Special Assistant to President Christopher “Bong” Go. MALACAÑANG POOL PHOTO
Special Assistant to the President Christopher “Bong” Go denied on Tuesday that he has intervened in the procurement process of the Philippine Navy’s controversial selection of the weapons system supplier for the P15.7-billion frigate program.
“I have not intervened in the procurement of DND of its computer system for its ships. I have not participated nor intervened, directly or indirectly, in the transactions of DND. Further, I even have no information nor knowledge of the said transaction,” Go said in a statement sent to reporters.
“Further, I even have no information nor knowledge of the said transaction,” he added.
The Inquirer reported on Tuesday that in a span of two weeks this January, the Palace, the Department of National Defense (DND) and the Navy discussed the combat management systems (CMS) of the Navy’s frigate program.
The Navy explained in a letter to Duterte addressed why it preferred Tacticos CMS of Thales Nederlands, Inc. over Hanwha Thales (HTC) for the CMS of the frigates.
The Inquirer learned that Go sent an unsigned two-page letter to Lorenzana where he assailed the Navy’s preference for Tacticos CMS while it highlighted the advantages of choosing the Naval Shield Integrated Combat Management System (ICMS) of HTC of South Korea for the frigates.
READ: Palace had special interest in Navy’s selection of weapons system supplier
But in his statement, Go said “clarification on the issues should be addressed to SND Lorenzana.” /je