Former First Gentleman Charged of Corruption

Graft charges were filed Thursday against former First Gentleman Jose Miguel “Mike” Arroyo, former Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Ronaldo Puno, and former Philippine National Police Chief Director General Jesus Versoza before the Office of the Ombudsman in connection with the purchase by the PNP of two used choppers in 2009.

Also charged were 16 PNP officers.

In the complaint filed by three senators, Arroyo and his co-respondents were accused of conspiring with each other in defrauding the government of P62.67 million through the purchase of two used helicopters passed off as brand-new.

“Jose Miguel Arroyo conspired with the private individuals and officers of the PNP and this conspiracy violates the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act and the Government Procurement Act,’’ the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee stated in its findings, the basis of the complaint.

“It is quite clear that these helicopters were used extensively by the Arroyos during the 2004 elections. From the time these were imported into the Philippines until the time that these were sold to the PNP, the Arroyos used them repeatedly, extensively, and fully. Walang kaduda-duda (No doubt),” Senate Blue Ribbon Committee Chairman Teofisto L. Guingona III said.

“It is clear that Mike Arroyo, as the true owner of the helicopters, took advantage of the PNP and robbed the Filipino people of 62 million pesos for used helicopters,” Guingona added.

Read the rest of the story at MB.com.ph

Latest Philippine Weather Forecast - October 11/4pm PAGASA

Here is the latest weather forecast from PAG-ASA for the Tropical Storm RAMON.

At 4:00 p.m. today, Tropical Storm "RAMON" was estimated based on satellite and surface data at 180 km East Northeast of Hinatuan, Surigao Del Sur (8.9°N, 127.9°E) with maximum sustained winds of 65 kph near the center with gustiness of up to 80 kph. It is forecast to move Northwest at 17 kph.

Forecast:
Central and Eastern Visayas and Northeastern Mindanao will experience stormy weather while Masbate, Romblon, Sorsogon and Western Visayas will have rains and gusty winds and the coastal waters along these areas will be moderate to rough. Central and the rest of Southern Luzon and the rest of Mindanao will experience mostly cloudy skies with scattered rainshowers and thunderstorms. Northern Luzon will be partly cloudy to cloudy with isolated rainshowers or thunderstorms.

Moderate to strong winds blowing from the Northeast to North will prevail over Southern Luzon and coming from the Northwest to Southwest over the rest of Mindanao. The coastal waters along these areas will be moderate to rough. Elsewhere, winds will be light to moderate blowing from the Northeast to North with slight to moderate seas.

The areas under Storm Signal No. 2 are:

Southern Leyte
Eastern Samar
Surigao del Norte
Siargao Island
Surigao del Sur
Dinagat Island

Those under Storm Signal No. 1 are:

Masbate
Ticao Island
Romblon
Sorsogon
Northern Leyte
Biliran Island
Bohol
Cebu
Northern Negros
Northern Samar
Western Samar
Panay Island
Guimaras Island
Agusan del Norte
Agusan del Sur
Misamis Oriental
Camiguin Island