Ombudsman Carpio Morales Approves Panel’s Report on ‘Chopper’ Case

Ombudsman Conchita Carpio Morales approved yesterday the Investigation Report recommending the conduct of preliminary investigation and administrative adjudication on the alleged anomalous acquisition by the Philippine National Police (PNP) of two Light Operational Police Helicopters (Chopper Case).

The Special Panel of Investigators, composed of Deputy Special Prosecutor John Turralba and Assistant Ombudsman Joselito Fangon as chairpersons, and Director Maria Olivia Elena Roxas, Graft Investigation and Prosecution Officer Dennis Mendoza, and Graft Investigation and Prosecution Officer John Zernan Sambajon as members, submitted the Investigation Report on time on November 21, 2011.

The panel acted in compliance with the Ombudsman’s directive dated October 13, 2011 and that issued on October 21, 2011 granting it a 30-day additional period within which to conclude the fact-finding investigation on the Report submitted by the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee and the Complaint filed by the PNP Criminal Investigation and Detection Group.

In its 98-page Investigation Report, the fact-finding panel found enough evidence to file criminal and/or administrative charges of (i) Violation of Section 3 (e) of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act against Jose Miguel “Mike” Arroyo, former DILG Secretary Ronaldo Puno, former PNP Director General Jesus VErzosa, Hilario de Vera, Napolcom Commissioners AVelino Razon Jr., Miguel Coronel, Celia SAnidad-Leones, Director Conrado Sumanga,Jr., and 28 other PNP officers and personnel; (ii) Falsification by Public Officers under Article 171 of the Revised Penal Code against 16 PNP officers and personnel; and (iii) Gross Neglect of Duty and Conduct Prejudicial to the Best Interest of Service against 21 PNP Officers and personnel.

The fact-finding investigators, as nominal complainants, are filing the formal Complaint/s before a Special Panel of Investigating Prosecutors, created today by Ombudsman Carpio Morales, composed of Director Manuel Soriano,Jr., Director Omar Sagadal, and Director Dennis Garcia, which was given a period of 60 days from the filing of the complaint/s within which to conduct the preliminary investigation and administrative adjudication, and submit its report and recommendation. Ombudsman Media Bureau