Prosecuting the Arroyos: what it means

Archibald Po should be commended for his testimony naming former First Gentleman Jose Miguel “Mike” Arroyo as the one who pushed for the sale of two pre-owned helicopters that were passed on as brand-new units to the Philippine National Police. (“FG behind chopper sale, Senate calls Jose Miguel ‘Mike’ Arroyo to hearing,” Inquirer, 8/3/11)

I am writing this to comfort Po who was in the Senate hearing as a resource person to help the senators get to the bottom of this multimillion-peso rip-off, but was instead grilled by Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile like he was the suspect in the scam.

It takes a lot of courage to link the husband of former president Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo (GMA), the leader of an administration notorious for hundreds of political killings and enforced disappearances recorded under her nine-year rule, to an anomalous deal. Also, the couple still have the “resources” presumably going back to several mega-corrupt deals GMA is now implicated in. To add to that, there is Po’s inquisitor, Senator Enrile, who was defense secretary of dictator Ferdinand Marcos during the most brutal period of martial law.

Even the police officials involved in the helicopter sale did not have the courage to admit there was pressure from higher-ups. They certified the used helicopters as brand-new and processed the papers and payment in record time.

Po’s testimony gave the Senate a basis to recommend the issuance of a hold departure order on Mike Arroyo. Unfortunately, he flew out of the country a day before the testimony came out in the media and two days before Po testified before the Senate.

Even so, Po’s testimony directly links Mike Arroyo to this anomalous deal. While GMA is already charged with six plunder cases, this is the only case that can bring the former First Gentleman to court (so far). The Arroyo administration was widely perceived as a conjugal kleptocracy.

Witnesses to the scams and anomalies believed to have been orchestrated by the Arroyos should be encouraged to come out with what they know—not only for the purpose of prosecuting and penalizing the guilty, but also to serve a lesson and warning to our future leaders.

—MARIO DE JESUS,

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