Navy chief sacked over frigate deal
Sacked Navy chief Vice Admiral Ronald Joseph Mercado was replaced because of his inordinate insistence on a particular weapons system for the country’s first two missile frigates, Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana said on Wednesday
Speaking at a press conference, Lorenzana said he lost “trust and confidence in [Mercado’s] integrity and leadership” because of his threats to derail a weapons contract that was signed last year.
The contract involved the acquisition of two stealth frigates capable of launching antiair and antisurface missiles in addition to torpedoes.
The contract was awarded to Hyundai Heavy Industries in early 2016 when the company still had a partnership with the French-Korean weapons company Hanwha Thales.
However, the nature of the Hanwha Thales joint venture changed during the lengthy bidding system, raising questions on the weapons system to be installed in the two frigates.
“I questioned his fixation with one specific company [Thales] for the combat management system (CMS),” Lorenzana said, adding that Thales was not part of the contract awarded to Hyundai.
Lorenzana ordered Mercado to explain why the project was languishing in the Navy headquarters over four months, but Mercado “disregarded [the order] and continued to insist on his system.”
Lorenzana said Mercado also lobbied with former Navy chiefs “talking about rescinding the contract if the company he wants would not get the contract.”
“That is tantamount to insubordination,” Lorenzana said, clarifying however that there would be no investigation of Mercado “for any misdemeanor.”
Mercado, a member of Philippine Military Academy Class 1983, was replaced by Rear Admiral Robert Empedrad, a much junior officer who belongs to PMA Class ’86.
Lorenzana defended the change of command, saying it was not “surreptitious, it was not just opened to the public.”
He said Empedrad was the “most qualified” to replace Mercado, but it is only in an acting capacity.
“Sometimes, there is a need for a closed-door change of command. It was sudden because we had to do it,” Lorenzana said, adding that Mercado’s relief had the imprimatur of President Duterte.
Mr. Duterte, meantime, distanced himself from the controversy and said he usually leaves such matters to the military hierarchy.
“I do not really interfere in the Armed Forces. I let them be. If they conduct reshuffling [or] transfer, I do not interfere. Even with the police. I only sign their promotions, appointments,” Mr. Duterte said when asked about the matter.
