Senators on Tuesday urged the Philippine National Police (PNP) to utilize two helicopters allegedly owned by former First Gentleman Jose Miguel "Mike" Arroyo as well as dozens of rubber boats that remain unused in their custody.
                                          
During Tuesday's Senate finance committee review of the performance of the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG), Senator Gregorio Honasan asked the PNP why it wasn't using the helicopters.

"We are complaining about mobility and then may dalawang nakatiwangwang," he said, referring to the choppers. "Mine-maintain [pa naman yan na] parang kotse na nasa kasa na dapat running condition."

DILG Sec. Jesse Robredo said they could not use the choppers because they are part of a case pending before the Sandiganbayan.

Mr. Arroyo and 22 others were charged in connection with the alleged anomalous purchase of pre-owned helicopters by the PNP in 2009. Arroyo was identified by several witnesses as the owner of the choppers.

Robredo added that they also could not use 90 outboard motors and 75 rubber boats in their custory, as their P131-million purchase is the subject of a case filed before the Office of the Ombudsman.

"We wrote [to] the Ombudsman and we wrote the Commission on Audit to authorize us to use these equipment. Now inasmuch as the cases have not been resolved yet, we have been advised not to use them," he said.

But Sen. Franklin Drilon, chair of the Senate finance committee, said it "doesn't make sense" that the PNP and DILG are not able to use the equipment.

"It can be used so it doesn't make it a waste of resources because of the cases pending, it is bad enough that the government suffered losses because of these anomalous deals. It's worse that whatever is the value of these equipment cannot be put to good use because of these cases," he said.

He explained that the equipment can be inspected by the judge and other parties, assessed, and then documented.

"The evidence ought to be preserved but it doesn't mean that the preservation means you will not use it," he said.

Robredo said that he has already written twice to COA and the Ombudsman but that he will try to ask them again about the matter.

"We'll take it up again with them," he said.

Since the filing of the chopper case, 14 active commission officers have been dismissed while six non-commission officers have been suspended. - BM, GMA News