The time & date in Clark, Philippines is

Iggy Arroyo asked to attend helicopter deal probe

HOUSE Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr. wants Negros Occidental Representative Ignacio “Iggy” Arroyo to attend the Senate blue ribbon committee hearings on the anomalous sale of used helicopters to the Philippine National Police (PNP) in 2009.
“He’s a person who voluntarily gave a statement without being compelled to do so and I think it is in his best interest to support this statement by showing up there (Senate),” Belmonte told reporters in a press conference Thursday.
The Speaker made the statement even after lawmakers from both the majority bloc and minority coalition advised the Senate to respect interparliamentary courtesy.
Iggy Arroyo has admitted that he was at the helm of Arroyo-owned LTA Inc. in 2003 when it leased the helicopters from Lionair Inc. president Archibald Po.
Po testified before the Senate blue ribbon committee that Jose Miguel “Mike” Arroyo, Iggy’s brother, bought the helicopters and had been paying Lionair for their upkeep.
The helicopters are now the center of a Senate investigation after it was found that the helicopters were later sold to the PNP as brand new.
Belmonte said if he were Representative Arroyo, “I’d go there and convince the Senate that I am telling the truth, and not just (trying) to take the heat for my brother.”
Earlier, Majority Leader Neptali Gonzales II said that if the Senate does not observe interparliamentary courtesy between chambers of Congress, it will open the door for the House of Representatives to also invite senators to its committee hearings.
“It might be an informal thing but there are huge repercussions when you open the door to that. I don’t think the senators will feel the same way (knowing we can invite them),” Gonzales then told reporters.
Both Belmonte and Gonzales are members of the ruling Liberal Party, of which President Benigno Aquino III is chairman.
Members of the House minority, as well as allies of former President and current Pampanga Representative Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, have called the probe a ploy to embarrass the Arroyos and a waste of time.
Representative Iggy Arroyo is currently in London seeking treatment for an unspecified liver condition.
‘Getting Arroyo testimony a long shot’
With interparliamentary courtesy keeping the Senate from compelling Representative Arroyo to testify, the Senate blue ribbon committee might as well forward its evidence to the Justice department for prosecution.
Aquilino Pimentel Jr., a former Senate President, told reporters Thursday that the Senate cannot summon Representative Iggy Arroyo over his claim that he leased — and did not own — helicopters later sold to the police as brand new.
He said doing so would be disrespectful of the co-equal House of Representatives.
The Senate blue ribbon committee has issued him an invitation to explain how the helicopters, which some senators believe belong to former first gentleman Mike Arroyo, ended up being sold to the PNP as brand-new units.
But Pimentel said the Justice department or the Office of the Ombudsman might make better progress on the case.
“Eventually, it will be the DOJ or the Ombudsman who can start prosecution,” he explained.
Pimentel, who was once chairman of the Senate blue ribbon committee, said he had invited members of the House to hearings before but that they were not forced to attend hearings.
He said the Senate could theoretically ask the House leadership to help convince Representative Arroyo to testify. House Speaker Belmonte has already done that.
The Senate could also petition a court to order Arroyo to appear before the committee.
“But that is a long shot, the court will probably wash its hands of it and say it is a political problem,” he said.
He said Mike Arroyo, the former President’s husband, is a private citizen and is not covered by interparliamentary courtesy. He can be summoned by the Senate unless he is too ill to testify, as was the case in a recent hearing.
“That would actually be a more effective way to gather evidence,” Pimentel said.
Senate Minority Leader Alan Peter Cayetano, in a separate interview, said although Representative Iggy Arroyo cannot be summoned by the Senate, he should still come over and air his side.
He said that Arroyo’s colleagues at the House could urge the Negros Occidental lawmaker to appear before the blue ribbon committee.
Cayetano, a critic known of ex-President Arroyo even while he member of the House of Representative, said he would treat Iggy Arroyo as if he were a senator, and not as a witness.
“I will even give him access to the microphone at any time,” he said. Cayetano, a former blue ribbon committee chairman, is currently an ex-officio member of the committee.
He also challenged the Arroyos to sign a waiver and let the committee look at their financial records. He said checking the Arroyos’ books would quickly extinguish allegations of corruption if the committee finds no proof of it.
Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile, in an interview Wednesday, said there is basis for the blue ribbon committee’s invitation.
He said that while Iggy Arroyo has said he was responsible for the lease agreement, “the evidence in the hands of the Senate is quite different.”
He said, though, that if Representative Arroyo invokes interparliamentary courtesy, he “will leave it to the committee to dispose (of) that.” He said he could not speak for the members of the Blue Ribbon committee.
Asked whether he will try to compel the congressman to testify, Enrile said: “I will cross the bridge when I come to it.” (Kathrina Alvarez/Jonathan de Santos/Sunnex)

Source: http://www.sunstar.com.ph/manila/local-news/2011/08/19/iggy-arroyo-asked-attend-helicopter-deal-probe-173943

Residents of Manila and Angeles City Pampanga are looking for a safe and convenient place to celebrate special occasions or take a shot vacation in the Philippines. Many travel north to Clark to swim at Clearwater Beach Resort which also has lake and picnic grounds to unwind and relax, a very good way to spend quality time with the family and children. Fine dining Yats Restaurant offers sumptuous cozy Christmas dinner, for wine lovers, Clark Wine Center provides exciting shopping options.

Clark Philippines also known as Clark Freeport Zone is now the preferred destination for foreign and local investments because it offers many attractive advantages including tax, safety and its own international airport

Where to go in Clark? Hotel Clark Philippines is a De Luxe Hotel in Clark and Subic, a risk free place to stay, cozy and nice ambience, a nice function place for special occasion

You might want to check also the Yats Restaurant is the best restaurant for special dinner, best restaurant for dinner with friends near Manila, also the best place to celebrate special events.

Famous Restaurant in Pampanga, a place to dine with friends in Clark, cozy restaurant with a nice ambience, a nice function place for special occassions

Are you looking for an attractive restaurant or a nice place to eat with friends in Clark, Angeles City Pampanga? Yats Restaurant and Wine Bar is a restaurant with good food and good wines for dinner located at Clark Angeles City Pampanga. Perfect for exclusive dinner venues for groups, recommended for private dinner in Philippines. A Restaurant in Clark for business dinner meeting. Private dinner place or dinner restaurant in Clark Subic Near Manila Angeles City Pampanga. Yats Restaurant is one of the Good Restaurant in Pampanga Angeles City Clark near Manila.

The advantages for making the move from a country like UK, USA, Japan, Korea, Hong Kong, Singapore and Australia for example, to a country like Philippines are enormous. Heavily in your favor are factors like asset values differentials and substantial reduction in cost of living. Selling off your home probably gives you enough capital to not only live comfortably in a bigger property in Philippines but also to re-establish yourself in the business community by starting a business here too.

Looking for a party venue in town?
Clearwater Resort and Country Club is one of the ideal venues for birthday party because it is a risk free venue. Not only Birthday Parties but also a good place to enjoy family reunion. A good place to celebrate special occasions. Clearwater Resort and Country Club is one of the resorts in Subic Clark Angeles City Pampanga or near Manila with activity amenities, place that are nice for celebration.

This web site contains articles and information that will be helpful to visitors, residents and tourists traveling out of town from Manila on a short getaway to Subic, Angeles City, Pampanga and Clark Philippines. There are several web sites that contain information that might also be pertinent to what is happening in North Luzon, Subic, Tarlac, Pampanga, Clark Freeport Philippines.

Looking for interesting hotels near Manila Subic Clark Angeles City Pampanga?
Trouble free hotels and well recognized hotels in Subic Clark Angeles City Pampanga
Clearwater Resort and Country Club offers a good place to stay in Subic Clark Angeles City Pampanga. In offers nice place to have rest in Subic Pampanga outside Manila.
One of the Philippines top hotels in north Luzon.

Wedding couples looking for wedding reception venues and beach wedding venues can log on to this Philippines Wedding Venue web site for free information and assistance:

For assistance with lodgings, accommodations, hotels and resorts near Manila in Subic, Pampanga, Angels City and Clark Philippines log on to http://www.HotelClarkPhilippines.com

While in Clark, one might as well add to the itinerary a visit to the famous Clark Wine Center, the largest wine shop in Philippines which offers over 2000 selections of fine vintage wine from all wine regions, vintages spanning over 50 years covering all price ranges.

http://www.ClarkWineCenter.com

---

If this article about Clark is useful to you, please click here to contact us to tell us what more you wish to know about this article or Clark Philippines, which can be something about Clark investment, about Clark resorts, about Clark Swimming and Leisure or simply general news about Clark.

---

Please send questions to Editor@ClarkPhilippines.com. Leave your name, email address, contact numbers and we will get back to you as soon as possible. Information received will not be disclosed.

---