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Sandigan Bayan. Jonathan  Cellona, ABS-CBN News

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Paige Javier

ABS-CBN News

The Sandiganbayan Seventh Division acquitted former Philippine National Police (PNP) Chief Jesus Verzosa of graft over an alleged anomalous chopper deal in 2009.In a 347-page decision penned by Associate Justice Ma. Theresa Dolores Gomez-Estoesta, the Sandiganbayan 7th Division cleared Verzosa and several former PNP officials over the purchase of two units of standard Robinson R44 Raven I helicopters with serial numbers 1372 and 1374.&quot;In all, when evidence against Verzosa cannot be stitched together to account for his complicity in the charge, the conclusion made is to exculpate him of the crime. There are too many loopholes to make him complicit to the charge, if the only gauge for his liability are the documents under his review. At this instance, Verzosa only had to rely on his high-ranking officials on the regularity of the procurement process made,&quot; the decision read.<div><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/07/20/22/sandiganbayan-affirms-conviction-of-ex-pnp-chief-verzosa-5-others">Sandiganbayan affirms conviction of ex-PNP chief Verzosa, 5 others</a></div>The anti-graft court also acquitted former PNP officials Jefferson Soriano, Ermilando Villafuerte, Roman Loreto, George Piano, Luis Saligumba, Job Nolan Antonio, Edgar Paatan, Maria Josefina Recometa, Claudio Gaspar Jr., Ma. Linda Padojinog, Avensuel Go Dy, and Ruben Gongona. The anti-graft court ordered the lifting of the hold departure order against Verzosa and those cleared, as well as the release of their cash bonds. The Sandiganbayan, meanwhile, found guilty of graft &quot;beyond reasonable doubt&quot; former PNP officials Luizo Ticman, Ronald Roderos, Romeo Hilomen, Leocadio Santiago Jr. and former Manila Aerospace Products Trading (MAPTRA) President and Managing Head of Hilario De Vera. Ticman, Roderos, Hilomen and Santiago were members of the Negotiation Committee and National Head Quarters PNP Bids and Awards Committee (NHQ-BAC) that awarded MAPTRA the contract despite not being legally, financially and technically capable for the project. <div><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/08/04/22/ph-calls-off-chopper-deal-with-russia-lorenzana-confirms" id="isPasted">PH calls off chopper deal with Russia, Lorenzana confirms </a></div>The Negotiation Committee and NHQ-BAC also veered away from the NAPOLCOM specifications for the helicopters to accommodate the offer of MAPTRA. &quot;It was rather calculated that MAPTRA be found to be a legally, technically, and financially capable supplier. From here on, the members of the Negotiation Committee only fell into a pit that only engulfed them in a Violation of Section 3(e) of R.A. 3019 by exhibiting manifest partiality, evident bad faith, or at the very least, gross inexcusable negligence,&quot; the decision read.&quot;While the court finds that the NHQ-BAC, with the approval of the CPNP, had sufficient grounds to resort to negotiated procurement, it was clearly evident that the loophole to which the NHQ-BAC worked on was that it allowed MAPTRA to re-bid under the same conditions to which it was already disqualified in the first place,&quot; it further stated.As for De Vera, the anti-graft court said private individuals may be charged with graft if they act in conspiracy with public officers. It said De Vera is &quot;liable as the pre-determined supplier who benefited from the rigged procurement.&quot;&quot;De Vera became the middleman in transacting with the government the consummation of selling second-hand helicopter units. The liability of De Vera was the deception camouflaged from the start of the negotiation proceedings,&quot; the decision also read.<div><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/07/24/23/ph-studying-how-to-recover-p2-billion-paid-for-russian-choppers" id="isPasted">PH studying how to recover P2 billion paid for Russian choppers </a></div>The graft conviction is equivalent to an indeterminate sentence of six years and one month to eight years imprisonment, with perpetual disqualification from public office. The five were also ordered to jointly pay the civil liability worth P11,377,153.23 per unit for the two pre-owned Robinson R44 Raven I helicopters with 6% interest per year.The same court convicted Roderos for falsification of public document and was sentenced to four years and two months up to eight years and one day of prision correcional and ordered to pay a P5,000 fine.&quot;Roderos falsely claimed that the Raven I helicopters conformed with the said NAPOLCOM Specifications even if the WTCD Report on its face indisputably stated that the helicopters were “not airconditioned” and there was “No available data” for the endurance,&quot; the anti-graft court said.The decision said the &quot;chopper scam&quot; centered on the supposed second-hand helicopters owned by former first gentleman Jose Miguel &quot;Mike&quot; Arroyo which were sold to PNP as brand new.<div><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/10/20/22/talks-to-terminate-chopper-deal-with-russia-have-begun-dnd" id="isPasted">Talks to terminate chopper deal with Russia have begun - DND</a></div>The Supreme Court in 2022 ordered the Sandiganbayan to drop Arroyo from the graft charge over the chopper deal. The high court said the Office of the Ombudsman and anti-graft court committed a grave abuse of discretion in finding probable cause against Arroyo. In 2021, the Sandiganbayan convicted Verzosa and five others over the purchase of P131 million worth of rubber boats and outboard motors in 2008. The anti-graft court affirmed the ruling the following year.

The Sandiganbayan Seventh Division acquitted former Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Jesus Verzosa of graft over an alleged anomalous chopper deal in 2009.

The Sandiganbayan Seventh Division acquitted former Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Jesus Verzosa of graft over an alleged anomalous chopper deal in 2009.

Sandiganbayan acquits former PNP chief Verzosa over chopper deal

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Sandiganbayan acquits former PNP chief Verzosa over chopper deal

Paige Javier,

ABS-CBN News

Published Aug 16, 2024 11:16 PM PHT

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ABSNews

Sandiganbayan

Sandiganbayan 7th Division

Jesus Verzosa

Philippine National Police

PNP

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