Manila: More than a dozen police officials as well as a former police chief and the husband of ex-President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, have been formally charged before the anti-graft Sandiganbayan court in connection with the anomalous purchase of three helicopters in 2009.

The Office of the Ombudsman filed with the Sandiganbayan a graft case against former Philippine National Police (PNP) Director General Jesus Verzosa, other PNP officers and personnel, and private individuals including Jose Miguel Arroyo, for their involvement in the controversial procurement of PNP helicopters.

The filing of charges also led to the sacking of 14 PNP officials and personnel who were also dismissed from the service, while six PNP officials and personnel were suspended from the service for six months without pay.

In a Joint Resolution approved on June 1, 2012 but made public only recently, Ombudsman Conchita Carpio Morales found probable cause to indict the accused individuals for violation of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act and falsification of documents.

Aside from those mentioned, also charged was Hilario ‘Larry’ de Vera, President and Managing Head of Manila Aerospace Products Trading Corporation (MAPTRA Corporation).

MAPTRA sold the helicopters - a Robinson R44 Raven II Light Police Operational Helicopter (LPOH) and two standard Robinson R44 Raven I LPOHs - to the PNP for P104,985,000 (Dhs8,941,086) from 2009 to 2010.

The PNP, with Versoza at the helm at that time, had purchased three helicopters for utility operations as well as commando insertion.

The three falsification cases relate to three documents which declared that the two helicopters have conformed to the specifications set by the National Police Commission (Napolcom), which passed the acceptance criteria, and the necessary inspection.

“The Special Investigating Panel found, among other things, that MAPTRA did not possess the technical and financial eligibility required by law; MAPTRA delivered only one brand new Robinson Raven II LPOH while the delivered Robinson Raven I LPOHs were actually pre-owned by Mike Arroyo, and/or non-compliant with the set requirements, causing undue injury to the government in the amount of at least P34,632,187.50 (Dhs2,949,463) representing the overpriced figure; PNP entered into the helicopter supply contract with MAPTRA even before the completion of the post-qualification process,” the Ombudsman said.

The Joint Resolution stated that the anomaly could not have been possible without the participation of the respondent public officials and personnel as well as that of respondents Mike Arroyo and MAPTRA President De Vera.

The charges exemplifies the extent of corruption that took place during the incumbency of President Arroyo and how her husband used his influence to secure government contracts. A separate charge had been lodged against PNP officials in connection with a similarly anomalous repair deal involving armoured personnel carriers also in 2009.