Witness: Arroyo owns controversial choppers

MANILA, Philippines – Officials of the Lion Air company disclosed that the true owner of the second hand choppers that were sold as brand new to the Philippine National Police was the company owned by former First Gentleman Mike Arroyo.

In the hearing at the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee today, Lion Air general manager Rene Sia said Arroyo’s Lourdes T. Arroyo Incorporated (LTA Inc.) made direct payments to Robinsons USA for the purchase of five helicopters on December 11, 2003.

The December 2003 down payment (US$500,000) was made through a BDO account, while the succeeding payments were made on Feb. 27, 2004 (US$ 509,056.41) and March 1, 2004 (US $148,271.53) through Lion Air account. 

The used of the account happened after the LTA Inc. instructed Lion Air president Archibald Po to open an account at Union Bank (Richville Branch) in Alabang, where the Arroyo company deposited the succeeding amounts for the purchase of the choppers.

 “Well, sila po ang nagbayad therefore sila po ang beneficiary,” Sia said.

For his part, Po cited that they have proofs that will point to the true owners of the choppers.

“(May) nakita po kaming papeles na mapatunayan kung sino po ang may ari ng mga helicopters na ito,” said Po.

The former First Gentleman however failed to attend today’s hearing, citing his ailing heart condition.

In a letter to Senate Blue Ribbon Committee chairman Sen. Teofisto “TG” Guingona III, Arroyo reiterated the recommendation of his doctors to skip the hearing due to the worsening condition of his heart.

The Senate received the letter at 8:05 a.m. today through Arroyo’s lawyer Inocencio Ferrer Jr., who pointed out that his client is willing to be check by the senate doctors.

A medical certificate signed by Arroyo’s physician, Loren Carino, was also attached to the letter, saying the tear in the heart of the former First Gentleman can be fatal.

At the start of the hearing past 9 a.m. today, the Senate directed government doctors, Philippine Heart Center director Manuel Chua and the Senate doctors, to check the veracity of Arroyo’s condition.