Defense department welcomes Senate plan to probe controversial frigate project

January 19, 2018

The Department of National Defense (DND) welcomed on Friday the plan of the Senate to conduct an investigation into the Frigate Acquisition Project for the Philippine Navy which causes the relief of former Flag Officer in Command Vice Admiral Ronald Joseph Mercado.

“We welcome it so the facts will come out," said Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana.

He expressed hope that through the Senate inquiry, all innuendos and suspicions will end.

DND Public Affairs Service Chief Director Arsenio Andolong also said that they were waiting for the investigation to start so that they could shed light on the issue.

“In fact, we have long been waiting for the opportunity to shed light on this issue so that the truth will finally be known,” he said.

Opposition senators filed a resolution calling for a probe into President Rodrigo Duterte's special assistant Christopher "Bong" Go's alleged intervention in the acquisition of combat management systems (CMS) for the Navy's two warships.

Both the DND and Mercado have already denied Go's alleged interference on the project. Robina Asido/DMS