen to the attached audio clip from 990AM.

Tetch Torres