Malacañang yesterday expressed confidence that Special Assistant to the President Christopher “Bong” Go’s testimony at the Senate inquiry on the P15.5-billion frigate project today will reveal the truth and finally put all allegations against him to rest.
“Ang dadalhin lamang po ni SAP Bong Go diyan sa Senate hearing ay ang katotohanan lang po,” presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said on the eve of the testimony of the President’s right-hand man.
Roque said he will be there to support Duterte’s close aide.
He debunked Sen. Antonio F. Trillanes IV who said that Go really had nothing to do with the frigate deal but was just only doing what he was instructed to do by someone higher than him.
“Itong kawalan ng pananagutan ni SAP Bong Go ay hindi dahil may nag-utos sa kaniya, kung hindi wala talaga siyang partisipasyon o sinuman sa administrasyon ngayon na baguhin ang isang proyekto na na-award pa noong nakalipas na administrasyon,” Roque said.
Go is being accused of intervening in the selection of a second supplier for the Combat Management Systems on the two warships which is a project of the Department of National Defense.
Roque also said that the inquiry will finally shed light on the matter.
“The whole truth would finally be known. Asahan na bukas ay lalabas at lalabas na ang pagkakasangkot kay SAP Go ay kuryente lamang, o pekeng balita na pilit na inuugnay sa administrasyon,” he said.
“We reiterate that the allegations against SAP 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. It was also during the previous administration that Hyundai was declared the responsive bidder and awarded the two frigates, including the CMS,” he added. (Argyll Cyrus B. Geducos)
