A pilot of the National Police Special Action Force (SAF) who flew one of the secondhand Robinson R44 helicopters for the members of the Arroyo family is in hot water for allegedly keeping secret the aircraft’s real condition at the time they were purchased.

Interior Secretary Jesse Robredo said Supt. Claudio DS Gaspar Jr., a pilot and member of the SAF Air Unit, even acted as one of the 16 members of the National Police Inspection Team which certified that the two used helicopters bought by the force on September 24, 2009, were brand new.

Robredo said he received information that Gaspar was one of the pilots who was tapped to fly one of the helicopters in question and ferry the members of the Arroyo family to various destinations in the country.

“I got information that Colonel Gaspar was one of the pilots who flew one of the police choppers for the Arroyos, particularly Mikey Arroyo, while the two aircraft were virtually under the former First Family’s beck and call,” he said.

Robredo said the sad part was that Gaspar was even a member of the inspecting team that signed and vouched the two refurbished police helicopters were brand new.

He said he had already asked one of his men to look for Gaspar and talk with him, but was informed that the police officer was working for his early retirement from the service.

“I was told that Colonel Gaspar is currently working for the approval of his papers for early retirement. I have asked my staff at Napolcom [National Police Commission] to hold his papers in abeyance until he has cleared his name in the controversy he is in,” said Robredo.

At least 27 police officers have been implicated in the alleged irregularity, and they include the seven members of National Police bids and awards committee (BAC) chaired by now retired Deputy Director General Jefferson Soriano.

The Soriano-led PNP BAC during the incumbency of retired Director General Jesus Verzosa as National Police was also implicated in the alleged anomalous purchase of P131 million in unserviceable rubber boats and outboard motors, the alleged ghost repair of 30 police armored personnel carriers worth P300 million, the purchase of allegedly overpriced patrol boats, bullet-proof vests, among others. 

In the case of the helicopters, the four members of the inspection and acceptance committee, one of which is a BAC member, was chaired by now Director George Piano and the rest are the 16 members of the technical inspection team, one of whom is Gaspar.  

The PNP originally bought three helicopters for P104.9 million, one of which turned out to be brand new with only 9.9 hours flying time, while the two others have an average flying time of 500 hours before they were received by the SAF Air Unit on September 24, 2009.

The two Robinson R44 Raven 1 model choppers (with registration numbers RP 4375 and RP 4250) were previously registered to the Asian Spirit Inc., which leased them to Lion Air Inc. in 2004.

The National Police is still ascertaining how the Manila Aerospace Products Trading owned by one Hilario “Larry” de Vera succeeded in selling the aircraft without showing proof of ownership.