Sandiganbayan acquits ex-PNP chief Verzosa over 2009 chopper deal

The Sandiganbayan Seventh Division on Friday acquitted former Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Jesus Verzosa  of graft in relation to the anomalous purchase of second-hand helicopters by the PNP in 2009.

The anti-graft court ordered the lifting of the hold departure order against Verzosa  and the others who were acquitted and the release of their cash bonds.

Also acquitted are Police Deputy Director General Jefferson Soriano, Police Superintendent Roman Loreto, Police Director George Piano, Pol. Supt. Luis Saligumba, Pol. Supt. Job Nolan Antonio, Police Superintendent Edgar Paatan, Police Chief Inspector Maria Josefina Recometa, Police Superintendent Claudio Gaspar Jr., SPO3 Ma. Linda Padojinog, PO3 Avensuel Go Dy, and Ruben Gongona.

Others accused in the case, however, were found guilty of graft beyond reasonable doubt. They are:

• P/Dir. Luizo Ticman
• P/Dir. Ronald Roderos
• P/Dir. Romeo Hilomen
• P/Dir. Leocadio Santiago Jr.
• Hilaro de Vera

They are sentenced to an indeterminate penalty of imprisonment of six years and one month as minimum to eight years as maximum with perpetual disqualification from public office.

The five were also ordered to pay jointly and solidarily the civil liability in the amount of P11,377,153.23 per unit of the two pre-owned Robinson R44 Raven I helicopters with 6% interest per annum starting from the finality of the Sandiganbayan decision until full payment by the accused.

Meanwhile, Police Director Ronald Roderos was found guilty beyond reasonable doubt of falsification of public document and was sentenced to indeterminate penalty of four years and two months of prision correccional as minimum to eight years and one day of prision mayor as maximum.

Roderos was also ordered to pay a fine of P5,000.

The decision was penned by Seventh Division chairperson Associate Justice Ma. Theresa Dolores Gomez-Estoesta and concurred in by Associate Justices Zaldy Trespeses and Georgina Hidalgo.

The controversy involved the supposedly secondhand helicopters owned by former First Gentleman Jose Miguel Arroyo sold to the PNP as brand new in 2009.

In 2012, the Office of the Ombudsman ruled that the deal “caused undue injury” to the national government amounting to P34.6 million.

In July 2009, the PNP procured two Robinson R44 Raven 1 helicopters from Manila Aerospace Trading Corporation. The choppers were supplied to the firm by Lionair Inc., supposedly acting on Mr. Arroyo’s orders.  

In 2022, the Sandiganbayan, in compliance with the Supreme Court ruling, junked the graft charges against Mr. Arroyo in relation to the chopper deal.

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

Previous case

Verzosa was convicted of graft in 2021 in connection with the purchase of P131.5 million worth of police rubber boats (PRBs) and outboard motors (OBMs) in 2009.

The ruling was upheld the following year.

The case stemmed from the PNP’s purchase of 75 PBRs and 93 OBMs from EnviroAire Inc., Geneve SA Philippines, and Bay Industrial Philippines Corp. even though the suppliers did not pass the eligibility tests.

The procured items delivered by the three suppliers also failed to meet the specifications set by the National Police Commission and were not functionally compatible. —KBK, GMA Integrated News