MANILA, Philippines — Sen. Leila de Lima called on the Duterte administration to stop using its predecessor as a scapegoat whenever anomalies come up, including the controversial P16-billion frigate contract for the Philippine Navy.
De Lima, who served as justice secretary during the Aquino administration, pointed out that it was the current administration that awarded and signed the contract for the acquisition of the frigates and not its predecessor.
“As I have said before: every time the Duterte government gets involved in dubious deals, the President and his cohorts always divert the issue instead of addressing it head-on – either Duterte and his lackeys will blame the past administration or they will invent another outrageous lie to change the headlines,” De Lima said in a statement yesterday.
De Lima noted the notice of award for the contract was done in August 2016 and the contract signed in October 2016, so clearly the deal was consummated under the current administration.
The frigate deal has led to the firing of then Navy flag officer-in-command Vice Admiral Joseph Mercado and the implication of Special Assistant to the President Christopher Go as an alleged middleman.
Go has denied his alleged intervention in the selection of the weapons system supplier.
De Lima recalled how presidential spokesperson Harry Roque Jr. came to Go’s defense, claiming that the South Korean bidder for the Navy’s acquisition of two frigates was selected during the Aquino administration.
Roque likewise claimed the present administration’s role in the procurement was merely ministerial, making it impossible for Go to interfere in the acquisition.
Citing a recent privilege speech delivered by Magdalo party-list Rep. Gary Alejano, De Lima noted that Hyundai Heavy Industries (HHI) of South Korea won the bidding with an amount of P15.745 billion under the current administration.
De Lima said the revelations made by Alejano should be taken seriously as they put to question the crucial role Malacañang played not only in the relief of Mercado, but also in the suspicious procurement process.
“Rep. Alejano’s revelations raise more suspicions about this frigate acquisition program which might jeopardize our AFP (Armed Forces of the Philippines’) modernization program and our national security,” De Lima said.
Mercado was reportedly relieved as Navy chief after questioning the decision to tap Hanwha Thales of Korea to provide the Combat Management System (CMS) for the frigates instead of Tacticos Thales of the Netherlands.
Alejano claimed that Go demanded an explanation when the Navy, under the leadership of Mercado, insisted on tapping Tacticos Thales to install the CMS.
It was reported that Mercado questioned the awarding of the subcontract to the Hanwha Thales consortium because it was already dissolved even before the contract with HHI was signed.
De Lima said she found disturbing the claims made by Alejano that the contract with HHI contains very disadvantageous provisions that give power to the shipbuilder – instead of the Navy as end-user – to dictate the configuration of the warships.
The Senate minority bloc, which includes De Lima, has filed a resolution calling for a review of the implementation of the AFP Modernization program, including the frigate acquisition contract.