Ombudsman panel seeks deeper probe on helicopter anomaly

MANILA, Philippines - The five-man panel tasked to conduct a fact-finding investigation on the helicopter deal anomaly of the Philippine National Police (PNP) submitted its report to Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales yesterday.

The fact-finding team led by Assistant Ombudsman Joselito Fangon and Deputy Special Prosecutor John Turalba, however, is asking for more time to come up with a stronger case against the respondents with the help of the Commission on Audit (COA).

Media Affairs Bureau chief Edgardo Diansuy said Ombudsman Morales granted the request for an extension, considering the many documents to validate and certify.

“In compliance with the Ombudsman’s directive dated Oct. 13, the panel of investigators submitted today an initial evaluation report,” Diansuy announced.

Diansuy added the team “recommended a period of 30 days for it to validate the voluminous documents in coordination with the concerned government agencies.”

He said the investigating panel is now expected to come up with its final evaluation report on the PNP helicopter deal case by Nov. 21.

Diansuy pointed out the investigating team managed to comply with the seven-day deadline to submit a fact-finding investigation report.

Further information gathered by The STAR revealed the panel’s request for an extension in order to complete its job stemmed from how the fact-finding team will coordinate with COA for a “thorough parallel report.”

Sources revealed the team wants to be given the chance to build up a case “so strong that preliminary investigation will just be a matter of course.”

Its initial findings pointed to issues that need further scrutiny in order to build a solid case against the respondents.

One of the respondents, former first gentleman Jose Miguel Arroyo, said he does not expect the investigation to progress further because of lack of evidence to pin him to the alleged irregularity.

“That means they (fact-finding panel) have a weak case because they need the COA to strengthen their case,” he said.

The team is looking to consolidate the two separate complaints filed by Senators Teofisto Guingona III, Panfilo Lacson, and Aquilino Pimentel III based on a Senate Blue Ribbon committee investigation last week and the one filed by the PNP-Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) last month.

Both complaints named Arroyo, former interior secretary Ronaldo Puno, and former PNP chief Jesus Verzosa as principal respondents in the case.

However, the team’s list of other individuals who should be held responsible differed, which is why there is a need for further study.

The helicopter deal anomaly stems from how the PNP bought two used light operational helicopters for P62.6 million from the Manila Aerospace Products Trading Corp. (MAPTRA) in 2009 that were passed off as brand new.

Based on the revelations of Lion Air Inc. president Archibald Po during the Senate’s investigation on the transactions, Arroyo was the real owner of the secondhand helicopters.

Guingona, Lacson, and Pimentel filed graft and other charges against Arroyo before the Office of the Ombudsman on Oct. 13, prompting Ombudsman Morales to form a panel to handle the initial probe.

Arroyo welcomed Morales’ order for a swift investigation into the recommendation of the Senate Blue Ribbon committee.

“Now we will go by rule of law rather than by whim and prejudice of the senators who, by the way, filed on their own capacity, and not Senate, because they bypassed the plenary,” he said, referring to the complaint filed by Guingona, Lacson and Pimentel. – With Paolo Romero