In a statement, Assistant Ombudsman Asryman Rafanan said the panel of investigators that was earlier given a one-week deadline by the Ombudsman to come up with a report on the case has so far only been able to come up with an evaluation report.
“In compliance with the Ombudsman’s directive dated October 13, 2011, the Panel of Investigators submitted today an Initial Evaluation Report which recommends a period of 30 days for it to validate the voluminous documents, in coordination with the concerned government agencies, and submit a Final Investigation Report,” said Rafanan.
Last week Carpio-Morales issued the one-week deadline on the “choppers case” as proof of her commitment to prioritize the resolution of high-profile cases during her term.
“We should not be satisfied in catching the ‘small fish’ as we must go after the school of ‘big fish’ lurking in government offices,” Carpio-Morales said.
“I thought a new team must proceed to investigate the case, taking into consideration the result of investigation by the Senate blue-ribbon committee,” Carpio-Morales had said during her first media conference on Friday last week.
In a follow-up interview, Ombudsman Media Affairs Director Edgardo Diansuy said some of the documents submitted were not certified true copy.
“These voluminous documents must be certified true copy. So the panel of investigators has to seek more time to coordinate with concerned government agencies and parties to ascertain these documents,” he said.
Last week Sens. Teofisto Guingona III, Koko Pimentel and Panfilo Lacson submitted a letter recommending preliminary investigation against 19 individuals, including former first gentleman Jose Miguel Arroyo and some PNP officials, including former PNP chief Director General Jesus Verzosa, for allegedly conspiring when secondhand helicopters were sold as brand new to the PNP in 2009.
Under the Ombudsman Act, even anonymous letters may be accepted by the Ombudsman as a complaint against public officials under the office’s jurisdiction.
The senators said Mr. Arroyo violated the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act and the Government Procurement Reform Act.
The senators also asked the Ombudsman to investigate possible criminal liability of Rep. Ignacio “Iggy” Arroyo “arising from his attempt to cover up Mike Arroyo’s ownership and participation in this anomalous transaction.”
In 2009 the PNP bought two Robinson R44 Raven 1 helicopters from the Manila Aerospace Trading Corp. (Maptra) at a higher price of P104.9 million.
The choppers were supplied to Maptra by Lionair, which was supposedly acting on Mr. Arroyo’s orders.
The camp of Mr. Arroyo has since denied the allegation.
