Alejano to 'friend' Roque: Being a lawyer doesn't mean you can't commit mistakes

MANILA, Philippines — Rep. Gary Alejano (Magdalo) on Wednesday gave a reminder to his “friend,” presidential spokesperson Harry Roque, that his being lawyer was not a reason for him not to be criticized as he continued to question the Navy frigate deal the government signed with a South Korean firm.

Alejano was reacting to Roque’s statement that the former Marine officer should not teach him the law as Duterte’s spokesperson maintained that the bidding of the multibillion frigate acquisition deal of the government with South Korea’s Hyundai Heavy Industries was done during the administration of former President Benigno Aquino III.

“When was the post-qualification for deal conducted? It was during the time of President Aquino, wasn’t it? What this administration did was notice of award in August, but everything in the bidding was finished during the administration of President Aquino,” Roque said in Filipino and English in a press conference in the Palace on Monday.

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However, the Magdalo lawmaker stressed that what he had been pointing out was the contract signing and implementation phase of the P18-billion frigate deal, which were already within the administration of President Rodrigo Duterte.

“Once again, I advise Spokesperson Roque to review the issues on the Frigate Acquisition Project controversy before uttering erroneous statements. I did not mention the bidding phase,” Alejano said in a statement.

“The issues that I have been repeatedly pointing out are during the contract signing and implementation phase which are obviously within the Duterte administration,” he said.

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Alejano said that a deal with a smooth bidding process could still encounter mishaps during its implementation.

On the other hand, he said, assuming that the bidding was already questionable, the Duterte administration still had a hand in the issue as it continued the project.

“What I raised is the disadvantageous contract to the Philippine Navy and how external parties intervened,” he said.

He said he could not ascertain if Roque truly understood these points or was merely “overlooking the facts” to clear the current government.

Last week, Alejano said that there was more reason for Congress to probe the Navy ship project after South Korean media reported that Hyundai had been banned by Seoul from participating in government-led bids for two years after it got embroiled in a bribery scandal.

Alejano said that Hyundai’s record should put into question its ethics and should prompt the Philippine government to doubt its actions.

Roque however said on Monday that it was not a reason for the termination of the contract under the law.

“The two possibilities are: patent illegality and if the procurement is not needed anymore,” the president’s spokesperson said.

“So my suggestion to Congressman Alejano, he’s my friend, but please don’t teach me the law,” he said.

Before this, the former Marine officer also dragged Special Assistant to the President Christopher “Bong” Go into the issue and said that the presidential aide tried to exert influence on the Department of Defense to favor another South Korean firm for the supply of the two frigates’ combat management system.

Both Go and Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana denied the allegation and said that the president’s aide, being the head of the Presidential Management Staff, merely handed the position paper of the firm to the defense chief.