Senate to invite Bong Go, Lorenzana in probe into frigates issue

The Senate Committee on National Defense and Security is poised to invite Special Assistant to the President Secretary Bong Go for its investigation on the controversial P15.5-billion frigate acquisition project of the Philippine Navy.

In an interview on Super Radyo dzBB on Sunday, Senator Panfilo Lacson, one of the vice chairpersons of the Senate panel, said that they will also invite Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana, Philippine Navy's new Flag Officer in Command Rear Admiral Robert Empedrad and former FOIC Vice Admiral Ronald Joseph Mercado.

Lacson said that it is "inevitable" to invite Go as he is one of the "central figure" in the issue hounding the Philippine warship project.

The investigation, which was sought by the members of the Senate minority bloc, will be scheduled for a hearing in February according to Lacson.

"Pinag-uusapan namin ito ni Senator [Gringo] Honasan...so magpapatawag kami ng pagdinig doon nakiusap lang si Senator Trillanes aalis yata siya at ang balik nga mga February na so mga February na ma-schedule yung hearing, pero pinag-uusapan namin na magkakaron definitely ng pagdinig kasi nga merong resolution na ni-refer sa committee na chine-chair ni Senator Honasan," Lacson said.

Minority Leader Franklin Drilon—along with Senators Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan, Paolo Benigno “Bam” Aquino IV, Risa Hontiveros, Leila de Lima, and Antonio Trillanes IV—filed Senate Resolution No. 584 directing the committee on national defense and security, as well as the congressional oversight committee on the Armed Forces of the Modernization Act, to conduct a probe into the acquisition of two Philippine Navy frigates.

They said the resolution seeks to determine whether the acquisition of the frigates "promotes the goals of the modernization program and complies with pertinent laws."

Go, who is the most trusted aide of President Rodrigo Duterte said that he would attend the Senate hearing, adding that he is willing to face his accusers "anywhere, anytime."

Go was dragged into the issue after reports that he had allegedly "intervened" in the selection for the warships' Combat Management System."

He had belied claims that he at least saw the controversial white paper that linked him to the Philippine Navy frigate project, saying that he is not privy to the transaction of the Department of National Defense.

Duterte, who has Go as his assistant since 1998, said that Go would resign if the reports that he intervened in the acquisition project to acquire new weapons system supplier would be proven true.

Lorenza, for his part, also backed Go saying that the latter did not intervene or had influence in the implementation of the project.

Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque, meanwhile, said that an investigation by Malacañang also showed that allegations against Go were "untrue and unfounded." —LBG, GMA News