Senate inquiry into Navy frigate deal today

[av_one_full first min_height=” vertical_alignment=” space=” custom_margin=” margin=’0px’ padding=’0px’ border=” border_color=” radius=’0px’ background_color=” src=” background_position=’top left’ background_repeat=’no-repeat’ animation=”]

[av_heading heading=’Senate inquiry into Navy frigate deal today’ tag=’h3′ style=’blockquote modern-quote’ size=’30’ subheading_active=’subheading_below’ subheading_size=’18’ padding=’10’ color=” custom_font=” av-medium-font-size-title=” av-small-font-size-title=” av-mini-font-size-title=” av-medium-font-size=” av-small-font-size=” av-mini-font-size=” admin_preview_bg=”]
BY PRINCE GOLEZ
[/av_heading]

[av_textblock size=” font_color=” color=” av-medium-font-size=” av-small-font-size=” av-mini-font-size=” admin_preview_bg=”]
February 19, 2018
[/av_textblock]

[av_textblock size=’18’ font_color=” color=” av-medium-font-size=” av-small-font-size=” av-mini-font-size=” admin_preview_bg=”]
MANILA – Special Assistant to the President Christopher “Bong” Go is expected to “tell all” in today’s Senate investigation into the Philippine Navy frigate acquisition project.

Presidential Spokesman Harry Roque said he and Go will attend the inquiry into the P15.5-billion frigate project of the Department of National Defense.

Go allegedly intervened in the acquisition of warships for the Philippine Navy, the news website Rappler has reported.

“We look at the Senate investigation on the Philippine Navy acquisition project as a welcome opportunity for Bong Go to shed light on this matter,” Roque said.

“As instructed by the President, he (Go) 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,” said Roque.

But the spokesman already stressed that the allegations against Go are “untrue” and “unfounded.”

“It was the Aquino administration which chose Hyundai Heavy Industries as supplier of the two frigates, including the supply of the boat, the navigation, the communications, and the combat management systems (CMS),” Roque said.

“It was also during the previous administration that Hyundai was declared the responsive bidder and awarded the two frigates, including the CMS,” he added.

On Jan. 16, senators Antonio Trillanes IV, Leila de Lima, Francis Pangilinan, Franklin Drilon, Paolo Benigno Aquino IV, and Risa Hontiveros filed a resolution directing the Committee on National Defense and Security and the Congressional Oversight Committee on the Armed Forces of the Philippines Modernization Act to investigate the frigate acquisition project.

The probe should “determine whether or not such acquisition promotes the goals of the (AFP) Modernization Program and complies with pertinent laws.”/PN
[/av_textblock]

[/av_one_full]