Ex-PNP Chief Verzosa, 10 others acquitted of graft in 2009 purchase of 2 second-hand choppers

Former Philippine National Police (PNP) Chief Jesus A. Verzosa and 10 other police officers have been acquitted by the Sandiganbayan of their graft charges over the alleged irregular purchase of two second-hand helicopters in 2009.

Aside from Verzosa, also acquitted were P/DDG Jefferson P. Soriano, P/Supt. Ermilando O. Villafuerte, P/SSupt. Luis L. Saligumba, P/SSupt. Job Nolan D. Antonio, P/SSupt. Edgar B. Paatan, P/CInsp. Maria Josefina V. Recometa, P/Supt. Claudio De Gaspar, Jr., SPO3 Ma. Linda A. Padojinog, PO3 Avensuel Go Dy, and Ruben Sarabillo Gongona.

"Accordingly, the cash bonds posted by these accused to secure their provisional liberty are ordered cancelled and released, subject to the usual accounting and auditing procedures. Moreover, the Hold Departure Order issued against them is ordered lifted and set aside," the dispositive portion of the anti-graft court's ruling stated. 

However, P/Dir. Luizo Cristobal Ticman, P/Dir. Ronald D. Roderos, P/Dir. Romeo C. Hilomen, P/Dir. Leocadio Salva Cruz Santiago, Jr., and private individual Hilario Bautista de Vera were found guilty beyond reasonable doubt of graft and sentenced to six to eight years imprisonment with perpetual disqualification to hold public office.

"Considering that civil liability may be imposed in a criminal action arising from and consequent to the criminal liability of the accused on the principle that every person criminally liable is also civilly liable pursuant to Article 100 of the Revised Penal Code, the same accused are likewise imposed to pay, jointly and solidarily, civil liability in the amount of P11,377,153.23 per unit for the two pre-owned Robinson R44 Raven I helicopters subject of these cases, with interest at six percent per annum reckoned from the finality of this decision until full payment by the accused," the court said. 

Roderos was also found guilty of falsification of public documents as defined under Article 171 of the Revised Penal Code and was slapped with a penalty of 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 penalty of P5,000.

The 346-page decision, which was promulgated on Friday, August 16, was written by Chairperson Associate Justice Ma. Theresa Dolores C. Gomez-Estoesta with the concurrence of Associate Justices Zaldy V. Trespeses and Georgina D. Hidalgo.

In 2009, Verzosa and his co-accused purchased three helicopters from Manila Aerospace Products Trading Corp. -- two standard Robinson R44 Raven I light police helicopters worth P62,672,086.90 and one Robinson R44 Raven II LPOH worth P42,312,913.10.

While the National Police Commission required the PNP to purchase brand new helicopters, prosecutors said that the two R44 Raven I helicopters were actually previously owned by former First Gentleman Mike Arroyo. As a result, the PNP overpaid by P34 million.

Only the last few pages of the decision were available at the time of posting.