Mike Arroyo disputes helicopter charges, files counter-affidavit

Former First Gentleman Jose Miguel T. Arroyo pleaded before the Office of the Ombudsman to dismiss the corruption case lodged against him in the alleged anomalous 2009 sale of second-hand choppers priced as brand new to the Philippine National Police.   With his lawyer Edna Herrera-Batacan, Mr. Arroyo, in a 30-page counter affidavit declared that he no longer has any interests in the firm that allegedly sold the helicopters because he had assigned his 998,980 shares in Lourdes T. Arroyo Inc. (LTA) to Benito Araneta way on March 15, 2001.   Mr. Arroyo, former Local Government Secretary Ronaldo Puno, former PNP chief Jesus Versoza, businessman Hilario De Vera of Maptra, and 32 others including PNP officers and officials of the National Police Commission were charged by the Ombudsman’s Field Investigation Office based on complaints filed by the PNP and the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee.   Arroyo submitted copies of certifications from the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) to show that there were full payments of capital gains tax totaling P495.88 million and documentary stamp tax worth P37,462.50 as part of the transaction.   He also said the chopper transaction took place more than two years after he divested from LTA.   “The truth is that I never paid any money to Mr. Po or Lionair and I had no part in his acquisition of the five helicopters from Robinson Helicopter Corp. It was LTA, a corporation with a distinct and separate juridical personality, thru its president, Mr. Ignacio T. Arroyo, who transacted with Mr. Po for the advancement of money…,” Mr. Mike Arroyo said.   “The fact remains that the five helicopters purchased by Lionair from RHC, including the two units eventually sold to the Philippine National Police, belonged to Mr. Po’s Lionair or Asian Spirit and that they were never owned by me or LTA,” the former first gentleman added.   Ombudsman Conchita Carpio Morales formed a three-man panel to conduct the preliminary investigation. She tasked the panel to submit a recommendation within 60 days. — ELR, GMA News