Senate to hold inquiry on frigate procurement
THE SENATE opens its inquiry on Monday into the controversial P15.5-billion frigate procurement program for the Philippine Navy which allegedly involved Special Assistant to the President Christopher Lawrence T. Go.
The Senate committee on national defense and security chaired by Senator Gregorio B. Honasan II would determine through the investigation if the acquisition of the warships promoted the goals of the Armed Forces of the Philippines’ ( AFP) modernization program and complied with pertinent laws.
Senator Antonio F. Trillanes IV, one of the lawmakers who called for the investigation last Jan. 17, said he expects the facts to be laid down first to clear out the speculations and allegations in the controversy.
“We need to know what really happened in this frigate deal. Did the Philippine Navy (want) what was bought for them? If not, why did that happen? What were the interventions? We need to present the facts on hand to remove the conjectures and speculations,” he said in a radio interview Sunday.
He added that the purpose of the inquiry concerned not only the Philippine Navy but also the other branches of service under the AFP.
“There are different information coming in about people in Malacañang intruding ( in the AFP’s) modernization program,” the senator said in Filipino.
According to news reports, Mr. Go purportedly intervened in the Philippine Navy’s project and endorsed to Defense Secretary Delfin N. Lorenzana a supplier which will provide the Combat Management System (CMS) for the purchased warships.
Mr. Go, who also heads the Presidential Management Staff (PMS), has denied taking special interest in the frigate deal, saying that someone might be using his name.
In a statement Sunday, Presidential Spokesperson Harry L. Roque, Jr. said the Senate investigation on Monday is a “welcome opportunity” for Mr. Go to shed light on the issue.
“Expect Secretary Go to tell all, and as instructed by the President, he would likely demand for an open and transparent Senate inquiry to show that he — and the administration — has nothing to hide as he would squarely answer questions in full view of the public,” he said.
Mr. Trillanes, who was once a Navy officer, believed that Mr. Go did not act on his own when he allegedly approached Mr. Lorenzana on the frigate’s weapons system supplier.
“This is just a conjecture... Because to the people who know Bong Go, he’s purely a right-hand man. He is the executive assistant of Duterte. He will not strategize on his own. This is the allegation until it is cleared out in the hearing,” he said in a mix of Filipino and English.
The senator also wanted to know if the frigate deal was connected to the sacking of Philippine Navy Flag Officer-inCommand Vice Admiral Ronald Joseph S. Mercado last Dec. 18.
“At the very least, it remains a mystery why was he relieved. In the military, there has to be a major scandal or negligence as a reason why you are removed from office that way,” he said.
Mr. Lorenzana has said the sacked Navy chief lost his “trust and confidence” when he “jeopardized” the frigate deal.
Mr. Mercado’s successor, Vice Admiral Robert A. Empedrad, said earlier he would seek an executive session if senators probed the weapons system of the frigate deal.
Mr. Trillanes said Mr. Empedrad’s request may be granted, but other aspects of the hearing must be public, such as the procurement process of the warships.