Duterte defends Bong Go from Trillanes’ graft allegations on frigate deal

President Rodrigo Duterte on Monday defended Senator Christopher Lawrence "Bong" Go over his alleged involvement in the supposedly anomalous acquisition of two frigates for the Philippine Navy.

During his fourth State of the Nation Address, Duterte said it was him who tasked Go to talk to Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana on the matter, after the Korean contractor of the ships complained about their delivery.

"That fiasco about the frigate ni [former Senator Antonio] Trillanes was because yung Koreano na napagbili ng barko to sold the ship to the Philippine government, wala pang delivery. And it was there already ready," he said.

"And that is why that Korean went to Malacañang just to complain, why is that there is no request for delivery. So I told, 'Bong, ayusin mo yan.' He went to Lorenzana, and Lorenzana nagsulat siya," he added.

Duterte added that when Go was asked to testify before Congress on the matter, he told him to tell only the truth.

"Bong was called to testify and was assured it will be a closed-door. 'No, ask for an open and public hearing.' Sabi ko sabihin mo sa lahat, 'You have nothing... just say the truth,'" Duterte said.

"Pagkatapos niya mag-testify, sabi ko, 'Bong, maniwala ka o hindi, you will be a senator.' Totoo yan. That is how the story of how convoluted politics and corruption here in our country works," he added.

The frigate deal became controversial after former Navy Flag Officer-in-Command Vice Admiral Ronald Joseph Mercado was unceremoniously removed from his post in December 2017 because of supposed insubordination and usurpation of authority.

Mercado was opposed to Korean contractor Hyundai Heavy Industry's decision to source the frigate's combat management system (CMS) from its supplier Hanwha.

Mercado has argued that CMS provided by HHI's preferred supplier Hanwha was incompatible with the navy frigates and that the better suited CMS should be supplied by European firm Thales Tacticos.

It was later revealed that Lorenzana received HHI's letter and that Lorenzana made a marginal note asking Mercado to look over it. Lorenzana also told Mercado in the same marginal note that HHI's letter came from Go.

Lorenzana later said that he only assumed that the HHI's letter came from Go.

Go eventually said that he endorsed HHI's letter to Lorenzana but said that such move was a “mere routinary endorsement which is one of the thousands of complaints we endorse as part of President's agenda to open up the gates and ears of Malacañang to all complaints against public officials and against the bureaucracy.” —NB, GMA News