SC orders Sandiganbayan to drop Mike Arroyo from graft raps over chopper deal

The Supreme Court has ordered the Sandiganbayan to drop former First Gentleman Mike Arroyo from graft charges over the Philippine National Police’s purchase of the two secondhand helicopters in 2009 allegedly owned by him.

In a 19-page resolution, the SC Special Third Division granted the motion for reconsideration filed by Arroyo.

“The Motion for Reconsideration filed by petitioner Jose Miguel T. Arroyo is hereby granted. The Sandiganbayan is ordered to drop petitioner Jose Miguel T. Arroyo from the information filed in the criminal case… at any stage of the proceedings,” it said.

Both the Office of the Ombudsman and the anti-graft court  “gravely erred in finding probable cause” and putting Arroyo on trial, according to the SC.

“Accordingly, the Sandiganbayan committed grave abuse of discretion in issuing the warrant of arrest and in assuming jurisdiction over the case,” it said.

The petition was in connection with the criminal case filed against Arroyo over the alleged purchase of two helicopters by the Philippine National Police in 2009 from Lionair Inc.

Lionair president Archibald Po said that Arroyo was the owner of the helicopters and that Lionair imported them from the United States before selling them.

The High Court also said the OMB and the Sandiganbayan concluded that the LTA and Arroyo are one and the same.

“Likewise, the OMB and Sandiganbayan erred in concluding that the frequent use of the helicopters by Arroyo and his family is evidence of his ownership since Lionair is in the business of offering its fleet to selected clients,” it said.—AOL, GMA News