Special Assistant to the President Christopher “Bong” Go MALACAÑANG POOL PHOTO
DAVAO CITY—Special Assistant to the President Christopher Go on Friday expressed willingness to testify if the Senate hearing on the P15.7-billion frigate acquisition project pushes through.
“Yes, I will attend,” Go said when asked if he would show up at the Senate investigation.
Earlier, Senators from the minority bloc filed Resolution No. 584 asking the Senate committee on national defense and security, and the Congressional oversight committee on the Armed Forces Modernization Act to examine the status of the AFP modernization program.
The resolution was based on media reports that Go had intervened in the selection of the weapons system supplier for the frigate project.
Based on the reports, Go had “sent an unsigned two-page letter to Defense Chief Delfin Lorenzana where he assailed the Navy’s preference for Tacticos CMS and highlighted the advantages of choosing the Naval Shield Integrated Combat Management System (ICMS) of HTC of South Korea for the frigates.”
Go had denied intervening in the procurement process for the weapons system.
“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,” he said in an earlier statement.
He also told the Inquirer that the report was totally wrong.
“They’re really wrong,” Go said.
He also offered to resign if the charges were proven to be true.
“I am not privy to the frigate transaction of the (Department of National Defense). I have never seen the controversial document that is alleged to have come from me, much less, handed the same to SND Lorenzana,” Go said.
“In fact, I will resign if it can be proven that I intervened,” he added.
Go also pointed out that the frigate project “was already a done deal in 2016 during the time of former President Aquino.”