Bong Go ‘link’ to warship deal a hack job
MANILA -- Two administration lawmakers on Friday dismissed as “nothing but a desperate hack job” the allegations against Special Assistant to the President Christopher “Bong” Go on the multi-billion frigate acquisition project (FAP) of the Philippine Nay.
In a statement, House appropriations committee chair Karlo Nograles and his younger brother, Puwersa ng Bayaning Atleta (PBA) Partylist Rep. Jericho Nograles, said this Bong Go-warship issue is a “fishing expedition” and, at worst, a smear campaign against the Duterte administration. “They’ve done everything to malign the Chief Executive but these obviously haven’t worked in their favor. So now they’re targeting his most trusted friend in Bong Go,” Karlo said.
According to reports from online news site Rappler, Go allegedly “intervened” in the selection of the combat management system (CMS) of the two warships.
Go has categorically denied the accusation, while Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana and former Navy chief Vice Admiral Ronald Joseph Mercado have backed him up.
“This issue was raised out of nowhere amid the surge in President Rodrigo Duterte’s ratings from independent pollsters. The timing and dubious nature of the accusation would make anyone with a discerning mind suspicious,” Karlo said.
The older Nograles highlighted the recent Social Weather Stations’ (SWS) December 2017 survey results showing that Duterte posted a “record high” net satisfaction rating of +70 percent, a 12-percentage point increase from his rating during the third quarter.