Former Flag-Officer-in-Command Vice Admiral Ronald Joseph Mercado has again cleared Special Assistant to the President Bong Go from the P15.7-billion Philippine Navy frigate deal controversy.
During Monday鈥檚 Senate hearing on the frigate acquisition project, Go, the closest aide of President Rodrigo Duterte said: 鈥淟et me reiterate as regards to the January 2017 letter, Sec. Bong Go never approached me to inquire about the frigate acquisition project neither did he make any form of communication to influence my decision making as the end user and as the flag-officer-in-command of the Philippine Navy.
Go attended the first hearing of the Senate of the Navy鈥檚 frigate deal along with other members of the Duterte Cabinet.
He was accused of meddling in the project after his name was included in some documents related to the deal. Duterte himself came into Go鈥檚 defense and denied his aide鈥檚 involvement in the project.
Mercado was relieved from his position in December 2017 for his supposed insubordination and insistence on a supplier for the combat management systems (CMS) for the frigate project.
鈥淚 have never disobeyed any lawful order of my superior. I have never been accused nor convicted of malfeasance,鈥� Mercado said in his opening statement in the Senate hearing.聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 /kga