Sandiganbayan dismisses graft case vs. Mike Arroyo over chopper deal

The Sandiganbayan, in compliance with the Supreme Court ruling, has formally junked the graft charges against former First Gentleman Jose Miguel Arroyo involving the 2009 procurement of P62.6 million worth of secondhand helicopters for the Philippine National Police (PNP) passed off as brand new.

The anti-graft court issued the three-page resolution short of six months after the high court upheld its December 2021 decision to drop the graft charges against Arroyo.

Both the Office of the Ombudsman and the anti-graft court  “gravely erred in finding probable cause” and putting Arroyo on trial, according to the SC.

The Sandiganbayan Seventh Division confirmed that it has received a copy of the high court's Entry of Judgment on September 19, 2022.

“Wherefore, in compliance with the resolution dated December 1, 2021 of the Supreme Court, the name of Jose Miguel T. Arroyo is ordered dropped from the information. The charge filed against him is necessarily ordered dismissed,” the Sandiganbayan said.

Lionair president Archibald Po earlier claimed that Arroyo was the owner of the subject helicopters and that Lionair imported them from the United States before selling them as brand new to the PNP to the tune of P62.6 million

But Arroyo also previously submitted evidence that he already divested himself of any interest in LTA Inc. which leased the two subject choppers from LionAir in 2003 to be used in the presidential campaign of his wife, then President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.  

The formal dismissal of the case also prompted the Sandiganbayan to order the release of Arroyo's bail bond.

The Sandiganbayan already lifted the hold departure order against the former First Gentleman last June 1.

Arroyo's wife, former President Gloria, now sits as Senior Deputy Speaker in the House of Representatives.—LDF, GMA News