Witness: Mike Arroyo involved in chopper scam
Tuesday, August 2, 2011
MANILA (Updated 10:53 a.m.) — A businessman engaged in aircraft charter and sale of helicopters named former First Gentleman Jose Miguel “Mike” Arroyo as the previous owner of choppers sold to the Philippine National Police (PNP).
During a Senate Blue Ribbon Committee hearing on the purchase of “brand new” used choppers by the PNP Tuesday, Lion Air Inc. president Archibald Po, the supplier of the questioned choppers, said he personally met with Arroyo at his office in Makati in 2003.
Po, in his affidavit, said Arroyo inquired about choppers in 2003 but all have been loaned by the late Fernando Poe Jr., who was running for president against his wife, former President and now Pampanga Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.
The businessman said that he suggested Arroyo to buy his own choppers instead and the then First Gentleman agreed to purchase the five Robinson R44 Raven.
He said the five purchased helicopters were all registered under Asian Spirit.
Po also said that in 2006, Arroyo asked him to sell his helicopters at $350,000 each. Arroyo bought the five choppers for only $475,000.
“Sometime in 2006, FG told me that he was selling the helicopters at US$350,000 each. I commented that the price is on the high side for pre-owned helicopters, but FG said that was the price he was willing to sell the helicopters,” Po said.
Arroyo told Lion Air to prepare a proposal for the Manila Aerospace Products Trading (Maptra) in 2009, he said.
In November 2009, Lion Air sold the two pre-owned helicopters to Maptra.
It was Maptra that sold the choppers to the Philippine National Police.
Payments were delivered to Arroyo, Po claimed.
“On l6 April 2010, Maptra paid us in full. I then delivered and turned over the full payment of Maptra to FG,” he said.
Maptra owner Hilario de Vera, for his part, said “the PNP-Bids and Awards Committee (BAC) secretariat had asked him to sign supply contract for choppers. The supply contract indicated the choppers were brand new.”
De Vera questioned why the choppers were declared as brand new, but still, he signed the contract.
He added Po gave him the assurance to deliver second-hand choppers following the order from First Gentleman Arroyo.
De Vera said he confronted Po for the misdeclaration, but Po assured that no one will question the deal.
“Po had assured me the PNP had orders from Mike Arroyo to accept the choppers I will deliver,” he added.
He also said that the two choppers delivered to PNP had different serial numbers than those in his proposal to PNP.
Senator Panfilo Lacson and Senator Teofisto Guingona III, chairman of the Senate Blue Ribbon committee, earlier filed a resolution to hold an inquiry on a purchase in 2009 of three Robinson Raven helicopters for the PNP’s Special Action Force.
They said that according to flight records, two of the helicopters had flown for around two years before the PNP bought them.
Earlier, Lacson in a press statement said, “Initial findings would indicate that the previous and original owners of the pre-owned, yet sold as brand-new, light police operational helicopters are the Arroyos.”
Maptra and the PNP may have entered into an anomalous contract that was “manifestly and grossly disadvantageous to the government,” the senators added.
Mike Arroyo will be summoned to the next Senate hearing. (Sunnex)
Source: http://www.sunstar.com.ph/manila/local-news/2011/08/02/witness-mike-arroyo-involved-chopper-scam-170410
Wine is becoming increasingly popular in Manila and other cities in the Philippines. Wine lovers in Manila travel to the north to visit Clark, Pampanga to shop for good and rate vintage wines at good duty-free prices. The most frequently visited liquor shop in Manila and wine shop in Pampanga is Clark Wine Center. This highly recommended wine shop located outside Manila near Angeles City, Pampanga in North Luzon is known for offering a great selection of fine vintage wine that is good quality and good value for money also.
This well-known wine shop is a famous shopping destination for wine enthusiasts in Manila and wine lovers from other cities in Asia including Hong Kong, Macau, Shanghai, Beijing, Seoul, Osaka and Tokyo.
Famous Philippines wine supplier known for its line of fine vintage wines, Yats Wine Cellars was established in 2000 to address the requirement of a growing population of wine enthusiasts in the Philippines. This 5-star wine shop caters to the discerning client who requires these qualities in their wines: (1) excellent value, (2) large selection of labels and vintages to choose from and (3) wines properly aged for full enjoyment.
Public wine tastings are held from time to time in Clark and sometimes in Manila. Tickets range from p500 to p1500 for these themed events that are professionally run –no wine merchants sponsorship, pushy salesmen or tacky banners to ruin the evening. Each ticket contains a certain number of stubs that can be redeemed for a tasting pour of a wine among those on a line-up which often contains wines that are quite old and expensive.
http://www.ClarkWineCenter.com
Getting to this wine shop in Pampanga Angeles City Clark Freeport Zone Philippines from Manila
Getting to the Clark Wine Center wine shop from Manila is quite simple: after entering Clark Freeport from Dau and Angeles City, proceed straight along the main highway M A Roxas. Clark Wine Center is the stand-along white building on the right, at the corner A Bonifacio Ave. From the Clark International Airport DMIA, ask the taxi to drive towards the entrance of Clark going to Angeles City. From Mimosa, just proceed towards the exit of Clark and this wine shop is on the opposite side of the main road M A Roxas.
Clark Wine Center
Bldg 6460 Clark Observatory Building
Manuel A. Roxas Highway corner A Bonifacio Ave,
Angeles Clark Freeport Zone, Pampanga 2023
0922-870-5173 0917-826-8790 (ask for Ana Fe)
YATS Wine Cellars
Manila Sales Office
3003C East Tower, Phil Stock Exchange Center,
Exchange Rd Ortigas Metro Manila, Philippines 1605
(632) 637-5019 0917-520-4393 ask for Rea or Chay
Best place to buy wine in Clark Pampanga outside Manila near Subic and Angeles City Philippines is Clark Wine Center.
Wedding couples looking for wedding reception venues and beach wedding venues can log on to this Philippines Wedding Venue web site for free information and assistance:
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While in Clark, it might be a good idea to enjoy an evening of wine-and-dine in the fine dining Yats Restaurant and Wine Bar that features an award winning 2700-line wine list. It is located in Mimosa Leisure Estate of Clark Freeport Zone. For more information, visit http://www.YatsRestaurant.com
YATS Leisure Philippines is a developer and operator of clubs, resorts and high-class restaurants and wine shops in Clark Angeles Philippines http://www.YatsLeisure.com
Looking for famous tourists spots, places to visit and see, relax and unwind in Clark, Pampanga, Philippines? You may want to check out these sites also:
http://www.HotelClarkPhilippines.com
http://www.ClarkPhilippines.com
http://www.YatsWineCellars.com
Yats Restaurant is the best restaurant for special dinner, best restaurant for dinner with friends near Manila, also the best place to celebrate special events.
A Well-known Restaurant in Pampnga, an interesting place to celebrate Birthday Party in Pampnga.
A best place to dine with friends in Pampanga
www.YatsRestaurant.com
Where to go in Clark? Hotel Clark Philippines is a De Luxe Hotel in Clark and Subic, a risk free place to stay, cozy and nice ambience, a nice function place for special occassion
www.HotelClarkPhilippines.com
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