(Eagle News) — Magdalo Rep. Gary Alejano on Thursday alleged the appointment of Rear Admiral Robert Empedrad as the Navy’s new Flag Officer in Command will pave the way for the “consummation of the anomalous frigate project.”
In a statement, Alejano said Empedrad was appointed “through his subservience to the wishes of the Palace rather than the strength of merit system that guides the Board of Generals..”
According to Alejano, Empedrad was an adviser to the Defense Department’s Frigate Acquisition Committee that selected Hyundai Heavy Industries as contractor for the project.
Alejano has alleged that Special Assistant to the President Bong Go had intervened to push for the selection of HHI.
Go has denied the allegations.
Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana and Vice Admiral Ronald Joseph Mercado, Empedrad’s predecessor, also denied Go intervened in any way.
“Now as acting FOIC, (Empedrad) backs HHI’s move for the replacement of frigate project subsystems as well as orders Technical Inspection and Acceptance Committee to accept the changes that HHI wanted to implement on the frigate’s design and dimension to cut further on costs,” Alejano said.
As such, Alejano said the appointment of Empedrad–the “least qualified” for the position— by President Rodrigo Duterte “will compromise the professionalism of the Officer Corps, and affect the morale of the troops.”