MINORITY lawmakers on Wednesday, February 21, said the Aquino administration should be investigated for the controversial frigate deal of the Philippine Navy.
During the weekly press conference of the minority bloc at the House of Representatives, Quezon Representative and Deputy Minority Leader Danilo Suarez said that based on the timeline the bidding for the frigates project was conducted before the end of the Aquino administration.
In October 2016, Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana signed the contract to award the project to South Korean firm Heavy Hyundai Industries.
Suarez said that Lorenzana had no choice but to sign the contract as the government already awarded it to Hyundai before the term of then President Benigno Aquino III ended.
"During the Senate hearing sinabi ni (Defense Secretary Voltaire) Gazmin na hindi niya pinirmahan although in-award nila para mabigyan ng opportunity yung bagong papalit sa kanila to be the contract signatory that was passed on to Secretary Lorenzana," said Suarez.
"Wala naman magagawa eh (there's nothing you can do), you just have to sign this because committed na ang gobyerno dito in-award na (the government has awarded the contract)," he added.
Buhay Party-list Rep. Lito Atienza said towards the ending of the Aquino administration there had been a scrambling action by the officials and this led to the acquisition of questionable projects like Dengvaxia acquisition and the frigates deal.
"Dito lumusot itong bidding, ending here before the elections in 2016 kaya kung meron tayong dapat imbistigahan dito tingnan natin yung scrambling action ng nakaraang administration (The bidding was held before the 2016 elections. The previous administration's actions should be investigated)," he said.
"Kung meron dapat imbestigahan dito, imbestigahan dapat yung kanilang pagmamadali sa mga malalaking acquisitions, kontrata nung palabas na sila ng Malacañang," he added.
Atienza said the government should pursue filing a case against those liable for the controversial deals.
"Tuntunin natin kung sino ang talagang pasimuno nito at kasuhan sila. Dapat parusahan yung mga nagsamantala sa kanilag posisyon at maging leksyon para sa ating lahat (We should identify those behind this and charge them. They should be penalized for taking advantage of their position. Let this be a lesson for everybody)," Atienza said.
The Senate is now conducting a legislative inquiry into the P16-billion deal to acquire combat management system for Philippine Navy frigates.
The opposition has called for an investigation into the deal after President Rodrigo Duterte's closest aide Bong Go was reported to have meddled in the acquisition of the system.
Go reportedly intervened when he supposedly sent an unsigned letter to Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana overruling the Navy’s choice. Go has repeatedly denied the allegations linking him to the anomalous deal. (SunStar Philippines)