MANILA, Philippines - The lawyer who notarized the supposed air fleet agreement between Lion Air and the Arroyo-owned LTA Inc. blamed acute arthritis in his hands in explaining the different strokes in his signatures in the pact and other documents presented before the Senate committee which is conducting an inquiry into the alleged anomalous purchased by the police of helicopters in 2009.
Lawyer Lope Velasco told the Senate Blue Ribbon committee that he suffers “impaired arthritis,” which is why his signatures differ in the lease agreement and other documents presented before the committee.
On questioning by Sen. Franklin Drilon, Velasco said he did not know any of the Arroyos as well as Lion Air general manager Rene Sia, who were signatories in the supposed air fleet agreement.
“The two parties in the agreement, I do not know them until now. They have not appeared before me,” Velasco said.
Velasco noted that in a deed of lease the presence of parties are not mandatory, unlike in a deed of sale.
On the question of Sia’s residence certificate dated April or a month after the supposed agreement was signed, Velasco said, “As I said, it was a simple oversight.”
“Just to manifest for the record, the signature appearing in this affidavit just submitted to the Blue Ribbon committee is different from the signature appearing in the Aircraft Fleet Agreement of Mr. Lope M. Velasco,” Drilon said.
“Apparently, there is basis for suspicion that several people would sign such commissions not necessarily the notary public, because that is a practice happening outside but anyway, that is not material here,” Drilon added.
Velasco admitted that he failed to submit the documents before a competent court because his records were stolen when unknown suspects forced open his office in Makati City.
He reported the theft to the notarial section but not the police because he believed nothing will happen anyway.
Drilon pointed out that the aircraft fleet service agreement, attached as Annex B in the perjury complaint filed by the camp of Mike Arroyo before a Pasay City prosecutors’ office, was part of a futile attempt by the Arroyo brothers to establish that Arroyo-owned LTA Inc. leased the helicopters from Lion Air.
Drilon said the agreement was being presented allegedly to show proof that Lion Air owned the helicopters, and Arroyo only leased the aircraft.
Velasco admitted that he was the lawyer who notarized the lease agreement sometime in 2004.
Showing documents bearing his signatures to the resource person, Drilon pointed out that Velasco’s signature in the March 16, 2004 agreement between Sia and Iggy Arroyo was different from his other signatures that appeared in three other documents.
Drilon presented a letter, which Velasco filed before a Makati City Court on Jan. 19, 2008; an affidavit of loss of registry of notary dated Jan. 10, 2008 and a certification in April 15, 2011.
“I would like to inform your honor that I am suffering from an impaired arthritis and my hand is dribbling when I affix my signature, it differs from my original signature,” Velasco said.
Velasco maintained that he signed all the documents personally and did not ask somebody to sign on his behalf.
Drilon revealed that Velasco is facing a case before the Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP) for malpractice.
Velasco confirmed that he was charged for alleged violation of the new rules on notarial practice but explained, “I am charged but I properly answered that charge.”
“I practiced my notary according to law,” Velasco said.
“I am not saying you are guilty,” Drilon said.
“The charge is malicious, and I already answered that charge,” Velasco said.
Senators Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel and Drilon grilled Velasco over how the documents were prepared.
“As I have mentioned before, I consider the execution of the agreement so the presence of the parties are not mandatory,” Velasco explained.
Velasco said a representative of a certain Mr. Po brought the documents to his office for notary.
“As far as my records are concerned, that’s the only document I notarized,” Velasco added.
Sia said he was not yet employed at Lion Air on the dates mentioned in the alleged lease of agreement.
“I did sign that blank page but not in 2004,” Sia said.
Blue Ribbon committee chairman Sen. Teofisto Guingona said there is a need to look into the law and rules with regard to notary public wherein parties concerned do not present themselves to the lawyers.
He noted that such affidavits are used in court hearings.
Sia, for his part, sought Senate immunity.
“I wish to hereby state that the heart of the perjury charges of Mr. Arroyo are false simply because the alleged lease of these helicopters by LTA Inc. from Lion Air is not true. The truth being that, it is FG who is the owner of the said helicopters,” Sia said, referring to Arroyo as former first gentleman (FG).
Arroyo’s filing of perjury charges against Lion Air president Archibald Po led Sia to seek immunity from similar charge and other criminal complaints that may arise out of or in connection with the matter under inquiry of committee.