TWO Senate committees are bent on ferreting out the truth in the latest scandals to rock the previous administration.

Sen. Franklin Drilon, who led the investigation into the helicopter anomaly, yesterday deplored the apparent “hasty” filing by the Philippine National Police before the Office of the Ombudsman of plunder charges against former First Gentleman Jose Miguel Arroyo, his brother Rep.Ignacio Arroyo and others involved in the scandal.

He said the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee will file separate charges against the Arroyos and several others allegedly involved in the “helicopter scandal” during the previous administration.

Similarly, Sen. Sergio Osmeña III, chairman of the Committee on Banks, Financial Institutions and Currencies,  said his panel, jointly with the Blue Ribbon Committee, will pursue the investigation of the alleged behest loan granted former Trade Minister Roberto Ongpin. 

Mike Arroyo allegedly sold as brand new two of his helicopters to the PNP in 2009 for $350,000 each or amounting to about P105 million. He denied ownership of the controversial choppers. Later, his younger brother Iggy claimed ownership of the helicopters.

He said that the premature filing of charges against the Arroyo brothers might prevent the Senate from “ferreting out the truth, as police officials who would be invited to the Senate probe may invoke the right against self-incrimination due to pending cases.”

“This is like a legal gag order which is being deliberately done because the Senate cannot compel the PNP officials to speak if they appear before the Senate again. This is a shotgun approach,” said Drilon.

“That would not prevent us from filing separate cases against those involved,” he added. He said the BRC is still in the process of identifying if plunder charges or violation of the Anti-Graft Law will be pressed against Mike Arroyo, who, Drilon said, appeared to be the real owner of two Robinson R-44 Raven 1 helicopters irregularly sold to the PNP as brand new.

The Negros Occidental representative (Iggy Arroyo), meanwhile, faces charges for being an “accessory to the crime,” as he insisted the choppers had been leased to the Arroyo family-owned LTA Inc., Drilon added.

“Congressman Iggy Arroyo is really part of the cover-up operation. He is an accessory to the crime,” said Drilon. The BRC will also file a disbarment case against lawyer Lope Velasco, who supposedly notarized the lease agreement between LTA Inc. and Lionair Inc.

Drilon also said the Arroyos’ former bookkeeper Rowena del Rosario, who was cited in contempt by the Senate and detained, will face perjury raps for trying to protect her principals and for evasively answering questions during the Senate inquiry.


‘Behest loan’

The pending graft charges against Ongpin and several officials of the Development Bank of the Philippines will not stop the Senate from investigating Ongpin’s alleged questionable P660 million “behest loan” with the state-run financial institution.

Osmeña III and Sen. Teofisto Guingona III, BRC head, will still hold a joint investigation into the DBP’s alleged anomalous transaction with Ongpin.

“We will still investigate. This is in aid of legislation. This is not for criminal prosecution, but in aid of legislation. We need to look at possible amendments, not only of banking laws, but most especially on the charter of DBP, Land Bank (and other government financial institutions),” Osmeña said in a phone interview.

“As far as I know, TG (referring to Sen. Guingona) and I will call hearings after all supporting documents we’ve asked them are submitted to us,” he said. Osmeña noted that Sen.Panfilo Lacson had already filed a resolution seeking a probe into the controversy.

DBP chairman Jose Nuñez last August 5 filed criminal and administrative cases against its past board of directors led by chairman Patricia Santo Tomas, president Reynaldo David, as well as Ongpin, in relation to the controversy. The past DBP officials allegedly approved the loan sought by Ongpin’s company, Delta Ventures Resources Inc. (DVRI), to finance his acquisition of Philex Mining shares despite having only P625,000 in paid-up capital.

Also charged were former DBP chief operating officer Edgardo Garcia and former directors Ramon Durano IV, Alexander Magno, Floro Oliveros, Joseph Pangilinan, Miguel Romero, Franklin Velarde and Renato Velasco.

Likewise  accused of graft were DBP officials Armando Samia, Rolando Geronimo, Perla Soleta, Benedicto Ernesto Bitonio, Jesus Guevara II, Benilda A. Tejada, Cresenciana R. Bundoc, Josephine E. Jaurigue, Ma. Teresita Tolentino, Arturo Baliton, Justice Lady Flores, Marissa Cayetano, Rodolfo Cerezo, Warren de Guzman, and Nelson Macatlang, DVRI’s executive secretary Josephine  Manalo and DVRI stockholder Ma. Lourdes Torres.                                   


Plunder case

Another former official of the Arroyo administration faces plunder charges.

Former Transportation and Communication Secretary Leandro Mendoza and other ex-DOTC officials have been accused of the irregular purchase of P1.15 billion worth of marine environmental equipment and lighthouse spare parts in 2007 supposedly for the Phi-lippine Coast Guard.

Bayan Muna Rep. Teddy Casiño however found the purchase suspicious because the purported end-user, the Coast Guard, was not aware of the procurement and had not requested the materials.

Casiño wanted to find out if Mendoza and the other officials involved profited from the questioned transaction.