By Meanne Corvera
Eagle News Service
Special Assistant to the President Bong Go on Monday reiterated he did not intervene in the frigates acquisition project of the Philippine Navy, and that he was only being linked to the supposed controversy as part of plans to destroy the reputation of the current administration.
“I speak before this committee…primarily for the purpose of clearing my name and ultimately for the purpose of getting to the bottom of this frigate controversy. Sa totoo lang po, sobrang hirap sagutin ng mga bintang na wala ka na namang kinalaman..I did not intervene in the acquisition of the two frigates by the DND nor interfere in the selection of its Combat Management System,” Go said in his opening statement at the start of the Senate committee on national defense and security hearing.
According to Go, his name was only being linked as part of plans to discredit the government.
“Sana lahat ng gumagamit ng pangalan namin, denied na ‘yun. Walang manloloko, kung walang magpapaloko. Huwag silang maniwala agad,” he said, adding that the President himself does not allow his name to be used by other individuals.
In the first place, he said the P15.5-billion deal was already a “done deal” during the term of then-President Benigno Aquino III.
“Walang nabago, walang binago, walang nakialam, at walang pinakialaman sa kontrata. Photo finish ang kontrata dahil hinabol po ito bago matapos ang Aquino administration,” he said.
At the start of the hearing, some officials trooped to the Senate to express their support for Go.
These included Foreign Affairs Secretary Alan Peter Cayetano, Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque, Communications Secretary Martin Andanar, among others.
Actor Robin Padilla was also among members of the audience to express his support.