The Sandiganbayan has acquitted former Philippine National Police (PNP) Chief Jesus Verzosa and 10 other police officers of graft charges in connection with the purchase of used overpriced helicopters in 2009.
The anti-graft court, however, convicted five others, four of them retired generals.
The anti-graft court’s seventh division also ordered the lifting of the hold departure order against Verzosa and the rest of those cleared in the case.
Aside from Verzosa, also acquitted were 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.
The anti-graft court however found “guilty of graft beyond reasonable doubt” P/Dir. Luizo Ticman; P/Dir. Ronald Roderos; P/Dir. Romeo Hilomen; P/Dir. Leocadio Santiago Jr.; and Hilaro de Vera. They were sentenced to six to eight years imprisonment with perpetual disqualification to hold public office.
The anti-graft court also ordered the five convicted “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 six percent interest per annum starting from the finality of the Sandiganbayan decision until full payment by the accused.”
Similarly, Police Director Ronald Roderos was found guilty beyond reasonable doubt of falsification of public documents and was sentenced to four years and two months of prision correccional as minimum, to eight years and one day of prision mayor as maximum. He 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 case stemmed from the purchase of two used helicopters from Manila Aerospace Trading Corporation in July 2009.
The choppers were supplied to the firm by Lionair Inc., allegedly on orders of then First Gentleman Miguel Arroyo.
In 2012, the Ombudsman ruled that the deal “caused undue injury” to the national government amounting to P34.6 million.
In 2022, the Sandiganbayan, in compliance with a Supreme Court ruling, junked the graft charges against Mr. Arroyo.
According to the SC, both the Ombudsman and the anti-graft court “gravely erred in finding probable cause” and putting Mr. Arroyo on trial.
Editor’s Note: This is an updated article. Originally posted with the headline Sandiganbayan acquits ex-PNP Chief Verzosa over 2009 chopper purchase
