Palace urges Iggy Arroyo to appear before Senate

MANILA, Philippines—Malacañang urged Negros Occidental Representative Ignacio Arroyo on Friday to face the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee to substantiate his claim that it was he in control of the family corporation when it leased helicopters that were later sold as brand new to the Philippine National Police.

Edwin Lacierda, President Benigno Aquino’s spokesman, said facing the Senate despite the tradition of inter-parliamentary courtesy would be the way to go for Iggy Arroyo for his sake and that of his brother, Jose Miguel Arroyo, who has been identified in the Senate as the owner of the aircraft purchased by the PNP under allegedly anomalous circumstances.

“Without his testimony, it would be unfair or him or for the First Gentleman,” Lacierda said at a news  briefing in Malacañang.

“Without his testimony under oath, the purported buyer would have been the First Gentleman. So better for him to appear before the Senate so they be able to verify from him as to the nature, status, events that transpired in the purchase,” he added.