FORMER Navy chief now retired vice admiral Robert Empedrad yesterday dismissed as “blatant lies” allegations of former senator Antonio Trillanes IV that the P16-billion purchase of two frigates from a South Korean shipbuilder was anomalous.
The allegations were contained in plunder and graft complaints filed by Trillanes, a former Navy officer, on Wednesday before the Department of Justice against Empedrad, former President Rodrigo Duterte, Sen. Christopher Go, and several others.
Empedrad, in a phone interview, vowed to face the case.
“I have no other option but to defend myself. But my conscience is clear before God,” said Empedrad who served as chairman of the Navy technical working group that crafted the technical specifications of the frigates that were then to be acquired. The project was signed during the Duterte administration.
The contract was signed in October 2016 by then Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana with the Hyundai Heavy Industries. The procurement of the frigates was initiated during the administration of former President Benigno Aquino III.
The frigates, now BRP Jose Rizal and BRP Andres Bonifacio, were delivered in 2020 and 2021 and are playing key roles in protecting the country’s interest in the contested West Philippine Sea in the South China Sea.
Empedrad called the frigate acquisition program a “fairy tale project” of the Navy.
He said the Department of National Defense and the Philippine Navy accepted the delivery of the frigates because they were satisfied with its specifications.
“Saying it is an anomaly is a blatant lie. How do I prove that? I faced inquiries before Senate and Congress and grilling by the Commission on Appointments. Why did I still become the FOIC (flag-officer-in-command)?,” he said.
Empedrad said lawmakers conducted an inquiry on the project and grilled him during the confirmation of his rank following his appointment as Navy chief in 2017.
“I was consistent. They didn’t find any (anomaly), that’s why I was confirmed,” he said.
Empedrad also said he does not know what Trillanes’ motive is in filing the plunder case before the Department of Justice.
Trillanes has been filing charges against Duterte and several others, including for alleged anomalous projects during the previous administration.
