By JOSEPH HOLANDES UBALDE
Interaksyon.com
A MEMBER of the Philippine National Police (PNP) inspection team admitted he was aware that two of the three “overpriced” helicopters had already been used in the past, but refused to say anything about it because he wasn’t asked.
Supt. Claudio Gaspar Jr. told senators probing the anomalous transaction on Thursday that he knew the choppers had been flown in the past but was unaware that it had been sold as brand new.
“Sa pagkakaalam ko ang bibilhin nila second hand,” Gaspar said. The chopper in question was one of the two Robinson R44 Raven 1 model helicopters with serial number 1372, which was revealed to have already been flying for 492 hours before it was sold to the PNP as brand new in September 2009.
Aside from being part of the 16-man PNP Inspection Team that oversaw the transaction, Gaspar was also the pilot of the two used choppers when it was still being used by the Arroyo family in 2004.
When asked by Senator Jinggoy Estrada why Gaspar didn’t say anything about the choppers’ condition, Gaspar replied: “Hindi po kasi ako tinanong eh.”
Gaspar said he frequently ferried former presidential son Mikey Arroyo to Pampanga using the Lionair helicopter 1372 as early as 2004.
Documents earlier provided by the Department of Interior Local Government showed that Mikey Arroyo, his wife Angela, and their two children were also ferried by the choppers from Lubao, Pampanga, to the A3 Station at the Presidential Security Group compound in Malacanang, a “Burgundy” station, and to Calatagan and Lipa City, Batangas, among other destinations.
Earlier this month, Senator Panfilo Lacson revealed that the two choppers were already five-years old and valued at only $100,000 (roughly P4 million), based on 2004 standards, and $348,000 (roughly P17 million), by 2011 standards.
Only one of the choppers was actually brand new and would cost $348,000 or about P18 million by 2011 prices.
Due diligence not practiced
Meanwhile, Chief Superintendent Herold Ubalde, PNP director for legal services and member of the Bids and Awards Committee (BAC), admitted they had not been very careful in handling the transaction.
Lacson quizzed Ubalde on his earlier claim that they were diligent in procuring the aircrafts.
“Kung may due diligence bakit yung luma naging brand new? Do you still maintain that there is due diligence in the purchase?” Lacson said.
“It appears there is none,” Ubalde replied.
The committee called an investigation into the so-called overpriced choppers to determine whether the purchase of these aircrafts during the Arroyo administration was in violation of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act or RA 3019.
Based on his investigation, Lacson found out that two Robinson R44 Raven 1 model choppers (with body numbers RP-4375 and RP-4250) had already been used by several people including the former President and her family as well as some lawmakers and celebrities before it was sold as brand new to the PNP.