Press Release
August 2, 2011

TRANSCRIPT OF AMBUSH INTERVIEW WITH SEN. FRANKLIN DRILON
After Blue Ribbon committee hearing on helicopter purchase of PNP

Q: Was it established that FG owned the helicopters sold to PNP?

Drilon: It was established that he owned the helicopters. There is circumstantial evidence that didiktahan ang PNP at tinanggap ang segunda mano na helicopters for the price of brand new helicopters.

Q: Sir walang documentary evidence na si FG ang may-ari?

Isangdaang beses yata inulit ni Mr. Archibald Po na siya (FG) ang may-ari.

Q: Na-document ba?

Precisely wala siyang dokumento because it was placed in the name of Asian Spirit. That is the testimony of Archibald Po. Nobody has disputed this fact. Archibald Po has no reason and no motive to tell a lie. Archibald Po has no reason to assert that this is FG's helicopters unless this was the truth. He was under oath and he stated na nilagay ang mga helicopter sa pangalan ng Asian Spirit at yan ay talagang hindi nila binili at ang may pagmamay-ari ay si First Gentleman Mike Arroyo.

Q: Can FG invoke lack of jurisdiction because he is a private citizen?

No. Being a private citizen is not an exemption from being called in the Blue Ribbon hearing if in fact there is basis to be called and here there is basis for him to be invited.

Q: Pano patutunayan yung pressure sa PNP dahil wala namang nag-a-admit sa PNP that they were pressured to buy the choppers?

A reasonable mind would accept na talagang pinilit na lang ito na tanggapin ng PNP. Kahit yung testimony ni De Vera, while it is not first hand and probably hearsay, the circumstances surrounding the acquisition of these helicopters will confirm that statement.

Q: Dun sa naging testimony ni Mr. Po, may basis ba yung request nya for protection from suit?

Sa akin mayroon but I defer to the committee. Yes, there is a basis sa witness protection program because his testimony is essential to the establishment of the ownership of the helicopters.

Q: Malinaw ba na mahusay trumabaho sila FG dahil gusto nila walang paper trail para walang dokumento na magpapatunay?

Walang magaling kung ikaw ay nagsisinungaling. Dito nakita naman natin na kahit yung PNP kunwari they documented everything in order to show compliance with the legal procedure. Unfortunately these very documents are the ones now that can be used against them.

Q: As a businessman hindi ba dapat pumayag si Mr. Po na pumirma sa deed of sale?

Pumirma siya sa blank deed of sale dahil alam niyang hindi naman sa kanya galing ito at yan ang hiningi ng kanyang principal na pirmahan. In more sophisticated legal practice, what you execute is a deed of trust wherein you state who is the real owner of the helicopter by declaring that you are holding these in trust. But here the manner used was a blank deed of sale which was very crude to me.

Q: Pero sir yung Maptra, sila ni Archibald Po wala ba silang liability dahil lang nagsalita sila? Hindi ba part din sila ng conspiracy?

They can assert that they were under pressure from the First Gentleman. They have stated that the helicopters were not theirs. Ang problema dito yung pulis panay ang takip nila kay FG, eh sila ang masasabit.

Q: Magsisimula na kayo ng budget hearing?

We will hear the DBCC on Monday at 9:00 o'clock. I have sent out the invitations to the DBM, DoF, Central Bank and NEDA.

Q: Sa House of Reps, may nagrereklamo ng inequitable distribution of PDAF. Sa Senate ba kamusta?

Wala akong alam.

Q: Sa Senate nabibigyan ba ng patas?

What I know is nobody is complaining. Basta walang nagrereklamo dito.

Q: Lahat sir naka-submit na ng requests?

Basta kung ano ang sina-submit sa akin ay sina-submit ko sa Malacanang. Kung ano man ang kanilang natatanggap ay hindi ko na alam.

Q: Alam na ba kung sino-sino ang nakinabang sa P105 million?

Ang napunta kay FG is P31.5 million or $700,000 for the 2 pre-owned helicopters. Yun ang testimony.

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