The supplier of the two helicopters that were sold as new to the Philippine National Police (PNP) has confirmed that the same aircraft were previously owned by former First Gentleman Jose Miguel "Mike" Arroyo.
During Tuesday's blue ribbon committee hearing on the alleged misrepresentations in the PNP's multi-million purchase of helicopters, Lion Air president Archibald Legaspi Po said Mr. Arroyo approached him in 2003 to inquire about chartering helicopters.
Po said he told the former First Gentleman that all their available choppers were already loaned to the late actor Fernando Poe Jr.. At the time, Poe was running against Mike Arroyo's wife, former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.
"I oflered to him the Robinson R44 Raven 1 helicopters, five units of which wouid be the price for just one European helicopter. FG then told me to go ahead, buy him five (5) Robinson helicopters," he said.
He said Mr. Arroyo even remitted $475,000 as deposit. He likewise revealed that Mr. Arroyo asked that the importation of the choppers be coursed through his other company — Asian Spirit — because it would make the importation tax free.
"I agreed to FG's proposal, and the helicopters were delivered to Asian Spirit at the Clark Export Processing Zone," he said.
Lion Air was the company which sold two pre-owned R44 Raven I choppers to the Manila Aerospace Trading Corporation (MAPTRA), which later sold and priced them as brand new to the PNP.
During last week's hearing, Supt. Claudio Gaspar Jr. had confirmed that he used to pilot the two choppers, which were used by the First Family when former President Arroyo was still in power.
Gaspar noted, however, that from what he understood, the choppers were owned by Lion Air and not the former First Family.
Earlier, Sen. Panfilo Lacson said that two more choppers owned by the former First Gentleman were still with Lion Air. — RSJ
